Ex-THE CULT Singer IAN ASTBURY Says He Was Asked To Audition For VELVET REVOLVER

August 5, 2004

Former THE CULT frontman Ian Astbury recently gave an interview to the Poptones web site about his work with THE DOORS 21ST CENTURY and his near-audition with VELVET REVOLVER, among other topics. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Poptones: Oliver Stone asked you to play Jim Morrison in his 1989 epic "The Doors". You turned him down but in 2004 you are now playing with key DOORS members. Why the change of heart?

Ian Astbury: "You have to realise that was in 1989. I was wrapped up in being Ian Astbury in THE CULT. So when I got the call from Oliver Stone I had to say no. And I would have said no because I didn't relate to Hollywood people. And I felt that Oliver Stone was a voyeur to rock'n'roll. It was all so shallow and laughable."

Poptones: What solo stuff are you working on at the moment?

Ian Astbury: "I just finished a session with Gordon Raphael. Three songs. Three really good songs. It was done with a few friends in a get-to-know-you type session. I loved it. Gordon has a great energy in the studio.

"And I finished working on some material with Trent Reznor. That is probably going to see the light of day in 2008 considering what a perfectionist Trent Reznor is."

Poptones: What about VELVET REVOLVER?

Ian Astbury: "I was asked to rehearsal. Was sent the tape. But you know what? I never felt it. So I turned it down. But there you go — they have probably sold about ten million records but there is no point in selling ten million records if you aren't enjoying it. I did play the completed record and there is a lot of craft, melody and it is a good record in that genre."

Poptones: What's in your future Ian Astbury?

Ian Astbury: "I'm putting together a band at the moment called WARRIOR OF THE MYSTIC PLAINS. I called it that because I love the name even though all the press will be like: 'That twat ... exactly what we expected of that twat.' It's all hush-hush at the moment."

Read Ian Astbury's entire interview with Poptones at this location.

(Thanks: The NIN Hotline)

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