Press Release: VELVET REVOLVER UNABLE TO PERFORM FOUR SCHEDULED CONCERTS IN JAPAN

AS IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS THERE HAVE DENIED THE BAND'S REQUEST FOR VISAS

VELVET REVOLVER were looking forward to their upcoming tour of Japan: a series of four concerts--to promote their current album LIBERTAD--between November 26 and November 30, encompassing the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Yokohama.



For the band, the upcoming trek was the opportunity to reconnect with their fans in Japan, where the band tour has toured before--without incident--back in 2005.



But now it's a different story as VELVET REVOLVER's request for visas has just been denied.



The increasingly tough Japanese immigration officials are taking exception with the backgrounds of various band members, which have included arrests. The band is appealing the decision of the officials--which is ironic given that LIBERTAD is Spanish for "liberty" and "freedom"--but this process will unfortunately take months to sort out.



"We want to apologize to our fans in Japan that we won't be able to perform our scheduled concerts," VELVET REVOLVER said in a group statement. "We don't understand why the authorities won't give us visas when they granted them for us in 2005 for what was a successful tour and a great experience. We love Japan and look forward to our return there."



VELVET REVOLVER will proceed with their Australian tour that begins on December 4 in Brisbane. Upon its return to the U.S., the bandlead vocalist SCOTT WEILAND, guitarist SLASH, bassist DUFF McKAGAN , drummer MATT SORUM and guitarist DAVE KUSHNERwill headline Wednesday, December 12 at the Gibson Amphitheatre. This showwith Alice In Chainswas originally set for Friday, October 26 at the outdoor Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA but was postponed due to the devastating Southern California wildfires. See dates below and check out www.velvetrevolver.com







Date City Venue

Tue 12/4 Brisbane, Australia Convention Centre

Wed 12/5 Sydney, Australia Enmore Theatre

Thu 12/6 Sydney, Australia Enmore Theatre

Sat 12/8 Melbourne, Australia Festival Hall

Sun 12/9 Adelaide, Australia The Barton Theatre

Wed 12/12 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre