COREY TAYLOR On Failed VR Singer Bid: 'I Guess It Just Wasn't Working For SLASH'

COREY TAYLOR On Failed VELVET REVOLVER Singer Bid: 'I Guess It Just Wasn't Working For SLASH' - May 5, 2011

After months of speculation that STONE SOUR/SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor was going to become the new VELVET REVOLVER singer, followed by theories about why the band never eventually pulled the trigger, VELVET guitarist Slash admitted in a recent interview that he was the main holdout against Taylor getting the gig.

Slash confirmed to Vorterix.com that Taylor did work with the group, explaining, "All we were doing was just rehearsing with him and trying him out — auditioning him . . . he did come in and do all that. It just didn't seem to fit right to me. And he's great, and I love Corey, but it didn't seem like the answer to the VELVET REVOLVER problem."

Slash blamed social networks for spreading the rumor that Taylor was joining the group, saying, "As soon as that rumor (got around), next thing you know, everybody is saying Corey's the new singer. It's just an audition process; it's the way that we do it."

During a co-hosting gig on last night's (Wednesday, May 4) edition of the "Louder" radio show, which airs on the Live 105 station in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Taylor was asked to respond to Slash's comments. "We got together and we jammed some stuff and I guess it just wasn't working for him, which… He's Slash and he's entitled to have that, and I'm not gonna argue with him," Corey said. "But it was cool to just be able to get together and jam with those guys and I made some really cool friends. Me and Duff [McKagan, VELVET bassist] are really close. It's one more thing I can say I did."

Sadly for VELVET REVOLVER fans, Slash admitted that it doesn't look like a solution to the "problem" is happening any time soon. He said, "Next year I definitely will make another Slash record with Myles Kennedy and go on tour. So at least for the next couple of years, nothing is going to be happening with VELVET REVOLVER that I can see 'cause I'll be focused on this . . . I'm just not really concerning myself with it right now. We had all these different guys try out, all really good singers, but nobody has fit the thing, so, you know, I have to move on."

Duff McKagan recently revealed that recordings exist of Taylor singing with the band. McKagan seemed a little more positive about Taylor than Slash, telling Music Radar, "Whether he's in VELVET REVOLVER or not . . . I think he's the best voice of a new generation. The best rock 'n' voice out there. He's got a lot of positive energy. I'd be proud to do anything with him."

Slash released his debut solo album last year, while McKagan is busy with his band LOADED and drummer Matt Sorum is playing on and producing various projects.

Taylor has been touring with STONE SOUR and will hit the road this summer with SLIPKNOT for a series of European festival appearances.