VELVET REVOLVER Zeroing In On 'Younger And Stronger' New Singer

According to The Pulse Of Radio, VELVET REVOLVER is apparently circling a new vocalist to finally replace singer Scott Weiland, more than two years after the band fired the STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman over his erratic behavior. Drummer Matt Sorum told The Pulse Of Radio that after several more auditions the group has finally zeroed in on someone. "We got somebody that we're really liking a lot," he said. "We can't make the announcement yet because we're 'dating,' you know. We haven't consummated the relationship, we haven't sat down this gentleman and made the agreement together, but we're very excited and I think this could be a real turning point for the band. And I know it's been like this long-winded 'oh, VELVET REVOLVER this, VELVET REVOLVER that,' you know — we're tired of it, believe me. But we don't have the ability to just jump out there with any singer. We can't do it."

Sorum added that the potential new singer was a "known guy" who was "younger and stronger."

Matt Sorum talking to The Pulse Of Radio about VELVET REVOLVER singer search (audio):

The drummer recently told VH1 Radio Networks' Dave Basner that the band was "real close" to landing their man, saying, "This has been going on for a while but the reality of it is [VELVET guitarist] Slash has been on the road [promoting his solo album] for the last year. We only started rehearsing last week after a year off and we're going to rehearse again in January with this particular person."

Sorum says that if everything works out with this candidate, the band will record its third studio album and tour in the new year. But he did tell VH1, "If it takes another year or two, it probably won't happen, but I feel very confident it's probably going to happen in 2011."

Singers who have been linked to the VELVET REVOLVER job include ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy — who also fronts Slash's touring band — SCARS ON BROADWAY's Frankie Perez and SPACEHOG's Royston Langdon, with both Perez and Langdon known to have auditioned at various points.

Slash recently finished a tour in support of his debut solo album and will head out on the road again in January as the opening act for OZZY OSBOURNE.

VELVET REVOLVER released its first concert DVD on November 16, titled "Live In Houston". The 12-song, 78-minute disc was filmed in 2005 while the band was touring behind its 2004 debut album, "Contraband".