Slaughter could've landed Velvet Revolver gig

Mark Slaughter says he was asked to write for Velvet Revolver when the band were auditioning for lead singers in 2002.

But Slaughter, who released his debut solo album Reflections In A Rear View Mirror earlier this year, says while the project would have been “really cool” it wasn’t right for him.

He tells Totally Driven Radio: “When Guns N’ Roses flew apart and they were about to start Velvet Revolver, I was sent a song.

“I wrote a verse and a chorus and sent it back for that gig but the truth of the matter is that these guys have a kind of Hollywood, rock ’n’ roll thing and I’m the milk and cookies of the whole era.

“It really didn’t fit but the music was really interesting and that would have been a really cool thing if it would have flown.”

He says Great White also expressed an interest in acquiring his talents and reports he could have been in place for Vinnie Vincent Invasion’s debut in 1986 instead of Robert Fleischman. Slaughter appeared on follow-up All Systems Go two years later

He continues: “I could have been that guy but there’s a lot of different stuff why that didn’t click. I think the record label ultimately was the decision maker on that, more so than anybody.”

He says he doubts former Kiss man Vincent will ever get in touch with him again, and adds: “Vinnie hasn’t made a record since I left in 88.

“He’s a good songwriter, he’s a talented guy, I think he’s his own worst enemy in the words of Gene Simmons, and I think that’s what we’ve seen with him. After I left he didn’t do anything. That was it.”

Last year Slaughter released the track Never Givin’ Up which saw a portion of sales go to charity the Red Circle Foundation.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.