The common thread seems to be artists who let substance abuse get in the way of their careers -- Slash, Duff McKagan (both ex-Guns N' Roses) and Scott Weiland (ex-Stone Temple Pilots) got together in the early 2000s and formed their own band, Velvet Revolver. Combining Slash's snaking boogie metal guitars with Weiland's predilection for sweeping choruses and Beatles-ish melodies, Velvet Revolver's debut had some interesting ideas to offer. Oddly enough, the band sounds like a cross ...  [+]