June 11, 2007 - Manchester, England - Manchester Apollo

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General Information

Date: June 11, 2007
Location: Manchester, England
Venue: Manchester Apollo; Ardwick Green, Manchester M12 6AP, England [ Venue website ]
Box Office Number: 0870 401 8000
Additional Info: Special Guests: Zico Chain

Thanks to Sverre for the setlist.

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 (17) [ send in your own review/pictures of the Manchester show ]

Thanks to danmillea: The real stars here are Velvet Revolver. An impatient crowd are getting a bit agitated as the supergroup are twenty-five minutes late on stage. However as soon as they do show up, especially Slash in that unmistakable hat, the place goes ballistic. Scott Weiland is looking better than he has at recent shows, sporting cropped dark hair when not wearing his captain’s hat. His slithering moves onstage fit around Slash’s expert guitar solos, and is backed up by a fit-for-his-age Duff McKagan on bass.

Fellow ex- Gun n Roses member Matt Sorum keeps the rhythm section in check. The only member I feel sorry for is Wasted Youth’s Dave Kushner, as who can stand on stage second to the mighty Slash? Weiland’s addition of the megaphone on many of the songs just boosts up the crowd even more, with the spotlight moving mainly from Weiland to Slash and McKagan. A lot of songs are played from ‘Contraband’, namely ‘Fall to Pieces’, as well new songs from upcoming album ‘Libertad’ (‘She Builds Quick Machines’, ‘Get Out The Door’ and ‘The Last Fight’).

I am a little disappointed there are no Stone Temple Pilots songs played, as I am more a fan of these than Guns n Roses. Now that they have two VR albums they have their own back catalogue to play, rather than play the hits from their previous bands many of us would like to hear. Still, the show is one that rock music was made for; top quality musicians, unique stage personalities coming together and making this huge sound.

For the encore we get covers of Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ (it always reminds me of Phil Collin’s ‘I Wish It Would Rain Down’; I’m sure he borrowed some of the Floyd’s stuff for that one) and Talking Head’s ‘Psycho Killer’. We do get a second encore of ‘Slither’, appropriate for Weiland’s dance moves. The show runs twenty-five minutes over curfew, so we do not lose out at all. With the demise of the other supergroup about at this time (Audioslave) it’s up to these Hollywood rockers to carry the crown until another contender comes along. Personally I think they will hold onto it with shows like these.

Thanks to BuiltMachine: This was a fantastic show, my first VR show and my first time in which I saw Slash & Duff & Matt, am a huge GN'R and seeing Slash and co tear it up was magical.

Scott and Dave were fantastic too, I caught one of Dave's guitar plecs actually.

A few highlights for me were..

Getting water thrown on me by Slash!!
Get Out The Door
Wish You Were Here
It's So Easy
Slither

just to name a few.

And get this, I lost my mobile phone/cell phone during the show and Matt's drum tech returned it to me.

Thanks to kathyb76/UK: What an amazing night.

I know I have probably said this everytime I have seen VR but last night was the best I have ever seen them. It just was perfect.

The crowd was amazing and the sound was fantastic- although Scott's mike could have done with being a bit louder. The whole show was as slick as fook.

I didn't appreciate however the ginger chick who kept pulling my hair trying to get me off the front row...I have her face saved in my memory and will get revenge!!!

I hope someone got video of Slash doing his little dance at the beginning of Psycho Killer (I think it was that song!!)

I am just in the process of uploading my pics, I have some OK ones.

Got a good one of Matt when he signed my ticket...that guy is a legend spending all that time with the fans.

I just can't believe how brilliant they played and sounded.

Duff really should be a model- one glimpse of a camera and he's working it like a pro!!!

All in all a great night, I just can't wait for the next one.

Thanks to Gilly: Brilliant night well worth the 3 hour journey first time for us but won't be the last, venue was spot on and crowd was brilliant best atmosphere ever. Anyone got any decent photos I took some with my phone and they are hopeless, did get one of Matt outside tho.

Thanks to Scott Zverblis from Manchester Evening News: The finest super group in active existence Velvet Revolver, features the pairing of former Stone Temple Pilot vocalist Scott Weiland, alongside three ex-Guns N' Roses.

Their concert on Monday night wasn’t just a high-octane rock show; it was a display of superb musicianship.

Muscular drummer, Matt Sorum, provided a solid backbone to the rock machine whilst Slash's signature guitar sound whipped up a frenzy and skinny-ribbed, leather clad, frontman Weiland complete with large megaphone and snake-like stage moves had the audience eating out of his hands from start to finish.

The Hollywood based rockers proved that dirty, heavy rock music can still be made.

After troubled times, Scott Weiland does not just look well - he looks alive and in total control of this wild rock and roll monster that he and Slash are unleashing onto the audience.

His cropped hair, indecent dances and intense eyeballing of the audience make for compelling viewing; your eyes only leave him to watch guitar hero Slash standing in the spotlight for yet another spell-binding solo.

Ripping through the contents of their debut album 'Contraband' and playing new tracks The Last Fight and She Builds Quick Machines, Velvet Revolver pull off a performance that justifies the fuss and make it look all too easy.

The encore sees Slash, losing his t-shirt to reveal a slightly older, podgier belly, and treating us to not one, but two cover versions - Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and Talking Head’s Psycho Killer.

Thanks to rpgsx3r: Great atmosphere last night and plenty of crowd surfing - someone was even vertically upside down in the air at one point! I was pretty close to the front and during Slither it was awesome. Slash was of course mostly on the right hand side all night, which is where he usually seems to stay.

I really don't know why people bother taking photos with cruddy little mobiles from 10ft away though - I could see their shots were pretty awful - grainy, blurry and often more heads or lights than the band! Don't spend all night trying to get decent photos people - just enjoy the night!

Thanks to nunodeadhorse: The show was amazing, excellent performance and the perfect venue same setlist as Glasgow, unless there was something I forgot.

Thanks to Andrew Channon: Another great performance. It was mega hot in there though. Scott felt the heat as he did not put his fur coat on for Wish You Were Here. Best song of the night for me must have been Get Out The Door, the band looked really tight and groovy playing this. Matt came out back after show to meet the fans, what a cool guy he spoke to everyone. I had my pic taken with him 3 times 2 I took which did not come out properly so matt took the last one and cut half our heads off. Matt if you get to read this I gotta say you rock big time. Legend and a gentleman.

Thanks to Horner: Fckin rock n roll at its finest, Slither was awsome and the new material is excellent. Slash you are a fckin god!

Thanks to Lynn: What an excellent show, I'm still on a high!!

From start to finish the Manchester Apollo came to life. The mix of new and old songs rocked, Scott was in good voice, Slash was his usual brilliant self, Duff moved around the stage with his usual ease and Matt and Dave seemed to really enjoy the shows atmosphere. The only downside was that none of the band interacted much with the audience, Scott introduced the odd song but the others didn't say a word either throughout the show or even at the end. This is the second time I've seen the band live and this time was much better than the first time. Please come back soon guys, don't leave it so long...

Thanks to Alex Richardson: The support band were pretty boring, they just screamed in the microphone and played inaudible chords. When the lights went out and all the guys came on, everyone went crazy!

I was in the front row, within reaching distance of Slash, who stayed on our side of the stage most of the time. Duff came over quite a lot too, which was amazing. I don't quite rememeber the setlist, but I wasn't focusing on remembering it!

At one point Slash opened a bottle of water and sprayed everyone with it, which was really cool. He also did a goofy duck dance and that got everyone going! Duff was amazing, every time he came close to our side of the stage everyone went mad and he smiled. He brought his daughter with him and she was at the back of the stage with headphones on!

Dave was awesome too, he went crazy at some points and threw his picks into the crowd. I was lucky enough to get one :D.

Scott was on fine form. I never really liked him as much as the others, but now I do!

When VR went off for a break, Matt threw his sticks into the crowd and they left. When they came back, Slash was holding his double neck guitar and playing a solo, which was magical. Then, the rest of the guys came back on and the show was on again. When they played It's So Easy, everyone went mad and I was completely crushed against the metal barrier, but hell, it was worth it!

At the end of the show, everyone rushed to the artist's entrance and waited for a sign of any band members. We waited a good hour for all the crew to load the boxes full of equipment onto the truck and then Matt came out!!

He went round the fenced area and talked and signed things for everyone in the front few rows. I wasn't quite close enough to get anything signed, but my friend got his ticket autographed!!

It was an amazing night, which will stay with me forever!

Thanks to Baz: Thought the show was exellent overall. You couldn't hear Scott too well though, could've turned his mike up a bit. Slash was flawless as usual + showing it can be cool to wear pink! Someone threw a plastic bottle and it hit him on his tophat, didn't even flinch! Not too sure about Psycho Killer in there, went down well with the crowd though. Top night!! P.S. Can anyone shed any light as to who the girl was sat at the side of the stage? Duff was talking to her mid-song a couple of times, cheers.

Thanks to Ian: Awesome show, probably the best show I have seen them play out of five. The venue suited them so well, it was much more intimite which suited their style. It was great to hear some old classics like Big Machine and Superhuman which they didn't play at Donington. On top of that, we got six new songs (Let it Roll, Get Out the Door, The Last Fight, She Builds Quick Machines, Just Sixteen and She Mine). All sounded so cool. Slash was on top form and Scott was all over the stage. They also cut down the GN'R and STP covers to one from each band, which I think is right given the material they have now.

Thanks to Paul Jackson: Well what can I say.... 4th time I've seen them and the 4th time I've been blown the fuck away by a truly magnificent show.

Got to The Apollo just before 4pm, there were a few people waiting outside for autographs. The band had not yet arrived. The sun was shining down, I was half tempted to take my top off, but I resisted. Threw a nice cold beer down my neck and then played the waiting game for the boys to arrive.

After a few false alarms, Duff arrived in a Silver Chrysler People Carrier with his daughter. He gave us all a wave and went straight inside. 15 mins later, Dave arrived in the same car. He just walked past the crowd, seemed more interested in his mobile phone.

Anyway, it got to 7pm and I was bored of waiting to see anyone else arrive, so I went inside, straight to the front, center stage. Less than 2 meters from the barrier.

Support went on at 8pm, they were alright like. Got a good crowd reception.

Then at 9.15, the lights went down, and the crowd went fucking INSANE. Five familiar looking silhouettes took to the stage and started up Let It Roll. The lights went up, and the crowd took the song title a little bit too literally, rolling up and about everywhere.

Do It For The Kids followed and the best and craziest mosh pit I have ever witnessed. I didn't know where the fuck I was gonna end up.

The rest of the set is a blur, but the highlights of the night for me were Set Me Free, It's So Easy, Psycho Killer & Slither.

Slash seemed to be in an excellent mood. He danced around the stage like a high school kid on a sugar rush - especially in Psycho Killer, where he did some mad fuckin funky dance.

None of the band spoke to the crowd though, aside from Scott. He kindly told us that they are Velvet Revolver and they STILL play motherfuckin' rock and roll.

Duff was a beast. Big bastard, so cool, so slick. A far cry from the beer crazed youngster he was in Guns. He had the same Johnny Rotten tank on that he did last time I saw 'em, 2 years ago... Oh and his daughter sat on stage on a chair, with a pair of headphones on, enjoying the show, clapping and singing. Daddy Duff went over to her every so often to smile and dance.

Dave seemed to keep himself to himself really. Didn't venture very far away from his side of the stage all night.

Matt was very cool and calm, he had some gay mouthpiece on, like what Britney Spears would wear...

Scott Weiland is still a crazy motherfucker, he is still a great front man, and he is still the best choice for fronting these guys. He wore two belts, one red and one white. They looked like women's to me.

And Mr. Slash... the guy is a rock god. I cannot fault him. He played endlessly last night, like a true motherfuckin rock n' roller. He didn't let up one note. Donning a pink t-shirt, with something about beer cans on it and wearing his top hat all night long (which I have never seen him do with VR before) you could tell he was in a great mood, because it showed in his face, in his music, in his stage presence. I love the guy.

Don't know what else to write. My body is aching, my ears still ringing. Was it worth it? FUCK YEAH

Thanks to Chris: Incredible show, solo's from Slash were amazing. 10/10!

Thanks to Kev: Awesome - 2 encores including Wish You Were Here and Psycho Killer. Such a great live act. Hope they do another tour later in the Winter, just like they did for Contraband.

Thanks to Slash103: Just got back from the show and I must say this was the 3rd time I have seen VR and they didn't disappoint. Me and my girlfriend stood in front of the mixing desk and the sound was great. Scott's voice travelled well throughout the show and he seemed to be in a great mood talking to the crowd a little bit more than usual.

Slash seemed his usual self playing up to the front row and laughing with a few people in the crowd and tearing it round the stage like a man possessed. Duff was the same moving and snaking around and making his presence felt. I thought Dave was a bit subdued till Vasoline then he came alive for about 5 mins but then went back into his shell till Set Me Free. Still can't complain he is a great guitarist.

I thought the new songs went down really well with the crowd, my personal opinion was that Get Out The Door was the best of the new songs. However I would say that there wasn't a weak new song at all.

Big Machine got the crowd going the most out of the Contraband songs they really dug it and were up and down alot, however Wish You Were Here got the biggest cheer and crowd reception of the night with the crowd singing along with Scott. Overall I thought it was a very tight performance and the best of the 3 performances I have seen them in.