matt sorum
Matt Sorum Looks Back at Drumming for Some of the Biggest Bands in History
Matt Sorum has seen it all. If not all, well, then he’s seen a lot. From his days growing up as a hustler in Long Beach getting entangled in the drug trade, Sorum not only made it out alive but drummed for some of the monsters of rock. No one else can boast a resume that includes stints with The Cult, Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver and a stint with Hollywood Vampires. These days, Sorum is living the good life out in the Southern California desert with his wife and young daughter. But, while there, he found time to write his autobiography, Double Talkin’ Jive: True Rock ‘n’ Roll Stories from the Drummer of Guns N’ Roses, The Cult, and Velvet Revolver . It took him and two writers four years to get it done, which was slowed down by the pandemic. Looking back at a nearly four-decade care...
How ‘Fill-In’ Musicians Keep Major Tours and Bands Rolling
Matt Sorum was sitting poolside with his wife when he got a text on his phone from legendary Motörhead bassist/singer Lemmy Kilmister. Lemmy was asking Sorum to fill in on drums for a run of Motörhead shows. In a self-conscious moment, Sorum texted Lemmy back, asking “why me.” “And Lemmy wrote back, ‘Because Dave Grohl’s not available,’” Sorum tells SPIN over Zoom while letting out a chuckle. Sorum is known for his colossal grooves with Use Your Illusion era Guns N’ Roses and early 2000s Scott Weiland-fronted supergroup Velvet Revolver. But in 2009, Sorum filled in on drums for around 14 shows with “Ace of Spades” speed-rock trio Motörhead. The band’s regular drummer Mikkey Dee had signed up to be part of the Swedish version of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, and wasn’t available. Cre...
5 Albums I Can’t Live Without: Matt Sorum
Name Matt Sorum Best known for Playing rock ‘n roll drums…but just as well known for drinkin’ and scallywaggin’!! Musical groups were Guns N’ Roses because that had an open bar tab, The Cult which fit my clothing style of all black all the time, and Velvet Revolver where Scott Weiland turned me on to a better haircut and a good neck scarf. Now I’m with Billy F Gibbons for that cool groove that feels especially good, as I’m finally maturing. My fun, bucket-list band is Kings of Chaos, and playing with my heroes like Steven Tyler, Robin Zander and Wayne Newton (I really did play with Wayne) is kind of like a childhood dream. Current city Palm Springs, California. Really want to be in I love Italy: Rome, Florence and Lucca are incredible. Watch Stanley Tucci in Searching for Italy. All h...
