Press release of the day: Velvet Revolver, label ‘end partnership’

Dubious euphemisms dept.:

I’ve long been a fan of the press releases from Velvet Revolver, and in particular WEILAND, their former lead singer. The KGB did not document events as well, nor as misleadingly. Here’s the latest, saying that they got dropped by their label without saying that they got dropped by their label:

VELVET REVOLVER AND RCA END THEIR PARTNERSHIP

Finding the new lead singer for VELVET REVOLVER is a formidable task... So in June 2008, SLASH, DUFF MCKAGAN, MATT SORUM and DAVE KUSHNER approached RCA Records and asked to be released from their recording contract, as they felt they needed to have complete freedom to go through whatever process it would take to accomplish the goal…freedom from any timelines, pressures, influences or interests other than finding THE best guy. RCA Records honored the band’s request.

Carl Stubner, the band’s manager, says: “...The band is thankful that RCA understood the task at hand and has allowed the band to continue on their own.” Stubner added: “This band is comprised of some of the greatest rock musicians of the past three decades. They have built a brand with a solid foundation on a global level. And their sole focus has been, and continues to be, finding the singer/songwriter who will stand alongside them.”

Because the last thing you want when recruiting a new singer is a legitimate record contract to show that the band has a future.

Oh Jesus freakin’ Christ

Why, Frankie?

Press release of the day: Pissy statement from champion rock statement-maker

Perhaps you’ve missed the delicious press feud that has unfolded over the last few days from the world’s worst rock band, otherwise known as the Velvet Revolver. Members of this Grammy Award-winning supergroup, which features the former Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner,* have been making nasty public statements about each other, and yesterday the inevitable happened and they fired their singer, Scott Weiland.

Press release connoisseurs have long known Weiland as one of the most colorful and prolific in the biz. I’ve received innumerable bizarre announcements from his camp over the years, mostly denials over DUI arrests/drug arrests/etc. followed by “clarifications” of same, such as this one from 2004 about how his stay in a “sober living facility” was not against the court’s wishes.

This morning Mr. Weiland — or, as he’s usually identified in these things, WEILAND — issued a Courtney Love-worthy response to his dismissal. Conveniently, it is also a chance for him to plug and confirm reports of the imminent reunion of his old band, Stone Temple Pilots. WEILAND, baby, we love you. Don’t ever stop ... issuing crazy statements.

And remember — “don’t be fooled by veiled trickery”!

STATEMENT FROM SCOTT WEILAND

After reading the comment by Duff, Matt, Dave and the illustrious “GUITAR HERO,” Saul Hudson, a.k.a Slash, I find it humorous that the so called four “founding members” of Velvet Revolver, better known to themselves as “the Project” before I officially named the band, would decide to move on without me after I had already claimed the group dead in the water on March 20 in Glasgow. In response to Slash’s comment regarding my commitment, I have to say it is a blatant and tired excuse to cover up the truth. The truth of the matter is that the band had not gotten along on multiple levels for some time. On a musical level, there were moments of joy, inspiration, fun ... at times, but let’s not forget the multiple trips to rehab every member of the band had taken (with the exception of one member, no need to mention his name). Personally speaking, I choose to look forward to the future and performing with a group of friends I have known my entire life, people who have always had my back. This also speaks to my commitment to my music and my fellow band mates in STP and to the fans who I feel would much rather watch a group of musicians who enjoy being together as opposed to a handful of discontents who at one time used to call themselves a gang.

p.s. don’t be fooled by veiled trickery

p.p.s good hunting lads, I think Sebastian Bach would be a fantastic choice.

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* as well as members of Guns N’ Roses and Stone Temple Pilots.