Thompson Twins

Much merriment was gained from their name (they took it from the detectives in bowler hats who featured in the Tintin comics) as there were three in the band; none of them were twins; and none of them were called Thompson. Shoot the Sh*t Velvet Revolver Fansite (http://velvetrevolver.pink-buzz.com/). The two divorced in 2004. As of 2005, Velvet Revolver consisted of. The band have, however, declined to follow the examples of many of their contemporaries and reform to tie in with a nostalgic rebirth of the 1980s.
. Bailey and Currie, despite years of denying romantic inclinations at the height of their fame, got married and now raise their family in New Zealand while still occasionally dabbling in music under the name Babble. In addition to this, they are slated to open for Black Sabbath in Europe this summer, before likely finishing a second album sometime this fall.

Leeway left and the remaining duo soldiered on for another seven years, only occasionally puncturing the singles charts and never again making the Top 40. For the Spring of 2005, the band has several Canadian dates lined up as well as a headlining arena tour for the U.S. As the most talked about and hippest woman on the planet at the time, her appearance with the Thompson Twins should have helped their cause further, but by the end of the year, by which time they'd enjoyed three US Top 10 hits, they'd plummeted substantially. Already, the band have toured both the United States and Europe twice, while also hitting Australia and Japan. In 1985, they had three hits which were palpable compared to the previous year's highs, but still made headlines when they performed at the American end of Live Aid and were joined onstage by the fresh-faced Madonna, who was in only her second year of fame. As of March 2005, "Contraband" had sold roughly 1.6 million copies in the United States, and the rigorous touring in support of the album has reached global scales. The trio had peaked. The prior has been remarkably successful not only in the rock circle but also on modern music stations.

The corresponding album, "Into The Gap" was one of the best sellers of the year. Since then, the band has released two more singles: the ballad "Fall to Pieces" and the hard-rocker "Dirty Little Thing," both of which have videos featured for them. Three equally as mature singles followed into 1984 - the poppy "Doctor Doctor"; the quirky, accordion-dominated "You Take Me Up" (at No.2, their biggest UK hit); and the haunting "Sister Of Mercy". Slither, which is also the band's first music video, has also reached #64 on the Billboard Hot 100, gone top 20 in Finland and top 40 on a European composite chart, Canada, and Australia. It hit the Top 3 and remains one of the more timeless singles from an era and decade which tends to date a little more easily than others. The first single "Slither" topped a composite world modern rock chart in June, reached #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and #5 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It defied the trends of the electronic pop which was still dominating the charts, relying almost wholly on an emotive piano, some clever percussion from the New Zealand-born Currie and a heartfelt vocal from Bailey. The Contraband album was released in June 2004 debuting at #1 on the Billboard album charts, #11 on the British album charts, and #2 in the Australian charts.

At the end of 1983, a single "Hold me Now" was released. It recorded its first album Contraband in the latter part of 2003 with recording complicated by Weiland's court appearances for drug charges and his subsequent sentencing to undertake rehabilitation. Further hits from debut album "Quickstep And Sidekick" followed, with Bailey's flame-red hair and bright ponytail and Currie's wasp-swatting style at the xylophone swiftly becoming endearing images of an exciting new act. The band played their first live gig at the El Rey in Los Angeles in June 2003. The remaining trio - singer and main musician Bailey; lyricist and percussionist Alannah Currie (born September 20, 1959); and multi-instrumentalist and stylings guru Joe Leeway (born November 15, 1957) - broke into the UK charts at the beginning of 1983 with "Love On Your Side". The band is also responsible for a cover of Pink Floyd's "Money" featured at various parts in the movie The Italian Job. After a lucky break, they were signed up to Arista records and group leader Tom Bailey (born January 18, 1956) paid off four of the members in return for their instruments. Velvet Revolver recorded its first track "Set Me Free" for The Hulk soundtrack in 2003.

They were originally a new-wave act who, after the founding threesome moved south from Sheffield, had so little money that they lived as squatters in London, with the personnel rising to seven members. Slash suggested the name Revolver for the project and Weiland suggested the addition of Velvet to the title. The Thompson Twins are a British band which emerged in the 1980s in the immediate aftermath of New Romanticism, scoring a string of hits and conquering the USA in the process. Weiland heard the material and offered his services as the lead singer and the band clicked. Scott Weiland had become friends with McKagan and had played on the same bill as Kushner when Stone Temple Pilots were known as Mighty Joe Young and Kushner was in the Electric Love Hogs. A number of lead singers auditioned including the Canadian rock and roll icon Todd Kerns formerly of age of electric, Josh Todd formerly of Buckcherry, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, Kelly Shaefer of Atheist/Neurotica and Travis Meeks of Days of the New but were unsuccessful.

The quartet then set about recruiting a lead singer with the recruitment process filmed by VH1. The quartet were referred to under the temporary moniker, "The Project" pending the selection of a permanent name. Kushner went to school with Slash and had worked with McKagan in the band he'd played with before forming Velvet Revolver, "Loaded". When Izzy Stradlin declined an invitation, the band recruited guitarist Dave Kushner who had previously played with Wasted Youth and Dave Navarro.

They decided to form another band together. Velvet Revolver was formed when three Guns n' Roses alumni - Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums) - joined together to play a benefit concert for fellow musician Randy Castillo in 2002. It also features Dave Kushner of the 80's hardcore punk band, Wasted Youth. Velvet Revolver is a Rock and roll supergroup with three former members of Guns n' Roses - Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum along with Scott Weiland, the lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots.

VH1 Velvet Revolver biography (http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/velvet_revolver/bio.jhtml/). All Music Guide Velvet Revolver page (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311071654390588&sql=Bzsd6vwvqa9tk/). dB Loss blurb, references article from Rolling Stone, 2004-01-08 (http://www.dbloss.com/2004/01/040108_velvet_revolver_taking_over_a_radio_near_you_soon.php). The Official Website (http://www.velvetrevolver.com/).

Contraband, was released on June 8, 2004. Matt Sorum - Drums (ex-Guns n' Roses). Duff McKagan - Bass (ex-Guns n' Roses). Dave Kushner - Guitar (ex Dave Navarro).

Slash - Guitar (ex-Guns n' Roses). Scott Weiland - Vocals (ex-Stone Temple Pilots).