In 2001, former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum wandered off in their solo projects and band initiations. Slash formed Slash’s Snakepit while McKagan returned to his former project, 10 Minute Warning, and established a solo career. On the other hand, Sorum went back to his previous band, the Cult. Their departure from GN’R was due to their problems with the band’s founding member, Axl Rose.
Known as the drummer for Ozzy Osbourne and Mötley Crüe in his career, Randy Castillo had died in 2002, saddening the music world. The former Guns N’ Roses trio decided to do a benefit concert as a tribute to Castillo and figured out they were in sync and considered forming a band. They started to create music and form a band together that would later be called Velvet Revolver. Hence, they began sending out invitations to vocalists to audition.
Why Did Mike Patton Refuse Joining Velvet Revolver?
While many names like Stephen Shareaux, Steve Ludwin, and Sebastian Bach accepted the auditions, musicians like Myles Kennedy, Ian Astbury, and Mike Patton refused even to try out being the vocalist of The Project, the initial name of the band at its formation period.
Faith No More’s Mike Patton had been with his band from 1988 to 1998 and took a hiatus between 1998 and 2009. However, the offer was not appealing to the singer, and he talked about declining it in an interview back in 2003. His mocking attitude grabbed attention as it was evident that he didn’t take the whole idea seriously, and he didn’t refrain from stating it in the interview.
The interviewer first asked:
“Tell me about being approached by The Project?”
Patton replied:
“Sorry?”
The interviewer clarified:
“The new band Slash and the other ex-Guns N’ Roses guys are putting together.”
Patton said in disbelief:
“Did you just call it The Project? That’s hilarious. It sounds much better than I’m sure it is. Er, well, I wasn’t really approached. I just got a phone call from an ex-manager asking if I would be interested. Well, I wasn’t, and that was about it. Not very exciting.”
After his mocking remarks about the newly forming band, the interviewer asked why he wasn’t interested. Patton stated that the reason was apparent, and everybody else knew except those trying to gather the group. If you ask the musician, humor in this matter sarcastically meant the band was doomed to fail.
Patton’s Reaction To Scott Weiland Working With ‘The Project’
When Stone Temple pilots disbanded in 2003, Scott Weiland received some demos from The Project. Even though he added his vocals and created the song ‘Set Me Free,’ he was still on and off about joining the band. He had his doubts that the band would not be worth the effort, but he eventually performed with them.
Later, they re-recorded ‘Set Me Free’ and a cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Money.’ Upon the release, the song reached number 17 on Mainstream Rock Chart, which showed Weiland a hope and a promising promise future. When Patton heard that Weiland was working with them, he continued mocking him and even stated that he thought Weiland was dead.
The interviewer first informed Patton:
“I hear they are now doing stuff with Scott Weiland.”
Patton replied:
“I thought he was dead.”
The interviewer said:
“No, he’s alive. He’s just been arrested for cocaine possession again.”
Patton continued:
“OK. Well, this band will kill him off and do the world a favor.”
Weiland worked with Velvet Revolver from 2003 until their disbandment in 2008 and unfortunately passed away in 2015. After Weiland left the band in 2008, they started to look for a new vocalist but failed, which eventually led to the musicians focusing on their solo careers. The band only had a one-off reunion in 2012 and is unlikely to reunite after Weiland’s death in 2015.
