VELVET REVOLVER's DAVE KUSHNER: Replacing SCOTT WEILAND Is 'A Hugely Arduous Task'

In a brand new interview with Alternative Nation, VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Dave Kushner was asked about the band's current singer situation, more than six years after the dismissal of the group's original frontman Scott Weiland. "I think it's one of those things that no one wants to close the door on it, but I also agree that replacing Scott is a hugely arduous task for anybody," he said. "I don't know if we actively look all at the same time. Everyone has stuff going on: Matt [Sorum, drums] has his solo record and is involved in a lot of different things, Slash [guitar] obviously has his solo thing, Duff [McKagan, bass] has other bands like LOADED and WALKING PAPERS, I've been doing a lot of work as a composer and doing my other project PUSHER JONES. We all have kids and busy lives, so it just depends on, for a lack of a better term, when the stars align and we all start a conversation for some reason. Because we're always playing together in some different iteration… Unfortunately so far it has not been a unanimous decision on whoever gets thrown in a hat [as a potential replacement for Scott]. But there's always someone. Someone has a friend that says, 'Yeah I know this guy that might be right.' Or some producer or record industry person or A&R guy says: 'Hey, you guys still looking for a singer?' And maybe we'll hear something that piques everyone's interest. Now with the Internet, it's so easy to just obviously send MP3s and say: 'Hey check out this guy, here's his site, here's what he looks like, here's what he sounds like.' We get to move forward that way without having to get too physically or emotionally involved. It's like a dating service, you can look at the pictures online and talk to the people online, and see an interview with them, before you even set up a date with them. That's what the Internet affords you for trying out singers."

VELVET REVOLVER released two full-length albums through RCA/Sony BMG — 2004's "Contraband" and 2007's "Libertad" — before dismissing Scott Weiland in April 2008.

VELVET REVOLVER reunited with Weiland for a four-song set in January 2012 at a Los Angeles tribute concert for late songwriter John O'Brien, but the band has otherwise remained inactive.

At one point it was reported that VELVET REVOLVER was going to team with STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor, but the idea was ultimately vetoed by Slash. The group and Taylor recorded demos of 10 songs together.

In a recent interview with Rock Revolt Magazine, Sorum called the launch of VELVET REVOLVER the" biggest moment" of his career. He explained: "Because at a certain point during the formation, I was like, 'Can we really do this? Can we really pull this off again?' And we all did. We got together and had a very successful band after GUNS N' ROSES. That was really icing on the cake, especially for Slash, Duff and myself. To be able to come out of a band that big, and basically have Hollywood turn their back on us, was initially very difficult — and the answer to the low point. To go back and reinvent ourselves wasn't easy. When we managed to do just that, we were very, very ecstatic.

"Duff and I came out of a subway one day in New York City and some kid yelled at us, 'Hey! You're Duff and Matt from VELVET REVOLVER!' That was the first time we ever heard that after years of, 'Hey it's Duff and Matt from GUNS N' ROSES!' And we knew right then that everything was going to be alright. We were able to move on; we were able to move forward."