Libertad is the second and final studio album by the hard rock band Velvet Revolver, released on July 3, 2007. The name is Spanish and translates to Liberty or freedom in English. According to a 2007 interview with Rolling Stone, along with the Stone Temple Pilots albums Core and the Stone Temple Pilots self-titled 2010 album, Libertad is one of only three albums lead singer Scott Weiland wrote while sober.
In December 2006, Velvet Revolver began working with producer Brendan O’Brien, who had previously produced albums for Stone Temple Pilots, Weiland‘s former band. Recording began on December 11 and continued through December, January, and February. The process was documented by a series of video blogs, or “Vlogs”, available on the band’s website.
Libertad was a released as an Enhanced-CD which includes a 10-minute video documentary called Re-Evolution: The Making of Libertad (Directed by Rocco Guarino). A deluxe Best Buy edition was also released which includes a DVD containing a 30-minute documentary called Tierra Roja, Sangre Roja (Directed by Rocco Guarino), that documented the band’s journey across South America.
To promote the album, Velvet Revolver embarked on a South American tour with Aerosmith.
The final performance saw 70,000 fans in attendance. Shortly thereafter, Velvet Revolver embarked on a North American club tour, revealing several new songs. The band also played major music festivals such as the Download Festival.
In August 2007, they began a North American arena tour with Alice in Chains, and later toured Europe and Asia. The album debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 92,000 copies in its first week; as of October 12, 2007, it has sold 222,000 copies and had fallen off the charts. The album is certified Gold in New Zealand and Canada.
Tracklist:
- Let It Roll
- She Mine
- Get Out the Door
- She Builds Quick Machines
- The Last Fight
- Pills, Demons & Etc.
- American Man
- Mary Mary
- Just Sixteen
- Can’t Get It Out of My Head (Music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne)
- For a Brother
- Spay
- Gravedancer (contains hidden track “Don’t Drop That Dime”)
Enhanced edition - Re-Evolution: Making of Libertad (making-of video)
Velvet Revolver
Scott Weiland: lead vocals, keyboards on “Get Out the Door” and “The Last Fight”
Slash: lead guitar, talkbox on “Get Out the Door”, acoustic guitar on “Messages”
Duff McKagan: bass, backing vocals
Matt Sorum: drums, percussion on “Get Out the Door”, backing vocals
Dave Kushner: rhythm guitar
Additional personnel
Brendan O’Brien: production, mixing
Bob Ludwig: mastering
Billy Bowers: additional engineering
Douglas Grean: additional engineering
Rocco Guarino: Video Director
Mixing assistance
Glenn Pittman
Kevin Mills
Matt Serrechio
Tom Syrowski
Tom Tapley
Scott Weiland (October 27, 1967 – December 3, 2015).
