Velvet Revolver

After musician Randy Castillo's death from cancer in 2002, Slash, McKagan, and Sorum played a charity concert to raise funds in memory of Castillo with Josh Todd and Keith Nelson of Buckcherry, and B-Real and Sen Dog of Cypress Hill. Noticing that their musical relationship had remained intact, the trio began rehearsing with Todd and Nelson, working on what would become Dirty Little Thing but ultimately decided not to form a band with them. During a Loaded concert at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, McKagan reintroduced Kushner to Slash, since they were former schoolmates and high school classmates. Kushner was invited to jam with the band and quickly invited by Slash to join them.