Velvet Revolver Drummer Readies Rock Couture Line

While Velvet Revolver waits for sidelined frontman Scott Weiland to comple te his latest trip to rehab, drummer Matt Sorum is keeping extremely busy as one half of Sorum-Noce, a "rock & roll couture" line and boutique set to launch this spring in L.A.

A partnership forged when Milan-bred high fashion designer Max Noce started crafting clothes for the former Cult and Guns N' Roses kitman more than a decade ago. Sorum-Noce plans to bring old world values and sophistication back to fashion.

Balancing elegant, black tailored suits and leather jackets -- staples of rock 'n' roll -- Sorum-Noce's designs are modeled by Velvet Revolver's own Duff McKagan, Dave Kushner and Slash on its official website.

"I designed a leather jacket especially for Slash that has this special pocket for his Gitanes cigarettes and his lighter," Sorum tells Spinner excitedly. "And he f---ing loves it. We're going to make that available to buy."

Those who might suspect that Sorum -- who hopes to see the line in high end retailers like Barney's by year's end -- is just the business backing for the venture would be wrong.

"Matt has a say in almost everything that we do creatively," Noce insists. "As long as I have known him, he has had a tremendous eye for style."