VELVET REVOLVER: We Don't Understand Why We've Been Denied Japanese Visas

VELVET REVOLVER has been forced to cancel its four scheduled concerts in Japan as immigration officials there have denied the band's request for visas. According to concert promoter Creativeman Productions Co., Ltd., "the members of VELVET REVOLVER were looking forward to their tour of Japan — a series of four concerts to promote their current album 'Libertad' between November 26 and November 30, encompassing the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Yokohama. For the band, the upcoming trek was an opportunity to reconnect with their fans in Japan, where the band tour has toured before — without incident — back in 2005. But now it's a different story as VELVET REVOLVER's request for visas has just been denied. The increasingly tough Japanese immigration officials are taking exception with the backgrounds of various band members, which have included arrests."

VELVET REVOLVER is appealing the decision of the officials — which is ironic given that "libertad" is Spanish for "liberty" and "freedom" — but this process will unfortunately take months to sort out.

"We want to apologize to our fans in Japan that we won't be able to perform our scheduled concerts," VELVET REVOLVER said in a group statement. "We don't understand why the authorities won't give us visas when they granted them for us in 2005 for what was a successful tour and a great experience. We love Japan and look forward to our return there."

VELVET REVOLVER will proceed with their Australian tour that begins on December 4 in Brisbane. Upon its return to the U.S., the band — lead vocalist Scott Weiland, guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Dave Kushner — will headline Wednesday, December 12 at the Gibson Amphitheatre. This show — with ALICE IN CHAINS — was originally set for Friday, October 26 at the outdoor Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA but was postponed due to the devastating Southern California wildfires.

Upcoming VELVET REVOLVER shows:

Dec. 04 - Brisbane, Australia - Convention Centre
Dec. 05 - Sydney, Australia - Enmore Theatre
Dec. 06 - Sydney, Australia - Enmore Theatre
Dec. 08 - Melbourne, Australia - Festival Hall
Dec. 12 - Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre