Scott Weiland Records With ex-GnR Members

Scott Weiland has recorded a second song with the band featuring ex-Guns 'N Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. McKagen and Sorum attended the taping of Metallica's MTV Icon show Saturday and said they've contributed an original song titled "Set Me Free" to The Hulk soundtrack to go with the already announced cover of Pink Floyd's "Money" for The Italian Job. The five-piece band, which has been referred to as The Project--although Sorum and McKagen refused to confirm that the name is "set in stone"--also includes ex-Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner. The Hulk premieres June 20th, three weeks after The Italian Job.

The band had been auditioning singers from all over the world, but Sorum tells us they knew Weiland was their man the minute he walked into the studio. McKagan says they hope to release an album next February. He calls the two soundtrack songs, "a good way to start this thing. Number one, it puts a little money into our thing so maybe we can do our own record and license it out, but it's also a good way to see what it's like in a studio situation with Weiland."

STP singer joins Slash and Co. for "Money"
The singer of "The Project" -- the band featuring former Guns n' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum -- has not yet been announced, but heavily tipped candidate Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots will front the band for at least one song. Weiland recently recorded a cover of Pink Floyd's "Money" with the ex-Gunners for the soundtrack to director F. Gary Gary's upcoming remake of the 1969 British crime comedy The Italian Job, which stars Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton and Charlize Theron.

"Scott is doing this one because that's the voice that they wanted and they like working with him," a spokesman for Slash said, adding that the group is still auditioning a number of other vocalists. Among those vying for the job are former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach (who, the source said "desperately wants to come back again"), Days of the New singer Travis Meeks, Lit singer A. Jay Popoff, ex-Buckcherry singer Joshua Todd and ex-Neurotica singer Kelly Shaefer. To date, more than 600 potential candidates have campaigned for the gig, with Slash and Co. bringing in at least 100 known and unknown singers for live auditions.

The Floyd cover also features guitarist David Kushner, who performed with McKagan in his side project Loaded. The soundtrack is due May 26th.

The collaboration between Weiland and "The Project" members has thrown the STP singer's second solo album into question. Producer Josh Abraham, who tracked four "artsy" songs with Weiland in August, said he hasn't heard from the singer since December and was unsure when the sessions would resume. "We started it and never really finished, but if the opportunity's there, I'm ready," Abraham recently said. "The material's really good." Among the songs already recorded are such tentatively titled tracks as "Drop That Baby," "If Only I Could Fly" and "Big Black Monster."

Responding to rumors of Weiland's continuing struggle with drug addiction, the singer's manager Peter Katsis said that he was aware that Weiland "had been in several [drug rehab] programs," but was unaware of his current status. Katsis also stressed that Weiland's work with "The Project" and brothers Dean and Robert DeLeo's production of the new Alien Ant Farm record did not signal the end of STP. "Everyone is taking a little hiatus and doing their own thing," Katsis said. "Nothing more. There's no breakup or discussions in that direction."

 

I figured someone posted this but since we don't have the search option....