The band will be on the road supporting the decade in the making new GNR album, �Chinese Democracy�.  The album still does not have a release date but Axl Rose told antiMUSIC a few months ago that he hopes to have it out by year�s end. (see story � Axl Crashes antiMUSIC Led Zep DVD Party).  

Axl and Co may face steep competition for CD and ticket dollars from his old bandmates. Velvet Revolver, which features former GNR�ers Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, are reportedly close to inking a record deal with RCA. 

Slash�s official fan site reports: Velvet Revolver will sign with RCA Records according to a reliable source close to the band. Warner Brothers, Elektra and RCA all pursued the band which has yet to release an album! On the strength of their two soundtrack songs, "Set Me Free" (The Hulk) and "Money" (The Italian Job), the band members previous draw and experience in Guns N'Roses (SLASH, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan), Stone Temple Pilots (Scott Weiland) and Suicidal Tendencies (Dave Kushner) as well as their solo experiences and the buzz from their debut stage show at the El Rey, Velvet Revolver caught the attention of major labels eager to sign them up.  SLASH had a special interest in RCA Records with Clive Davis at the helm.

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