Velvet Revolver's Libertad Set For Summer

04/26/07 6:00pm

Velvet Revolver will celebrate their freedom to rock with the July 3 release of their second album, Libertad.

Singer Scott Weiland, guitarists Slash and Dave Kushner, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum came up with the album title (which is Spanish for "Freedom") after McKagan walked into a recording session wearing a T-shirt with the word emblazoned on the front, and Slash found a coin that had the same thing stamped on it.

"What we're trying to say on a musical and lyrical level is clearer this time," explains Weiland. "The songs may have started out being very personal, but they took on a more universal truth as they were nurtured by the five-headed beast that is Velvet Revolver."

The follow-up to 2004's Contraband, which sold three million copies worldwide, was produced by Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine, Bruce Springsteen). Weiland says the studio veteran challenged the supergroup to take things farther than they had before.

"Libertad definitely rocks, but there are a lot more textures and everyone really raised the bar on their skills. It just goes places the first album didn't go."

The album will be preceded by the single "She Builds Quick Machines."

Velvet Revolver will play 12 North American shows, including one on May 13 at Toronto's Kool Haus, to preview some of their new material. A more extensive Canadian tour is expected in the summer.

Here are the songs on Libertad:

"Let It Roll"
"She Mine"
"Get Out The Door"
"She Builds Quick Machines"
"The Last Fight"
"Pills, Demons & Etc."
"American Man"
"Mary Mary"
"Just Sixteen"
"Can't Get It Out Of My Head"
"For A Brother"
"Spay"
"Gravedancer"