Veteran rock drummer Brian Tichy (OZZY OSBOURNE, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, PRIDE & GLORY, BILLY IDOL), who recently filled in for injured Matt Sorum on several VELVET REVOLVER headlining U.S. tour dates, has posted the following message on his official web site:

"Slash, Duff, Dave, Scott and Matt ..... Thanks for giving me the opportunity to hold down the rhythmic fort for you guys... It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of the mighty rock machine that is known as VELVET REVOLVER...

"At the end of July, with three shows to go before a three-week break in the [BILLY] IDOL tour, I got a call from the good people over in the VELVET REVOLVER camp. Drummer Matt Sorum had broken his hand and was unable to do the upcoming tour. I talked to VELVET REVOLVER's guitarist Slash and he wanted to see if I was available to fill in. I accepted the challenge... With a little bit of schedule juggling and a copy of their CD, I started to get it all together. I flew back to L.A. three days later, got in a cab and went straight to rehearsal. I did seven shows with the guys and then flew back to L.A. for about a day and a half. I then got back on a plane and flew to Canada to start back up with Billy for the next month.

"Playing with VELVET REVOLVER was great. I've known Slash for a long while now, (I toured with him in '95 when he released the first SNAKEPIT record.) I've also known Matt, Duff and Dave for quite some time as well. They are a killer band. Slash has always been one my favorite guitar players and it was as inspiring as ever to play with him again. And what about Duff? Since 'Appetite' came out, I've always thought his bass tone was bad ass. Scott's a great frontman, Dave kicks ass and Matt made up a bunch of cool drum parts to dig into.

"All in all, the whole 'tour-hopping' experience was not unlike that of drunken clown juggling expensive silverware while balancing a seal from his nose who, in turn, is balancing a beach ball from its nose. All the while the clown's drunken clown friends throw raw meat and W.A.S.P. CDs at him with the soundtrack from 'Rocky I' coming from the left side and 'Chariots of Fire' coming from the right! This all happens right after Halford, Gillan, Cornell, Plant and Buckley have a 'high-note hitting' contest with King Diamond as the judge... Just then Brian Johnson walks in and takes over! He sings a verse and a chorus of 'Hell's Bells' with MESHUGGAH as his backup band. Since everyone loves Brian Johnson, they all go get a beer and wrap up the night in full agreement that Angus Young really is the baddest rock guitar player ever. This makes Brian Johnson real happy. He has a good night sleep......

"The IDOL tour continues with shows in CA in September; Texas and Florida in October and Europe in November and December. Go to www.billyidol.com for exact dates. Drink in Dublin, smoke in Amsterdam, get stupid in Stockholm, freak out in Frankfurt! Europe and Billy Idol....what a combo! What are you waiting for?!! Come on! Until next time, take care of yourself..."