Velvet Revolver:

Hammersmith Apollo, London

On: 22/01/05

By: Gaby

This was another equally well looked forward to event. There was anticipation and menace in the air as we took our seats in the balcony for what was to be an “event” in every sense of the word.

 First observation was that the band were an hour late in taking to the stage. Not brill, if like my girlfriend pointed out you spend a lot of money for the gig, the least the band can do is turn up and start the performance on time. After all you would not put up with it if your food arrived late in a restaurant. But having said that if the food you were about to receive was as good as what we experienced that evening, I’d probably have waited another hour.

 This was an absolutely electrifying performance. It was loud, sexy, in-your face and above all “real”! This for me is what rock is all about. A no-nonsense wall to wall pile driver of an assault on the senses that guarantees to make you wake up, listen and take notice.

 To a highly appreciative and packed sell-out audience VR delivered hit after hit off their spell-binding debut album “Contraband” as well as a number of old favourites from Guns and Roses.

 No surprise considering 3 of the band members of VR were in Guns and Roses ie: Slash, Duff and Matt Sorum. Add to that, the mesmerising and all together “not of this world” Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots fame and you have a band of rare pedigree indeed.

And what a pedigree it is! All of these guys are lucky to be alive after the heavy rock and roll lifestyle they have put themselves through over the years. But here they were at their finest doing what they do best, blasting out a cacophony of noise and excitement that I had not experienced for many a year.

 I hardly knew who to give my attention to next as they bounded round the stage like penned in wild animals. Scott Weiland danced around like some demented chicken on acid offering a non-stop menace to proceedings; whilst Slash delivered some of the most beautiful guitar licks I have ever heard all to the pounding chest thumping beat and rhythm provided by Matt and Duff.

 This was one class act and though perhaps Scott Weiland over indulged himself with his megaphone a tadge too much and there was rather too much strobe lighting for my liking and often the mix was so bad you could hardly hear the lyrics I was sold that if there is to be a future for rock music, then this was it. Now it’s just a question of the band members staying alive and staying together… Do not miss this band at all costs. You will regret it if you do!