Collected Chaos

There are supergroups – and then there are SUPERGROUPS. Kings Of Chaos fall into the latter category. Convened just last year by Matt Sorum, the band now consists of his ex-Guns N' Roses bandmates Duff McKagan and Gilby Clarke alongside Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) and the legendary Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple). You'd think getting everyone together would be a logistical nightmare, but according to Sorum it was an effortless operation.

“The thing about it is that we are all really good friends and everyone was really enthusiastic about the concept, so we all made time. What's driving us all is to give the fans the biggest bang for their buck – we thought, why not give people an experience that otherwise they'd have to go to a festival to experience?”

So has the band worked on new songs, or is it a case of jamming out the classics?

“We haven't written songs together – let's face it, there's enough material between all of us to play for hours,” explains Sorum. “What we do is a little bit of everything to make the widest amount of fans as happy as possible. The core band is myself, Duff, Steve Stevens and Gilby – we're on stage all night, so obviously you'll get a lot of Guns N' Roses material. After a few songs, Sebastian Bach joins us for some Skid Row songs, then Glenn Hughes comes out and we'll do some of his material before Joe Elliott comes on for some Def Leppard songs. Of course, we'll throw in a few surprises as well.”

While the line-up for Kings Of Chaos is undoubtedly impressive, could it be that putting such a large group of established artists together is a recipe for, well, chaos (and not the good kind)?

“No, that's not a problem at all, because we all respect each other greatly,” argues Sorum. “The ego thing isn't an issue and we don't have the issues regarding record company obligations and all the other things that go with being part of a full-time band. We're all doing this because it's fun, and there are other musicians who want to play with us as well. Slash and Vivian Campbell are going to join us in the future – the concept is going to grow and grow.”

So there's not even friendly competition each night to see whose material gets the best reaction?

“I know it's hard to believe but no, no dramas at all,” laughs Sorum. “This is new and different for all the members. We're not stuck with each other for months and months on end, no one's tired; there is no politics. It's just about getting out in front of the fans with my best friends and playing as much classic music as possible.”

Although promising a set of classic tunes, Sorum is also at pains to point out that even though these songs have been played thousands of times before, the Kings Of Chaos will bring a unique vibe to the material.

“You'll know all the songs but you'll never hear them like we play them,” says an animated Sorum. “We know why all this material has stood the test of time and we won't try to reinvent the songs, but nowhere else will you hear Steve Stevens jamming out Slash's riffs or Guns N' Roses guys jamming classic Deep Purple tunes – it's going to be a very unique show.”

Of course, with Drum having Sorum in the hot seat, we had to ask him the inevitable question: with so many former members of Guns N' Roses in Kings Of Chaos, is this a precursor to a fully blown Gunners reunion?

“I have no idea about that, to be honest,” says a suddenly reticent Sorum. “All I know is that Slash and me are still friends – as are the guys who are on stage with me. Someone else would need to make the phone call for that to happen. Right now we're just all enjoying ourselves.”

Kings of Chaos will be playing the following dates:

Saturday 20 April - Stone Music Festival, ANZ Stadium, Sydney NSW