Velvet Revolver Unable To Perform 4 Scheduled Concerts In Japan

LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ RCA Records) - VELVET REVOLVER were looking forward to their upcoming tour of Japan: a series of four concerts-to promote their current album LIBERTAD-between November 26 and November 30, encompassing the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Yokohama.

For the band, the upcoming trek was the opportunity to reconnect with their fans in Japan, where the band tour has toured before-without incident-back in 2005.

But now it's a different story as VELVET REVOLVER's request for visas has just been denied.

The increasingly tough Japanese immigration officials are taking exception with the backgrounds of various band members, which have included arrests. The band is appealing the decision of the officials-which is ironic given that LIBERTAD is Spanish for "liberty" and "freedom"-but this process will unfortunately take months to sort out.

"We want to apologize to our fans in Japan that we won't be able to perform our scheduled concerts," VELVET REVOLVER said in a group statement. "We don't understand why the authorities won't give us visas when they granted them for us in 2005 for what was a successful tour and a great experience. We love Japan and look forward to our return there."

VELVET REVOLVER will proceed with their Australian tour that begins on December 4 in Brisbane. Upon its return to the U.S., the band lead vocalist SCOTT WEILAND, guitarist SLASH, bassist DUFF McKAGAN, drummer MATT SORUM and guitarist DAVE KUSHNER will headline Wednesday, December 12 at the Gibson Amphitheatre. This show with Alice In Chains was originally set for Friday, October 26 at the outdoor Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA but was postponed due to the devastating Southern California wildfires.