Matt Sorum biography

Matt Sorum (born Matthew Sorum, November 19, 1960, in Mission Viejo, California) is a hard rock drummer and percussionist. He is currently the drummer for Velvet Revolver.

Sorum is most famous for his time spent in Guns N' Roses, (1990-1997). He also played drums on a couple of songs with Johnny Crash in 1989 with their one and only album, Neighbourhood Threat and with The Cult and Hawk.

Sorum started out in Mission Viejo as a local hot musician. Wearing trademark "Union Jack" shorts and nothing else, he used to pound a huge acrylic drumset and overpower his first band "Prophecy", where he stood out and the rest of the band just disappeared. A local songwriter, Stephen Douglas, pulled him from the band and joined him with other talented musicians in the area to form "Chateau", a wall-of-sound band with grandiose themes and sounds in their songs. Chateau played the Hollywood circuit, appearing at Gazzarri's and almost getting into a fight with the original members of the band "Ratt", which at the time was known as "Mickey Ratt".

Sorum's work with Chateau produced a four song set that was covered by local radio stations for a short time, but the music scene changed from grandiose rock to punk and alternative new wave music. Sorum left and went to Hollywood to play with a series of bands, including "Population Five", with the bassist from The Knack ("My Sharona"). He then left on a tour around the country with a blues guitarist, playing nightclubs and bars.

In 1988, he was recruited to play on the debut album of Y Kant Tori Read, a band fronted by a then unknown Tori Amos. In the wake of that project, he joined The Cult as their live drummer for the 1989 tour in support of Sonic Temple.

In 1989, after Slash saw him live with The Cult on their Sonic Temple tour, he was impressed with Sorum and consequently he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990 as Steven Adler's replacement. Sorum can be heard on Use Your Illusion I, Use Your Illusion II, The Spaghetti Incident? and the 1994 cover of the Rolling Stones track, "Sympathy For The Devil". In 1995 with Slash and Gilby Clarke he formed Slash's Snakepit.

He was fired from Guns N' Roses in 1997 after defending departed lead guitarist Slash in an argument with Axl Rose.

In 2003, he got back together with Slash and bassist Duff McKagan for a charity benefit. Realizing that they still had chemistry together, they formed a new band called Velvet Revolver with former STP frontman, Scott Weiland and rhythm guitarist Dave Kushner. After the 2004 release of their debut album Contraband, they embarked on a worldwide tour that continued through December 2005. In August 2005, Sorum broke his wrist in a boating accident, stalling the tour temporarily.

Currently taking some time off, Velvet Revolver is preparing to record their second album, Libertad, which is scheduled to be released early 2007. Sorum is also guest recording in his studio with a new project called Circus Diablo. He is handling the drums and co-producing the recordings. In April 2006, ten years after leaving Guns N' Roses, Sorum has re-established his friendship with Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose.

Sorum also has a solo album entitled Hollywood Zen. This album is a musical statement about his life, touring, relationships, etc. It is available on his website.

In addition to this, Sorum also lent his drumming skills in the theme song for the 1995 20th Century Fox film, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.

Sorum is also a member of Camp Freddy.

He currently endorses Drum Workshop drums, he endorsed Yamaha when he was with Guns N' Roses. Sorum is the first drummer who pioneered the Easton Ahead sticks in the early 90s during the Use Your Illusion Tour, sticks which are now played by many metal drummers, including Lars Ulrich of Metallica and Joey Jordison of Slipknot. Now, however, he uses Zildjian wood sticks. Matt has endorsed Zildjian cymbals for the past 18 years and has featured in numerous sweepstakes involved with Zildjian.