In 2004, the band achieved commercial success with their debut album, Contraband. Despite positive reviews, some critics initially described Velvet Revolver as a mere combination of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N'Roses, and criticizing them for a "disconnection" between Weiland and the rest of the band. With their single "Slither", they won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. The band released Libertad in 2007, driven by the release of the single "She Builds Quick Machines", and embarked on a tour with Alice in Chains.
In April 2008, Weiland was fired from Velvet Revolver and reunited with Stone Temple Pilots. Velvet Revolver was put on indefinite hiatus and in November of that year, requested to be released by their record label RCA Records to allow themselves "complete freedom to go through whatever process it would take to accomplish" replacing Weiland.
Although Velvet Revolver worked on new material and auditioned new singers following Scott Weiland's departure, the band has not released any new material and only performed publicly once since 2008, when they reunited with Weiland for a one-off reunion show on January 12, 2012, at a benefit concert. This proved to be their last performance together before Weiland's death on December 3, 2015. Slash and McKagan later rejoined Guns N' Roses in 2016. On December 3, 2015, Weiland was found dead on his tour bus around 9 pm, one day before he was to perform in Minnesota with his band the Wildabouts, which ended the possible reunion. Both Slash and McKagan rejoined Guns N' Roses in 2016.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_Revolver
Studio albums
Contraband (2004)
Libertad (2007)
Introduction
Velvet Revolver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wilson, Wilson
Wilson
Once upon a time there was a mountain
That rose out of a vast green forest
And in the forest there were birds
And lakes and rocks and trees and rivers
The forest was also inhabited
By a small group of people called the lizards
The lizards were a simple people
And they had lived in the forest undisturbed
For thousands of years in utter peace and tranquility
Once a year when spring came
And the first blossoms began to show
The lizards would gather at the base of the mountain
To give thanks for all that they had
They thanked the birds
And they thanked the lakes and they thanked the rocks
And the trees and the rivers
But most importantly, they thanked Icculus
Icculus lived at the top of the mountain
Or at least everyone thought so
For no one had actually ever seen him
But they knew he existed
Because they had the Helping Friendly Book
Icculus had given the Helping Friendly Book
To the Lizards thousands of years earlier as a gift
It contained all of the knowledge
Inherent in the universe
And had enabled the Lizards
To exist in harmony with nature for years
And so they lived
Until one day a traveler arrived in Gamehendge
His name was Wilson
And he quickly became intrigued
By the Lizards way of life
He asked if he could stay on
And live in the forest
And the Lizards, who had never seen an outsider
Were happy to oblige
Wilson lived with the Lizards for a few years
Studying the ways of the Helping Friendly Book
And all was well
Until one morning when they awoke and the book was gone
Wilson explained that he had hidden the book
Knowing that the Lizards had become
Dependent on it for survival
He declared himself king
And enslaved the innocent people of Gamehendge
He cut down the trees and built a city
Which he called Prussia
And in the center of the city
He built a castle
And locked in the highest tower of the castle
were the Lizards
Who had lost their way of life and their peace
All because of Wilson's selfish desire for power
The lyrics to Velvet Revolver's song "Introduction" tell a story of a small group of people living in harmony with nature until an outsider arrives and disrupts their way of life. The people, called the Lizards, have a deep reverence for a figure named Icculus, who gave them the Helping Friendly Book that contains all the knowledge in the universe. Wilson, a traveler, comes to their forest and becomes intrigued by their way of life. He asks to stay and live with them, and they welcome him. Wilson studies the Helping Friendly Book for a few years before stealing it and declaring himself king of the people. He enslaves them and destroys their forest to build a city, Prussia, and a castle where he locks up the Lizards.
This story is a parable about the dangers of power and greed and the consequences of disrupting the natural order of things. The Lizards lived in harmony with nature, but Wilson's desire for power and control caused him to destroy their way of life and upset the balance. The story also highlights the importance of knowledge and the dangers of blindly following leaders without questioning their motives.
Line by Line Meaning
Wilson, Wilson
Wilson, Wilson
Wilson
Referring to Wilson as a character of importance that the story will follow
Once upon a time there was a mountain
That rose out of a vast green forest
And in the forest there were birds
And lakes and rocks and trees and rivers
Describing the setting and atmosphere of the story where a mountain rises from a green forest inhabited by various animals and natural elements
The forest was also inhabited
By a small group of people called the lizards
The lizards were a simple people
And they had lived in the forest undisturbed
For thousands of years in utter peace and tranquility
Introducing the lizards, a group of people living in the forest for thousands of years without interference
Once a year when spring came
And the first blossoms began to show
The lizards would gather at the base of the mountain
To give thanks for all that they had
Explaining the yearly ritual of the lizards giving thanks to nature
They thanked the birds
And they thanked the lakes and they thanked the rocks
And the trees and the rivers
But most importantly, they thanked Icculus
Listing what the lizards thanked for and emphasizing the importance of Icculus who gave them the Helping Friendly Book
Icculus lived at the top of the mountain
Or at least everyone thought so
For no one had actually ever seen him
But they knew he existed
Because they had the Helping Friendly Book
Icculus had given the Helping Friendly Book
To the Lizards thousands of years earlier as a gift
It contained all of the knowledge
Inherent in the universe
And had enabled the Lizards
To exist in harmony with nature for years
Building up the character of Icculus and explaining the significance of the Helping Friendly Book to the lizards
And so they lived
Until one day a traveler arrived in Gamehendge
His name was Wilson
And he quickly became intrigued
By the Lizards way of life
Introducing the character of Wilson and his curiosity towards the lizards' way of life
He asked if he could stay on
And live in the forest
And the Lizards, who had never seen an outsider
Were happy to oblige
Showing how welcoming the lizards were towards Wilson
Wilson lived with the Lizards for a few years
Studying the ways of the Helping Friendly Book
And all was well
Describing Wilson's time living with the lizards and learning from the Helping Friendly Book
Until one morning when they awoke and the book was gone
Wilson explained that he had hidden the book
Knowing that the Lizards had become
Dependent on it for survival
Revealing Wilson's true intentions of stealing the Helping Friendly Book and why he did it
He declared himself king
And enslaved the innocent people of Gamehendge
He cut down the trees and built a city
Which he called Prussia
Depicting Wilson's rise to power and tyranny over the lizards and their land, building a city of his own
And in the center of the city
He built a castle
And locked in the highest tower of the castle
Finishing the story by showing Wilson's ultimate control and imprisonment of the lizards' most important knowledge source, the Helping Friendly Book, in his castle's highest tower
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Markour - Parkour
I appreciate the tuning mentioned for this, nobody ever mentions the tunings!
Wayde Baker
HOW VAN YOU EAT YOUR TUNES IF YOU DON'T EAT YOUR TUNINGS!?!
jon schwindt
Slash rarely plays his riffs the same way twice. He’s uses the whole neck very well
MrJohnnyDistortion
Prove it!
Kelly Beane
I appreciate the tunings also. I picked the guitar back up after 5 years hiatus. Your lessons have brought it back for me and ive learned so much. It feels like my bedroom with an awesome guitar buddy that jammed like hell back in the mid late 80s. So cool
Ako Si Grin
Met this guy since 14 until now i'm watching his tutorials. Woa i'm 17 btw. And the funny thing is he uploads tutorials of the songs I actually needed to study for my band. Thumbs up!
The Dragon of the West
damn, wish I was in a band too
peace is zen
And now ur 23 :) still using him?
Mike Van Epps
Love all your videos, you've taught me most of the thing I know between this and your theory channel! Any chance of seeing fall to pieces or maybe bent to fly?
Leonardo Carvalho
Hello from Brazil seus vídeos são os melhores !
Parabéns pelo vídeo 👊🏻🙌🏻