Grunge Rock 2.0

Velvet Revolver, a virtual collage of rock ‘n’ roll history giants, will share the stage of the Santa Barbara Bowl with Alice in Chains and Sparta on Tuesday, September 11 for a rockin’ night of inspiration and good tunes. Velvet Revolver is made up of Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum of the groundbreaking rock band Guns ‘N Roses, with lead vocals from Stone Temple Pilots’ notorious front man, Scott Weiland and Wasted Youth’s Dave Kushner. The band is hitting the road in conjunction with the release of their second album, Libertad, released on July 3. The young band’s well-known singles – “Slither,” “Fall to Pieces” – have already elbowed their way into rock ‘n’ roll history, leaving few to doubt that Velvet Revolver’s newest work will make the same mark.

With multiple platinum albums such as “Facelift” and “Dirt” under their belts, it comes as no surprise that the new tour by the grunge rock figureheads of Alice in Chains will be a highly anticipated one. Formed in 1987, the tightly knit band was forced to say goodbye to their innovative front man, Layne Staley, in 2002. After a longtime battle with drug dependency, Staley was found dead, the victim of a lethal drug overdose. William Duvall, lead singer of The Fall, will stand in for Staley on the current tour, but the band has made it clear that they are in no way trying to replace their late, great leader. They see this tour as a tribute to the fallen lead singer, without whom they could never have captured the brooding sound that helped lead way to a whole new generation of angst-ridden youth.

Sparta, the El-Paso post hardcore descendent of At the Drive In, well known for their powerful emotion-laden, rock-based stylings, will be opening the show. With easily recognizable singles such as “Taking Back Control” and “Erase It Again,” Sparta will make holding down the stage next to their rock forefathers look easy.

Tickets go on sale this Saturday, July 14 at 11 a.m. and can be purchased at the Bowl box office, online at ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (805) 583-8700. The Santa Barbara Bowl box office is located at 1122 N. Milpas.

Stephanie Flint is an Independent intern.