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Slither (song)

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"Slither"
Single by Velvet Revolver
from the album Contraband
ReleasedApril 12, 2004 (2004-04-12)
Genre
Length4:08
Label
SongwriterVelvet Revolver
ProducerJosh Abraham
Velvet Revolver singles chronology
"Set Me Free"
(2003)		 "Slither"
(2004)		 "Fall to Pieces"
(2004)
Music video
"Slither" on YouTube
Audio sample

"Slither" is a song by American hard rock band Velvet Revolver from their 2004 debut album, Contraband. Released as the second single from the album in April 2004, "Slither" topped both the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts, as well as reaching number 56 on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 35 on the UK Singles Chart. The song won the 2005 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Composition

[edit]

"Slither" is a hard rock and alternative rock song.[1][2] Scott Weiland said, "The lyrics are about a relationship. 'When you look you see right through me, cut the rope, fell to my knees, born and broken every single time.' It's just feeling not right in a situation."[3]

Music video

[edit]

The video, directed by Kevin Kerslake, was filmed in Prague, Czech Republic and Los Angeles. It starts with the band members playing their instruments inside a tunnel while a woman is driving a car seeking for the way to get to that tunnel. As the song continues, people become much more aggressive and the underground concert reaches a peak as band members play hard. Often in the video, Scott Weiland is seen standing before a wall made of human skulls.

Success and awards

[edit]

"Slither" was awarded a Grammy in 2005 for Best Hard Rock Performance, an award Weiland had won with his previous band, Stone Temple Pilots, for the song "Plush" in 1994. In 2009, the song was named the 85th-best hard rock song of all time by VH1.[1]

After Velvet Revolver members Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined their former band Guns N' Roses in 2016, Guns N' Roses began regularly playing "Slither" live starting at a concert in Berlin, Germany on June 3, 2018.[4]

Track listings

[edit]
European two-track edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
4:08
2."Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover)Kurt Cobain4:17
European three-track edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:08
2."Bodies" (live Sex Pistols cover)
3:19
3."Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover)Cobain4:17
United Kingdom double CD edition (disc one)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:08
2."Bodies" (live Sex Pistols cover)
  • Lydon
  • Jones
  • Cook
3:19
3."Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover)Cobain4:17
United Kingdom double CD edition (disc two)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:08
2."Money" (Pink Floyd cover)
7:38
3."Set Me Free" (live)
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
7:11
United Kingdom 12" picture disc (side A)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slither"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:08
United Kingdom 12" picture disc (side B)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Set Me Free"
  • Weiland
  • Slash
  • McKagan
  • Sorum
  • Kushner
4:07

Personnel

[edit]

Chart performance

[edit]

The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and stayed there for nine weeks. It also became their sole No. 1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, maintaining the position for four weeks. "Slither" also charted at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Velvet Revolver's highest-charting song and one of the highest-charting songs that Scott Weiland has appeared on.

Weekly charts

[edit]
Chart (2004) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 26
Canada (Nielsen BDS)[6] 21
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[7] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] 17
France (SNEP)[9] 81
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 47
Italy (FIMI)[11] 38
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 46
Norway (VG-lista)[13] 12
Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts)[14] 34
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 58
UK Singles (Official Charts)[16] 35
UK Rock & Metal (Official Charts)[17] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 56
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[19] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[20] 1

Year-end charts

[edit]
Chart (2004) Position
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[21] 2
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[22] 10

Certifications

[edit]
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[24] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States April 12, 2004 [25]
Australia May 24, 2004 CD [26]
Denmark [27]
United Kingdom July 12, 2004 [28]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Stosuy, Brandon (January 5, 2009). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. July 5, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  3. ↑ Prato, Greg (October 10, 2014). "Scott Weiland: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  4. ↑ "GUNS N' ROSES Performs VELVET REVOLVER's 'Slither' Live For First Time (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. June 4, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Velvet Revolver – Slither". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  6. ↑ "The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles". Archived from the original on July 1, 2004. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  7. ↑ "October 8, 2004 - RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Velvet Revolver: Slither" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Velvet Revolver – Slither" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 29, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Archived from the original. Retrieved February 9, 2021. [dead link]
  11. ↑ "Velvet Revolver – Slither". Top Digital Download. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Velvet Revolver – Slither" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Velvet Revolver – Slither". VG-lista. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 18/7/2004 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Velvet Revolver – Slither". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 18/7/2004 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 18/7/2004 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  21. ↑ "2004 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles". Billboard. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Year in Music & Touring: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. December 25, 2004. p. YE-70. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  23. ↑ "British single certifications – Velvet Revolver – Slither". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 8, 2023. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Slither Velvet Revolver in the "Search:" field.
  24. ↑ "American single certifications – Velvet Revolver – Slither". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1550. April 9, 2004. p. 20.
  26. ↑ "Slither". BMG Australia. Archived from the original on June 13, 2004. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Velvet Revolver: Single". click2music.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on February 10, 2005. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  28. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. July 10, 2004. p. 27.
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