Velvet Revolver star Duff Mckagan is refusing to confirm or deny the band has found its new frontman in Slipknot singer Corey Taylor.
The supergroup, which the bassist formed with fellow ex-Guns N' Roses bandmates Slash and Matt Sorum, has been without a frontman since Scott Weiland was fired in April, 2008.
Lenny Kravitz, Spacehog's Royston Langdon and Alter Bridge star Myles Kennedy have been linked to the role since Velvet Revolver announced a hiatus following Weiland's departure.
But new reports suggest Taylor, who previously auditioned for the band, is a current favourite - something Mckagan is keen to stay coy about.
In a new RollingStone.com interview, he says, "There is no status (on a new singer)... I'm painfully aware of Corey Taylor; I was asked about one thousand times about it, (but) there is no status.
"Slash has been on tour, I'm starting a tour. We played with some really good guys, and I do think Corey Taylor is probably the brightest dude that has been in front of a mic for a long time. But saying all that, there is no Velvet Revolver singer."