Matt Sorum recently shared his thoughts on his time with Guns N’ Roses in an interview. The drummer looks back on those years with pride, saying they gave him credibility for his career. “It’s like watching somebody else’s movie,” he explained. “That name stays with me and has opened doors around the world.”
Sorum played drums with Guns N’ Roses until 1996. He was part of the iconic albums Use Your Illusion I and II, released in 1991, and The Spaghetti Incident? in 1994. His work with the band led to his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, alongside Steven Adler. “Axl Rose is probably the greatest frontman of that era and beyond,” Sorum noted. “I see videos pop up on Instagram, and I think, ‘Wow, we were pretty good.’”
He also talked about Velvet Revolver, the band he formed in 2002 with Duff McKagan and Slash from Guns N’ Roses, along with Dave Kushner. After a two-year search, they brought in Scott Weiland as their singer. Velvet Revolver released their debut album, Contraband, in 2004, followed by Libertad in 2007. Contraband sold three million copies and earned the band three GRAMMY nominations, winning one. They parted ways with Weiland in April 2008.
“I hoped we’d last longer, but it didn’t turn out that way,” Sorum said. “When we made Contraband, I felt like I was 20. We all got in great shape and cleaned up.” He recalled a moment in Manhattan when fans recognized him and McKagan as Velvet Revolver members. “We had created something new,” he said, praising Weiland as one of the best rock frontmen he’s worked with. Weiland passed away in December 2015 at age 48.
Sorum will perform with Geezer Butler and Paul Rodgers on March 2 at the 2026 Sound & Vision Awards in Palm Springs. The concert supports his Adopt the Arts program, which provides music education for over 3,500 students in Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. Tickets range from $150 to $500.
