Matt Sorum's Fierce Joy

Seasoned American drummer and percussionist Matt Sorum, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee whose career began with the Cult before he assumed drumming duties for Guns N' Roses in 1990 following Steven Adler's exit and later helped launch Velvet Revolver, now fronts his own solo endeavor. Known as Matt Sorum's Fierce Joy—a name legendary Lemmy Kilmister bestowed while Sorum substituted on drums for Motörhead on tour—the project turns away from the high-energy hard rock of his earlier bands toward an introspective, story-focused sound in which the experienced musician and singer/songwriter sets aside his drum kit to concentrate on piano, guitar, and lead vocals. The outfit's first full-length release, Stratosphere, appeared on Rok Dok Recordings in March 2014.