"Contraband" is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Velvet Revolver, released on June 8, 2004, through RCA Records. A commercial success, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 256,000 copies in its first week, and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. With over 2.9 million copies sold in the United States and 4 million worldwide, Contraband helped establish Velvet Revolver as one of the most prominent hard rock bands of the 2000s.
Velvet Revolver was formed by former Guns N' Roses members Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), and Matt Sorum (drums) after they played together at a benefit concert for musician Randy Castillo in 2002. The trio decided to form a band and recruited guitarist Dave Kushner, a former member of Suicidal Tendencies, Wasted Youth, and Dave Navarro's projects. The band then began the search for a lead singer, auditioning several musicians, including Josh Todd of Buckcherry, Kelly Shaefer of Neurotica, and Travis Meeks of Days of the New. However, it was Scott Weiland, frontman of Stone Temple Pilots, who ultimately joined the band after offering his services. Weiland had previously played with Kushner in Mighty Joe Young (the precursor to Stone Temple Pilots), and had become friends with McKagan. The chemistry between Weiland and the other members was instant.
The band's name was a collaborative effort, with Slash proposing the name "Revolver," and Weiland suggesting "Dead Velvet Revolver," which was later shortened to simply Velvet Revolver.
Velvet Revolver's first track, "Set Me Free," was recorded for the soundtrack of the 2003 film The Hulk. It would later appear on Contraband, along with a cover of Pink Floyd's "Money" for The Italian Job soundtrack, which was released as a B-side. The band played its first live gig at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles in July 2003, before recording the bulk of the album later that year. The recording process was complicated by Weiland's legal troubles, as he was dealing with drug charges and was ordered to undergo rehabilitation. Despite these difficulties, the band recorded the album in the latter part of 2003. Slash used a 1956 Fender Telecaster and a 1965 Fender Stratocaster to record the tracks, and the band worked with producer Josh Abraham to shape the album's sound.
Upon its release, Contraband received positive reviews for its raw energy and hard rock sensibilities, with critics praising the chemistry between the band members, particularly Weiland's dynamic vocal performance and the musical contributions of the ex-Guns N' Roses members. The album's lead single, "Slither," became an immediate hit, topping a composite world modern rock chart in June 2004 and later reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart, where it stayed for 8 weeks. The follow-up single, "Fall to Pieces," was even more successful, becoming a major crossover hit and reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart for 11 weeks.
In addition to its chart success, Contraband earned Velvet Revolver a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for the song "Slither" in 2005, marking Weiland's second Grammy win (his first being in 1994 with Stone Temple Pilots for "Plush"). The band also performed live for several charitable causes in 2005, including a cover of The Beatles' "Across the Universe" at the Grammy Awards, with all proceeds going to charity. Additionally, they performed a version of Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" to aid victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, with proceeds going to the Save the Children Foundation.
Contraband was a commercial and critical success, launching Velvet Revolver into the mainstream and solidifying their place in the hard rock scene of the 2000s. The album's success, combined with its dynamic blend of hard rock, grunge, and classic rock influences, helped to establish Velvet Revolver as one of the most important rock bands of the era. The band's powerful lineup—featuring members with past affiliations to Guns N' Roses, Stone Temple Pilots, and Suicidal Tendencies—contributed to their immediate success and influence. With hits like "Slither" and "Fall to Pieces," Velvet Revolver introduced a fresh sound to a rock scene that had been dominated by nu-metal and post-grunge acts, proving that classic rock-inspired hard rock still had a place in the 21st century. However, despite the band's success, Velvet Revolver would face internal struggles and lineup changes, with Scott Weiland eventually departing the band in 2008, leaving Contraband as their only full studio album with the classic lineup.
