Myles Kennedy spent about two weeks working with Velvet Revolver’s demos before deciding he was not the right fit for the band, he told Rock Feed. Kennedy was a huge fan of Guns N’ Roses, but his experience at a major label had left him in a difficult place.
Kennedy explained that five years with the Mayfield Four on a major label had taken a toll on him. When he received the demos from Velvet Revolver, he was not in the right state of mind to pursue the opportunity.
“I got the demos. I spent about two weeks on ’em and I just, I was in a weird place where I was just kind of shell-shocked from being at a major label for five years,” Kennedy said.
Despite his love of the band’s music, Kennedy felt he should not try out. “I’m like one of the biggest Guns fans ever … but I don’t think I’m, I’m going to put my hat in the ring,” he explained.
Kennedy decided not to move forward because he believed the band deserved someone better. “I never sent him the demo. … I was kind of damaged goods. That’s how, that’s how honestly how I felt. And I, I didn’t want, I just didn’t want to waste their time,” he said.
Kennedy made this choice when Slash contacted him about the demo. The decision meant he never submitted his work back to the band.
The Mayfield Four had been active from 1996 to 2002 and was signed to Epic Records, where the band released two albums before struggling to make a lasting impact and eventually disbanding. In 2002, Kennedy’s manager told him that Velvet Revolver might call him about their search for a singer, and Slash was on the other end of the line when Kennedy picked up the phone. The opportunity came at a vulnerable moment, as the future of his current band had begun to look unlikely.
Scott Weiland ended up completing the Velvet Revolver lineup in 2003, and the band released its debut album Contraband in 2004. Before Weiland joined, Velvet Revolver held meetings with musicians including Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach and Travis Meeks of Days of the New. Many other well-known musicians were rumored or confirmed to have been considered, including Chester Bennington, Lenny Kravitz, and Sebastian Bach.
After declining the opportunity to audition for Velvet Revolver, Kennedy was asked to join Alter Bridge by Mark Tremonti in late 2003. Alter Bridge was formed in 2004 by Kennedy, Tremonti, Brian Marshall, and Scott Phillips, after the former band Creed became inactive in 2003. Kennedy formally joined Alter Bridge in 2004, launching a career with the band that would span decades.
