FROM:            KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/MITCH SCHNEIDER

VELVET REVOLVER’S ‘CONTRABAND’
ENTERS BILLBOARD ALBUM CHART AT #1;

BAND LOCKS DOWN #1 POSITION AT MODERN, ACTIVE AND MAINSTREAM ROCK WITH “SLITHER”;

ALBUM EXPLODES INTERNATIONALLY WITH TOP 10 POSITIONS IN ELEVEN OTHER COUNTRIES

VELVET REVOLVER’s debut album CONTRABAND (RCA) has stormed onto the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart at #1, selling 256,267 copies in its first week of release.   Notably, this marks the best-ever debut for a new rock artist in the SoundScan era.  The disc is also #1 on the SoundScan Alternative Albums chart.  In addition, CONTRABAND is exploding internationally, as the album is also Top 10 in eleven countries outside the U.S.: Canada (#1), Australia (#2), Argentina (#2), Norway (#3), Sweden (#3), Spain (#6), Germany (#7), Ireland (#8), New Zealand (#8), Denmark (#9) and Japan (#10).  Elsewhere, the album entered the charts at #11 in the UK.

This news comes as the band–lead vocalist SCOTT WEILAND, guitarist SLASH, bassist DUFF McKAGAN, drummer MATT SORUM and guitarist DAVE KUSHNER–has also locked down the #1 spots at Modern, Active and Mainstream Rock with their single “Slither.”  VELVET REVOLVER is also riding a wave of critical acclaim including a four-star lead review in Rolling Stone; heavy exposure for their striking video for “Slither” (MTV, MTV2, VH1, Fuse); and rave reviews for their sold-out shows across the country, highlighted by roof-raising gigs at New York’s Roseland (May 26) and Los Angeles’ Wiltern (June 8 and 9).  While in New York, the band performed an epic version of “Slither” on The Late Show With David Letterman (May 25).

After completing their current headlining U.S. trek, VELVET REVOLVER will headline the Rolling Rock Town Fair festival in Latrobe, PA on July 31.  Stay tuned for more VELVET REVOLVER touring news. 

Here are a few critical soundbites about CONTRABAND:

“…VELVET REVOLVER energize their combined histories with original snort (the skewed skittering riff in ‘Set Me Free’) and punchy vocal choruses…”
                     –David Fricke, ROLLING STONE, June 2, 2004 (****Four Stars)

“…[the band is] truly explosive…a hard-driving album that sounds nothing like either of [their] original bands–or anything else on the radio these days.”
                     –Lorraine Ali, NEWSWEEK, June 14, 2004

“…powerhouse new album…Contraband has some excellent songs, especially the confessional power ballads ‘Fall To Pieces’ and ‘Loving The Alien’…”
                     –Gavin Edwards, ROLLING STONE, July 8, 2004 (feature)

“volcanic…”
                     –Jon Wiederhorn, MTV.COM, March 1, 2004

“…a raucous new album that aims high and delivers.”
                     –Steve Morse, BOSTON GLOBE, May 28, 2004

“…insistent rhythms, jackhammer riffs, searing guitar solos and snaking vocals.”
                     –Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY, June 7, 2004

“…rocks with authority…”
                     –George Varga, SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, June 3, 2004

“’Slither’ is powered by Weiland’s strutting rocker vocals and Slash’s raging guitar riffs, two mainstream rock fixtures that have been in short supply lately.”
                     –Glenn Gamboa, NEWSDAY, May 18, 2004

“…rocks your face off….”
                     –Michael Deeds, WASHINGTON POST, June 9, 2004

The in-progress tour dates are as follows and check out www.velvetrevolver.com.

  Date                                        City                                          Venue

Fri        June 18                    Houston, TX                            Verizon Wireless Theatre

Sat       June 19                    Dallas, TX                                Granada Theatre

Sun      June 20                    Denver, CO                            Fillmore

Tues    June 22                    Portland, OR                          Roseland

Sat       June 26                    Atlantic City, NJ                        Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
                                                                                             “Fantasy Island”

Sat       July 31                         Latrobe, PA                           Rolling Rock Town Fair/
                                                                                              Westmoreland Fairgrounds

Contacts:

MSO   818-380-0400:

Mitch Schneider           mschneider@msopr.com              ext. 235

Kristine Ashton             kashton@msopr.com                     ext. 233

Amanda Hale              ahale@msopr.com                          ext. 238

RCA Records:

Pamela Murphy            pamela.murphy@bmg.com  212-930-4394

Maggie Wang               maggie.wang@bmg.com       212-930-7007

###