The Grammy-winning drummer talks about Scott Weiland, Velvet Revolver, The Cult, Guns N’ Roses, his charity Adopt the Arts, and why rock needs another “cultural shift”
From the LifeMinute.tv Team
October 9, 2026
Matt Sorum has spent decades behind the kit for some of rock’s most iconic bands, including Guns N’ Roses, The Cult, and Velvet Revolver. But these days, the drummer is just as focused on giving back, staying creative and making sure the next generation gets the same access to music that helped shape his own life.
In a new interview on Joann Butler In Studio With…, Sorum talks about the inaugural Palm Springs Sound & Vision Awards, a benefit tied to his Adopt the Arts foundation. The event honored vocalist Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company) and Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, and brought together an all-star lineup including Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Stevens, Corey Taylor and Lzzy Hale.
The performances were captured for Sound & Vision Live, a limited-edition double-vinyl album produced by Sorum, which is limited to 2,000 copies. The album is available for pre-order through Experience Vinyl. The collector’s release directly benefits Adopt the Arts, which he co-founded with actress Jane Lynch in 2010.
Sorum also looks back on the very different worlds of The Cult, Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver. His work with Guns N’ Roses helped earn him induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, and he later found another major chapter with Velvet Revolver. He remembers the band as a particularly exciting rebirth and credits Scott Weiland with helping inspire its style and evolution. “Scott was just such a gem of a frontman,” Sorum says, calling him one of the best. The group’s success, including a number-one album and a Grammy win, remains one of the highlights of his career.
And what if Guns N’ Roses called and asked him to come back? “I don’t know. I changed my phone number,” Sorum jokes when Butler asks him.
He also weighs in on rock music today, saying the genre needs another true “cultural shift” like the one that happened when Nirvana arrived. His advice to younger musicians is to stop worrying about what sounds “modern” and concentrate on making the music they actually want to make — and writing great songs.
Away from the stage, becoming a father at 60 has given Sorum a whole new perspective. He calls having his daughter “the greatest decision I ever made,” saying she inspired him to get healthier, take better care of himself and want to live a longer life. And after everything he’s experienced, Sorum says he wouldn’t change much. His advice to his younger self: “Do it exactly the way you did it, because you’re supposed to be right where you are right now.”
This is a LifeMinute with Matt Sorum.