SLASH Says VELVET REVOLVER Has 'Moved Leaps And Bounds' In Singer Search

Rick Florino of ARTISTdirect.com last month conducted an interview with legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES). You can now watch the chat below.

Regarding VELVET REVOLVER's search for a new vocalist to finally replace singer Scott Weiland — more than two years after the band fired the STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman over his erratic behavior — Slash said, "We've actually moved leaps and bounds in the last month. So we should be making an announcement one way or another [sometime in January]. So it's gonna be interesting going into the third record because we're gonna have a whole different personality as a vocalist. Chances are it's gonna be a lot heavier than anything VELVET REVOLVER has done so far. 'Cause that was the only thing missing for me — the sort or heaviness of it — in the first two VELVET REVOLVER records."

VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum recently told The Pulse Of Radio that after several more auditions the group has finally zeroed in on a possible new singer. "We got somebody that we're really liking a lot," he said. "We can't make the announcement yet because we're 'dating,' you know. We haven't consummated the relationship, we haven't sat down this gentleman and made the agreement together, but we're very excited and I think this could be a real turning point for the band. And I know it's been like this long-winded 'oh, VELVET REVOLVER this, VELVET REVOLVER that,' you know — we're tired of it, believe me. But we don't have the ability to just jump out there with any singer. We can't do it."

Sorum added that the potential new singer was a "known guy" who was "younger and stronger."

The drummer recently told VH1 Radio Networks' Dave Basner that if everything works out with this candidate, the band will record its third studio album and tour in the New Year. But he did tell VH1, "If it takes another year or two, it probably won't happen, but I feel very confident it's probably going to happen in 2011."

Singers who have been linked to the VELVET REVOLVER job include ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy — who also fronts Slash's touring band — SCARS ON BROADWAY's Frankie Perez and SPACEHOG's Royston Langdon, with both Perez and Langdon known to have auditioned at various points.

Slash recently finished a tour in support of his debut solo album and will head out on the road again later this month as the opening act for OZZY OSBOURNE.

VELVET REVOLVER released its first concert DVD on November 16, titled "Live In Houston". The 12-song, 78-minute disc was filmed in 2005 while the band was touring behind its 2004 debut album, "Contraband".