Grammy Winning Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Matt Sorum shares his experiences as the drummer for iconic rock bands such as Guns N Roses, The Cult, and Velvet revolver. Sorum discusses his journey from drug smuggler to rock star, the peaks and valleys of his career, life on tour, and settling down to become a family man. 

On this episode, the Matts talk about:

• How Ringo Starr inspired him to get into drumming, his early career, and meeting his idol
• His early years drumming for many as 10 bands at once, playing up to 5 gigs a night
• Playing with other legendary musicians such as Slash, Axl Rose, Ian Astbury, and Scott Weiland
• Getting sober with Velvet revolver and how a return to partying derailed the band
• His transition from the hustle of Hollywood to the calm life of Palm Springs
• The importance of gratitude
• How becoming a father pushed him to quit smoking
• And more

Sorum’s tell-all book: Double Talkin' Jive: True Rock 'n' Roll Stories from the Drummer of Guns N' Roses, The Cult, and Velvet Revolver is available now. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, MusiCares operates a Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Program that recognizes those issues unique to music professionals at any stage of their career, offering eligible individuals financial assistance and resources for psychotherapy, coaching, and psychiatric expenses, inpatient and outpatient treatment, detox and sober living costs.

About Matt Sorum

Matt Sorum speaks through the drums. Each hit or kick that Sorum has committed to tape or knocked out on stage can be felt by anyone within earshot. Whether it's the epic percussive backdrop behind Guns N' Roses' "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" or the propulsive punked-out beat fueling Velvet Revolver's "Dirty Little Thing," Sorum's playing remains unique, undeniable and unforgettable.

Matt Sorum is a Grammy-winning musician whose skills at the drum kit have earned him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and helped to define the soundtrack to the City of Angels: from the propulsive wail of The Cult, to the wild excess of Guns N’ Roses and the bellicose grit of Velvet Revolver. His reputation as a musician’s musician has placed him squarely at the center of Hollywood’s A-list community of artists. From Camp Freddy to Kings of Chaos, his side-projects have drawn a staggering number of fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famers — from Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry (Aerosmith), to Billy F Gibbons (ZZ Top), Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) and Brian May (Queen).

The Long Beach native and his wife, Ace Harper, recently became parents to a daughter, Lou Ellington Sorum.