DUFF MCKAGAN: COREY TAYLOR Is 'The Brightest And Best Singer Of A Generation'

March 6, 2011

Total Rock last month conducted an interview with an interview with Duff McKagan (DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) shortly after his appearance at the Birmingham Guitar Show, which took place February 26-27 at the New Bingley Hall in Birmingham, England. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked if he is "sick" of the persistent rumors that SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR's Corey Taylor will be the new singer of VELVET REVOLVER, Duff said, "I don't ever hear unless I am going out and doing press. Because I don't go on Blabbermouth or [do] any of the other things [that would expose me to such rumors]."

Duff added, "[Corey's] the brightest and best singer of a generation and I think he's killer. But I don't think VELVET REVOLVER is… There's not much urgency there to do much of anything right now, so… one day, hopefully. And I think [VELVET REVOLVER guitarist] Slash is probably gonna go make another [solo] record [next], so that's cool. That's what it is."

When asked by The Charlotte Observer where VELVET REVOLVER stands on finding a new singer, Slash said, "There was truth to the rumor that we were looking at Corey Taylor, but then I left for tour. So there's nothing being done at the moment. No decision."

McKagan added fuel to the Corey Taylor rumors in a chat he did on February 9 at ESPN.com. Asked by a fan what the most important attribute is that a lead singer should have besides a great voice, McKagan responded, "Any good artist has to have . . . the ability to tap the dark stuff and have it be real. Great lead singers have the ability to tap that. No inhibitions helps as well. Axl (Rose) and Scott (Weiland) are two of the best front men ever. Corey Taylor is one of those guys as well. He can tap it."

When asked about the rumors that Taylor was going to join VELVET REVOLVER, McKagan wrote, "I can neither confirm nor deny . . . He is a bad dude though. I like him as a human being and a singer. He's the voice of a whole new generation."

Taylor himself "neither confirmed nor denied" the rumors in an interview with Billboard.com in January, merely laughing and saying, "To be continued!" when asked about it.

VELVET REVOLVER has been without a singer since firing Scott Weiland in April 2008. McKagan, guitarist Slash and drummer Matt Sorum have all hinted in recent months that the band was finally close to settling on a new frontman.

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