Velvet Revolver has released their new album, Libertad, and the album was appropriately released one day before Independence Day in the U.S. The follow-up to their debut, Contraband, arrived in stores July 3, and the band still features former Guns N' Roses members Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan, and Slash with guitarist Dave Kushner and ex-Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland.

On the first go-around the band started writing without Weiland in pocket, and Kushner, Slash and Sorum say that the process for Libertad was different.

"It was really cool, kind of, how we were writing music like we always do. But having Scott's instant input throughout the whole thing was really a key factor in how the record shaped itself. So it was definitely different. The first time we had a ton of material, and Scott came and picked out certain songs and just put the vocals right on top of the arrangement as we had it. So this is definitely a more hands-on collaboration with all five of us."

Velvet Revolver had problems with Weiland's recovery from drug addiction on the first album, but they say Libertad was not without its obstacles, including switching from Rick Rubin to Brendan O'Brien.

"It was an issue...different issues (laughs) Well it wasn't like, 'Go find Scott.' I think in my opinion we were like five kids outside for recess climbing around the jungle gym whatever, and Rick's style was like, 'Hey guys, I'm going to be inside, so if you guys want to come inside and make a record I'll be in here. I think it just wasn't cohesive to where we were at because we had been meandering for a year and then we just kind of had it. Brendan's style was the opposite. He grabbed us out of the jungle gym and out of the sandbox and said, 'Alright, come on," pulled us by the ears, "we've got to make a record now."

After Velvet Revolver's July 5 performance in Los Angeles to celebrate the release of Libertad, the band will kick off a tour with Alice In Chains starting August 5 in Baltimore.

Related Articles :

• VELVET REVOLVER HOLD SECRET CD RELEASE PARTY, LOOK TO HIT ROAD IN SUPPORT OF LIBERTAD
  Velvet Revolver held a secret CD release party and the band is anxiously awaiting the world tour in support of 'Libertad.'
  
• SLASH NEEDED TO BE COERCED INTO COVER SONG
  Velvet Revolver recently covered an ELO song and a Talking Heads song on thier latest release 'Libertad', find out which song Slash had to be coerced into recording.
  
• SMASHING PUMPKINS, FOO FIGHTERS, CORNELL, VELVET REVOLVER, KID ROCK HELP KROQ INVADE LA
  From The Pumpkins to The Foos to Velvet Revolver, KROQ brought together some amazing talent for their first ever LA Invasion
  
• MATT SORUM REACTS TO THE WRATH OF SCOTT WEILAND OVER STP, VELVET REVOLVER
  Velvet Revolver's Matt Sorum has a lot to say about Weiland's battle with the band in blogs and the press, and he shares his version of the split.
  
• VELVET REVOLVER SORUM NEWFOUND LOVE FOR AXL ROSE
  Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum says, post-split with Weiland, maybe former Guns N' Roses bandmate Axl Rose wasn't so bad.
  
• SLASH ACTION FIGURE BASED ON GUITAR HERO CHARACTER ON THE WAY
  Guitar Hero is set to unveil a Slash Action Figure and Slash talks about how honored he was to be a part of the game and why he was so hooked.