DUFF MCKAGAN - MCKAGAN: 'WE LOST WEILAND TO THE OTHER SIDE'

MCKAGAN: 'WE LOST WEILAND TO THE OTHER SIDE'

Rocker DUFF MCKAGAN and his VELVET REVOLVER bandmates kicked frontman SCOTT WEILAND out of the group when it became clear he couldn't stay away from drink and drugs.
The band sacked the wild singer a year ago (Apr08) and have been hunting for his replacement ever since, but MCKagan, who helped Weiland initially clean up his act by taking him off to a karate retreat, insists the decision to get rid of the star was the right one.
The bass player says, "There is a part of him (Weiland) that I became friends with... He's a really good guy and funny. I know that guy is there somewhere. It just got lost again.
"We tried to pull Scott back, but we couldn't. When he's into that other side, it's not cool. It's not friendly. You try to help, but then after a while you realise you can't."