Velvet Revolver

Anyone who has heard interviews with the group Velvet Revolver pretty much knows the members could have named themselves the Rehab All-Stars. Front man Scott Weiland, formerly of Stone Temple Pilots, is notorious for his drug use and surrounding shenanigans. The behavior of his bandmates/Guns n’ Roses expatriates — guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Dave Kushner — is pretty well-documented, too. Now that they’ve reportedly cleaned up, they’ve managed to beat the odds and crank out relentlessly addictive rock that’s on a par with their hazy days. With its swirling mélange of grinding guitars and Weiland’s trademark howling lyrics, Velvet Revolver’s first single, “Slither,” snaked its way onto Billboard‘s Modern Rock Tracks’ No. 5 spot for the week of June 5. With the full-length album, Contraband, just now in stores, this could be one supergroup that’s in it for the long haul.