In an unexpected blast from the past, rare demo recordings featuring Atheist and Neurotica frontman Kelly Shaefer auditioning for Velvet Revolver have resurfaced online — offering a fascinating look at what the hard rock supergroup might have sounded like before Scott Weiland stepped in as frontman.
The unearthed demos, originally recorded in late 2002, feature Shaefer's vocals over instrumental tracks laid down live by none other than Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, and Dave Kushner at the famed Mates rehearsal studios in Los Angeles. Two of these demo tracks, "Eye for an Eye" and "Room 169," are now streaming below (originally at KellyShaefer.com at the time) — offering fans an ultra-rare listen to a nearly forgotten chapter in Velvet Revolver's formation.
"Gotta love the internet for preserving history," Shaefer wrote in a post reflecting on the experience. "This is myself, Slash, Duff, Matt Sorum, and Dave Kushner. Pre-Velvet Revolver. 2003. They recorded their tracks live at a rehearsal studio called ‘Mates' in LA and sent [them] to me to write vocals.
He added with humor, "I have hours worth of stories about this experience… as a 'Death Metal' guy, this was a classic sort of ‘catfish' scenario. They had no idea what my roots were with Atheist, and I wasn't about to tell 'em."
Though best known for pioneering jazz-tinged technical death metal with Florida's Atheist and for fronting alt-metal act Neurotica (who had gained some mainstream traction in the early 2000s), Shaefer's stint with what would become Velvet Revolver almost changed his trajectory.
According to his website, "after hearing the four songs he did, he was asked to come to L.A. and jam with the band." The chemistry was strong, and several media outlets at the time even reported that Shaefer might be the band's new frontman.
But fate had other plans. Just as momentum was building, Scott Weiland publicly announced his departure from Stone Temple Pilots, and was soon tapped as the official vocalist for Velvet Revolver — a move that would lead to the release of their GRAMMY-winning debut, Contraband, in 2004.
Shaefer reflects on the experience fondly. "Super cool experience to hang with them in LA and jam together. I had long lost any copies I had of this experience and tripped upon this tonight. Thank you, internet!"
For fans of both classic hard rock and progressive death metal, these lost Velvet Revolver demos with Kelly Shaefer offer a rare convergence of two worlds. It's a raw, behind-the-scenes look at a moment when one of rock's biggest bands was still finding its voice — and very nearly found it in one of metal's most unique vocalists.
