MATT SORUM Says THE CULT Was His Favorite Band To Play In: It Was 'Right In My Lane As Far As How I Like To Approach The Drum Kit'

In a new interview with Joann Butler In Studio With..., Matt Sorum, the American drummer best known for his work with GUNS N' ROSES, THE CULT and VELVET REVOLVER, was asked to name his "favorite band to play in". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I would say that THE CULT was probably right in my lane as far as kind of how I like to approach the drum kit. Just the grooves of that band. As [THE CULT guitarist] Billy Duffy would call it, below-the-waist rock and roll. It's got a swagger. It's got a good pocket in the AC/DC sort of [way] — just that British thing. And they had me, this California dude, somehow. And it was my first big band. And I still go back. And I just talked to Billy Duffy today, and we're gonna play some CULT on this cruise that I'm doing. And then VELVET was more punky. I was more like — I don't know — I just felt on fire. I felt like when I made that record [VELVET REVOLVER's 2004 debut album, 'Contraband'], I was very… I was hungry again, and that was a nice feeling to have when you're in your 40s, to be hungry and to have success. When we made that record, it was on fire. I remember when we went in there, we were all fired up. I remember being in the studio going, 'This is gonna be a kick-ass album.' 'Cause we were just in it."

Sorum played drums with THE CULT on tour in support of the band's fourth studio album, 1989's "Sonic Temple", which was recorded with session drummer Mickey Curry. During this run, GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash saw him perform live, which led to Sorum being invited to join GUNS N' ROSES to replace Steven Adler.

Sorum returned to THE CULT a decade later to record the band's seventh studio album, "Beyond Good And Evil". Released in 2001, it was the first and only full-length studio album by THE CULT to feature Sorum on drums.

Sorum is not involved with GN'R's hugely successful reunion, which features singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan alongside drummer Isaac Carpenter, keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Richard Fortus and second keyboardist Melissa Reese. Carpenter replaced Ferrer in March 2025.

Sorum recorded the GUNS N' ROSES albums "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" (both 1991) and "The Spaghetti Incident" (1994). He also supported the group on the "Use Your Illusion" tour and can be heard on GUNS N' ROSES' "Live Era: '87-'93" (1999) and "Greatest Hits" (2004).

Matt was among the GUNS N' ROSES members who were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2012. He, Adler, Slash and McKagan attended the ceremony, while Rose and founding guitarist Izzy Stradlin stayed home.

Sorum formed VELVET REVOLVER in 2002 with McKagan and Slash. Sorum, McKagan, Slash and guitarist Dave Kushner held an exhaustive singer search after VELVET REVOLVER's formation that lasted for almost two years, during which they issued an open invitation to the public to send in demos. Eventually they settled on former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland. VELVET REVOLVER released two full-length albums through RCA/Sony BMG — 2004's "Contraband" and 2007's "Libertad" — before dismissing Weiland in April 2008.