June 5, 2007 - London, England - Hammersmith Apollo

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General Information

Date: June 5, 2007
Location: London, England
Venue: Hammersmith Apollo; Queen Caroline Street; London, W6 9QH England [ Venue website ]
Box Office Number: 0870-606-3400
Additional Info: Thanks to Wesley and Sammy for the set list.

Set List

• Let It Roll
• Do It For The Kids
• Sucker Train Blues
• Superhuman
• The Last Fight
• She Mine
• Big Machine
• Get Out The Door
• Fall To Pieces
• Vasoline
• Just Sixteen
• She Builds Quick Machines
• Set Me Free
• Wish You Were Here
• It's So Easy
• Psycho Killer
• Slither

Reviews (24) [ send in your own review/pictures of the London show ]

Thanks to JustMe: I know this is late but I went straight from the gig to bed and then to Download the next morning so I haven't had a chance to review till now.

But oh my god that show was amazing! I started off about 5 rows back in the middle but by halfway through the second song I was second row and to the right a bit. Close enough that I could see the stitching in the band members clothes!

The crowd had so much energy (around me anyway) it was brilliant, even when people didn't really know the new songs they didn't seem to care, they were jumping around anyway, well except for the ballads obviously.

And the new songs sounded brilliant live, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before but I love the bass in SBQM and live when you can actually feel it as much as hear it...damn, it was incredible.

I was a bit skeptical about the idea of them opening with a new one but Let It Roll really works, its very catchy and easy to get into so it really helps get people going.
Also it may have been my imagination but some of VR's own songs, most notably Do It For The Kids and Fall To Pieces finally seem to be getting as much of a reaction as the GNR and STP covers, which was very cool to see.

I'm pretty sure all the band members families were there as well, I saw three boys who must have been Noah, London and Cash, I think it was London who was air drumming because at one point he was running off behind the amps and Perla was chasing after him. I also saw Grace and I'm pretty sure I got a glimpse of Mae and Lucy as well. It was cool to see them all enjoying the show.

Finally it was really cool to meet everyone before the show, if a little bit confusing. I suck at learning names at the best of times and when I'm trying to match up real names and screen names as well (while drinking which didn't help) it was a bit overwhelming but very cool. Hopefully next time it happens we'll get there sooner and have more time to hang out.

Sorry we dissapeared afterwards, it sucks that we missed the after show party but it was either that or miss the coach to Download.

Thanks to JustLaura: Wow, great pics everyone!! I was there, it was the first concert I've ever been to. I was there early and queued for nearly 3 hours but couldn't get to the front as I had my Dad with me and he's got a dodgy knee so we stayed about half way back where that barrier was. Gutted that we couldn't be at the front. Gota say though that they ROCKED!! Been a fan for years (originally back in the GN'R days). Scott's voice was great last night! Had a truely excellent night, still half deaf today and sore from jumping about but SO worth it.

Thanks to Ruhie: Excellent gig!!! My arms are literally bruised from being crushed against the barrier at the front. Got some amazing photos which will be posted at a date in the near future (I swear my career should be as a photographer).

Cash and London were there, they kept trying to run onstage bless them.

Thanks to jujugirl: Last night's gig was superb. I'm glad someone posted the set list already 'cos I have such a poor memory! I was very impressed with the new stuff but I was blown away by the Psycho Killer cover and had goosebumps with Wish You Were Here.

I am so glad I didn't miss this concert and really wish I could make more.

Thanks to CristinaG: What a great show!!!
I jumped and sang the whole time and my feet are still so swollen. Next time though I'll make it to the front. I was somewhere in the middle and most of the people there were a bit too quiet. I am South American so I am used to fucking jump and rock during the whole concert.
Loved every single moment of the concert. Last Fight fucking rocks and Matt just kicks ass!!

I was cracking up when Scott said they love to come to London but it is so fucking expensive. I was just thinking to myself, if they said that, what someone like me (a foreign student) should say?

I cannot wait to see them again. What a fucking great band they are! The opening band was quite impressive.

Thanks to David Smyth from Evening Standard: While Axl Rose has been taking longer to record one new Guns N' Roses album than the Beatles took to lay down their entire oeuvre, his former bandmates are enjoying a creative purple patch with a new firebrand frontman.

GN'R bassist Duff McKagan, drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Slash now make up Velvet Revolver with Scott Weiland, a shirtless poser who has all the magnetism but less of the megalomania of his predecessor.

Less famous here than in the US, where his old band Stone Temple Pilots were a major beneficiary of the post-Nirvana alt-rock boom, these days Weiland is an American Pete Doherty, with a history of drug problems and a police rap sheet longer than his discography.

He fits perfectly with a bunch whose shocking tales of self-abuse, stopped hearts and an alcohol-induced burst pancreas are well documented, though their debauched cool was undermined last night by numerous small children distractingly scampering about to one side of the stage.

Thankfully, the band don't seem to take their roles, bringing two great strands of rock into the present day, too seriously. "This is a song about sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll and more sex," said Weiland introducing Superhuman, a strutting rocker with the chorus, "Cocaine, alcohol, lady lay, withdrawal".

Slash, all hair, cigarettes and leather trousers, looked like a cartoon rock god playing twin-necked guitar on an unlikely cover of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here.

An imminent second album, Libertad, also offers nothing more profound than riotous, fist-pumping rock. One frenzied new song, Just 16, was about a schoolboy's good luck in sleeping with his teacher.

Other new tracks, including She Mine and Get Out the Door, offered squealing guitars and hook-laden choruses, though The Last Fight was a less successful attempt at an Oasis-style mid-paced anthem. The highlight amid all the noise was Fall to Pieces, a rare ballad with a cascading guitar solo from Slash.

Another cover, Talking Heads' Psycho Killer, and a song each from their respective former groups, proved popular, but the wealth of fine originals proved that this is a thriving band that no longer needs to look backwards.

Thanks to Mr. Joshua: Quality concert, got some wicked photos and a few video clips on my camera, did you guys see Slash's kids at the side of the stage with their ear defenders on taking pictures?? It was a shame that Slash seemed to stay over the right hand side of the stage all night, he's normally a little bit more active around the stage but Dave certainly made up for that, throwing himself all over the place, I had visions of another Axl Rose accident when he broke his foot. Scott's voice sounded great as per usual and the new songs sounded awesome and it was good to hear him say that London has been the best place for rock for the last couple of decades.

Thanks to Sprite: VR are probably one of the best (if not the) live bands I've ever seen, the atmosphere was electric in there!

Wish you were here was a sick encore, It's So Easy was awesome as well.

Thanks to Andy H: Whooah great gig! Saw them at Brixton 2 years ago and have been hooked since. Tuesday night blew my eardrums, superb live performance, I can't wait for them to return to the UK, don't leave it too long!!

Thanks to David B: In addition to the set list there was Just Sixteen and Superhuman. Amazing show, they just get better every time I see them. Everyone played well and Scott's voice was on top form - my hightlighhts were Fall To Pieces, Do It For The Kids, Set Me Free and Wish You Were Here. Psycho Killer was pretty cool too. They put in so much energy and are great showmen. Can't wait for the new album and for them to come back for another tour.

Thanks to flownswift: Great show I thought. This the third time I've seen them at hammersmith and I have to say the previous two the sound seemed a little iffy but not this time. Perhaps that's due to the fact I was under the seating hangover this time? Not sure.

I thought Dave's energy was superb, and Slash played a killer set, if he did look a little knackered/pissed?

Scott was on good form and Matt was happy to be playing as he ever is it seems.

Great to hear some new stuff, Vasoline was a nice touch as was Wish You Were Here. Not sure about the repetition of It's So Easy all the time. That's the 3/3 time I've seen them play it. Perhaps time to drop the GNR thing, or change the tracks?

I'd give it 4 out of 5. Really enjoyed it. Quality of the t shirts is poor tho. Even the knocked off kit outside seemed better quality.

Thanks to goduffgo: WAH,WAH,WEE,WAH what a show! New songs were really really good live!

Thanks to Dave and Duff for actually giving me your picks! Think one of the best (and most tense) moment of the gig was the begining of Superhuman, Matt had his roadie sorting out his Kit and slash had already started playing, you could tell Matt was getting impatient and told duff n dave to not play yet, Matt grabbed the roadie by the back of his shirt and literally chucked him off the kit and started the song!

Scott grabbed a womans hat and showed it off onstage and after the song bless him came up to us and asked where she was! Loved Scott's fur coat gotta get one of them! Dave was amazing I think he's having trouble with the press or summit coz at time he did look a bit nervous and shy, but he exploded after the first few songs! Duff was Duff! Absolute legend!! Little annoyed that he out pouted me!!Please don't wait 2 years to come back next time we miss ya!!

Thanks to Henry: * * * * * 5 stars. This is the second time that I have seen the band, first being the last time they played at Hammersmith. I thought that the volume was just right, I could hear every note, and in the standing stalls new album out on july 3rd, I'm there.

Thanks to Vick: I saw VR at Hammersmith a few years ago and throught they were excellent. By the sounds of the new songs, this album is going to be even better than their first which is something I wasn't expecting. I got crushed to bits on Tuesday at Hammersmith but the boys rocked their socks off (assuming they wore them) I noticed they all seemed like they looked really happy which was really good to see. I can't describe how amazing the gig was!!!

Thanks to Andrew McGuinness: Last Tuesday was a very gloomy day for me as I received the devastating news that the band were not coming to Dublin for their highly anticipated show with The Who. Anyway, Wednesday came with exciting news. Brendan Morrissey, formerly of Kilkenny band My Little Funhouse, the band that went on tour with Guns N¹Roses in 1992, phoned me with the invite.

I had already seen VR in Germany, Dublin, Belfast and Australia with my good friend Anthony Greene. So this was my fifth VR show and a chance to meet the band. I met Duff before the gig in the corridor and I have to admit, I was very nervous but he is a nice guy.

The venue was packed and the energy was powerful. They arrived on stage and blasted straight into Let it roll.
The audience went nuts instantly and the whole front section of the arena was a huge mosh pit. The new material was great and I'm looking forward to the new album.

But the climax of the night has to have been the final song ­ Slither. Just before Slash¹s guitar solo the whole stage went red and the crowd knew exactly what was coming ­ powerful stuff!

VR also did excellent covers of Pink Floyds Wish you were here and Talking Heads Psycho Killer.

After the show we went out to where the tour busses were parked in a bid to meet the band. I managed to meet the whole band at this stage apart from Slash. Then a black van pulled up outside the door and Slash, his wife, children and babysitter jumped in. I was standing with the scratch plate off my guitar waiting for him to sign it but now my hopes seemed to be shattered.

My friend Padraig Morrissey was having none of it. He tapped on the window and said hello to his babysitter and told her "this guy has to get Slash¹s autograph, he's been wanting to meet him since he was 12". So Slash opened the door and asked us not to take photos. He shook my hand and gave me the signature and had a quick chat despite the fact that I was too gob smacked to chat back.

So there you have it. It may seem childish but I still can¹t believe I met Slash. Last week I wandered what I would say to him, I didn¹t realise I actually wouldn¹t be able to say anything.

Apart from the buzz of meeting the band - the show was brilliant and they truly are the best live act I've ever seen.

Thanks to Sam Pugh: It had been two years since I saw them last in Hammersmith apollo, and I was sooooo looking forward to this day since we got the tickets. The new material was awesome I especially loved the new single She Builds Quick Machines...that is an awesome first single for a second album release. They played a Stone Temple Pilots cover of Vasoline which was phenomenal and It's So Easy which all the crowd sang along to. It was good to hear some of my favourites from the 1st album like Slither, Big machine, Fall To Pieces and Sucker Train Blues........they had their kids and wives there too one of Duff's daughters jumped up to him as he was leaving the stage which was so sweet.

The day after my mates txtd me to tell me that Duff and family were in the Tower of London where I worked but was my day off which I was gutted about.....but at the end of the day I had a fantastic night seeing the world's best guitarist and seeing the world top rock band and can't wait to see them live in London again.

Also my brother noticed that Scott's voice sounded so much stronger this time.

Thanks to Emily: Fantastic - took my son - we both just love Slash - he loves his guitar playing and I love it when he takes his shirt off. This sort of mother and son bonding suits me. Thanks Velvet Revolver for a great night.

Thanks to Perry: Awsooooooooome!!! It's so good to see Slash and the boys kicking ass again!!!

They played well together and seem happier as a band now. And the new songs sound great. Definatly worth the 8 hour journey!

Thanks to Christine Harvey: Well. What can I say a brilliant gig. First time I had seen VR but have been a fan for ages. Great covers of Wish You Were Here and Psycho Killer. Sucker Train Blues rocked as did Slither and Big Machine. Great great great!!!!!

Thanks to Sammy: Velvet certainly have their Revolvers ready for firing pure kick ass Rock 'n' Roll!

Last night was full of the Rock 'n' Roll you wish you could play yourself, but instead, you rock with the thousands of men, women and children, fans like you, to the band you aspire to be, as soon as the guys hit one inch of the stage, you automatically felt honoured to be in their presence - or at least I did.

VR opened the set with 'Let it Roll' a taster of what is to come from the second album [Libertad] is released - 'Do it for the kids' a regular favourite on a classic Velvet setlist but none the less it certianly got the crowd going! - 'Sucker Train Blues' the last world tours main opener now a firm favourite in a stadium venue with the crowd joining in on this one which definatly added a little more awesomeness in the air!!!

'Superhuman' another great crowd singing song " Cocaine, Alcohol!!!" - time for another Libertad teaser 'The Last Fight' is a step down for a few minutes from the punch in your face rock, a tender, sweet balled with the touching lyrics and sounds that makes it a great pick for maybe the second single after She Builds Quick Machines - 'She's Mine' an upbeat right in your face good old rock song!, just what the crowd needed to hear in my opinion good old fashioned rock! - 'Big Machine' one of many favourites, well I loved all the songs actually to pieces, everyone in the crowd was certianly ready for the big machines definatly rocked to roof off!

'Get Out The Door' - a killer song for all ages with a groove that mades me dance all the way through!!! - 'Fall To Pieces' Scott didn't really need to sing the song although he added to extra strong vocal on top of the crowds vocals too pure greatness from all corners of the Apollo - 'Vasoline' - great song, great cover, the band were just so energetic at this point and all through the entire set it was just unbelievable! 'Just Sixteen' - Wow! awesome song, if you haven't listened to it yet - go and buy the new EP now!! 'She Builds Quick Machines' VR's first single from Libertad what a fucking awesome live song, I loved it to pieces!

'Set Me Free' this song is also another brilant live/jamming song, never out of place in anyway - just great music. Encore - 'Wish You Were Here' - the song brought tears to my eyes, this is one of my favourite covers but it does hit a personal nerve as it does with Scott, such a great voice with a great song, truely beautiful - 'It's So Easy' - the crowd and of course VR! were totally rocking their socks of to this cover, this song never gets boring it always pleases me and certainly everyone at the show too.

Encore 'Psycho Killer' another new edition to the VR setlist but as a great cover version [also featured on the new EP] Slash was brillant! It was just so crazy! Finally 'Slither' there is no other song I can think off that VR could use to end this spectacular set! All I can say is no matter how much crap these guys get given by the press etc - they can damn well put on a fucking great show and if anyone say otherwise then they are just stupid.

Thanks to Jon: The band were rocking but the sound wasn't due to the soundman. It spoiled a cracker of a gig. Basically bass frequencies seemed to be resonating in the room (not in tune with the music) and were louder than the guitars and vocals for most of the gig. Am going to Download/Donington and will see the guys do it properly there!

Thanks to Julie C: Have to say I was a bit disappointed by the show having seen them 8 times on the last tour I really thought they would have been able to build on what they had. Don't get me wrong it was not a bad performance it was just a 'safe' one, there was no edge to it all. To me it seemed as though the guys were just going through the motions. None of the new tracks played really stood out either. Hopefully it will be better in Glasgow & Holland but don't hold out much hope for Holland as Slash has never liked doing the festival shows.

Thanks to HG: Great night. A great ballbusting band. New material sounded very strong - can't wait for the release date of the new album. The band obviously enjoy playing with each other and were so dynamic and it was funny seeing the children try and crawl onstage at the back. And lots of parents in black t-shirts brought their kids along. There's hardly a need to play any Guns & Roses material (great as it would be though) because Velvet Revolver are a great rock band in their own right with their own identity and their own set of new classics. (Slither is an all time classic already). By comparison Axl Rose is his own tribute band.

The parasite spiv like touts outside really annoyed me as did the 'unnoficial' t-shirt sellers outside almost forming a wall at the exits. They seemed very organised and sinister. If the likes of Peter Grant (the legendary Led Zepp manager) were still around, he would have kicked the shit out them. Might have to buy a ticket from a tout though...as I want to see VR again while they're still in country.

Thanks to Wesley Harris: It was a huge set list and I was lucky enough to be right at the front to see and hear the show nice and close. This is the second time I have seen the guys (the last being in Sydney on their first tour in 2005) and this was by far the better of the two. Not that there was anything wrong with the first time but they blew me out of the water. The new material such as 'The Last Fight', 'Just 16', 'Get Out the Door' and SBQM were all great though I'm not too sure about 'Let it Roll'. I'll need some more time on that one.
It was great to see they added 'Big Machine' to the set list the crowd loved it.

The stands out tracks for the crowd (at least my bit of it) were 'Fall to Pieces' 'Vasoline' and 'It's So Easy' (of course there were HEAPS of Gunners fans there to enjoy that one).

It was great to see the band playing up to some kids (maybe theirs? I'm not sure) who were waving madly from the backstage with their Mums, it really was a sweet moment.

All in all the guys were really tight and played so well together. Dave got some mean air during a couple of songs, leaping all over the front of the stage. Scott was really playing to the crowd and even grabbed a hat from the girl in front of me and wore it on stage. Slash was great and really moved around the stage as did Duff. And as always Matt looked so alive behind the drums he always seems so happy to be there.

A great night 5 big stars from me.