Page 1 of Broken Lines

Prologue

Twenty years ago, New York City:

We’re comingto you today live outside Madison Square Garden, just hours before the lights go down for the very first US concert by British rock sensation Velvet Guillotine.

Behind me, you can see thethousandsof people who’ve been camped out on the streets of midtown Manhattan since last night, all here waiting for their chance to be the first inside the doors when they open. And I honestly don’t think anyone’s seen anything like this in a long time, maybe since Elvis, or Beatle-mania.

Like The Beatles, the four boys of Velvet Guillotine also hail from Liverpool. But where the Fab Four were all charming smiles and bowl haircuts, these new Brit sensations are all middle fingers, bottles of booze, and pure sex appeal.

The band has been causing a real stir amongst publications here in the US even before they landed last night—labeled too hot for public airways or television and too wild for a US market. But, in this reporter’s opinion, the four members of Velvet Guillotine are nothing short of the revival of rock and roll in its most gritty, undiluted form. And I, for one, am here for it.

Velvet Guillotine exploded out of the scene just six months ago with their smash hit singleWreck Me Gently, which has been absolutely destroying chart records across the UK and the US. And here we are just six months after that debut release and the four of them are playing five—count them,five—sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.

Additionally, if the rumors are true, the band has allegedly already been fielding collaboration requests from music icons like Jimmy Paige, Elton John, Eminem, Doctor Dre, and Madonna. Plans are already underway for a worldwide tour following this US circuit. But not before a brief layover here in New York where the band will start recording their follow-up record at the famous Electric Lady Studios.

Of course, the centerpiece of all this, which you can hear on the lips of the fans chanting his name behind me, is undeniably frontman Jackson Havoc, who’s been branded the devil of rock 'n roll. But love him or hate him, the wild childenfant terriblelead singer and lead guitar player for Velvet Guillotine is the primary reason every single one of these people is standing outside right now.

The magnetic stage presence of David Bowie or Freddie Mercury, the allure of Mick Jagger, and the sex appeal of Prince. I daresay Jackson Havoc is going to be a busy man while he's in New York.

And judging by this crowd and thestateof this crowd, crying and screaming for Velvet Guillotine and of course, Havoc himself, I can safely say it's time to hang onto your head.

Because Guillotine-mania is here, and it's not going anywhere.

Fifteen years ago, London:

We're live in London,standing outside of the Willesden Magistrate Court, where rock icon Jackson Havoc has just been arraigned on assault and narcotics charges stemming from an altercation at the Royal International Hotel in Knightsbridge.

Police were summoned to the hotel two nights ago after Velvet Guillotine’s sold-out third show here in London, to a party allegedly taking up the entire top floor and roof of the famous hotel. Authorities were able to clear out what has been described as “orgiastic mayhem” by a hotel spokesman, who added that the hotel will be pressing charges for damages incurred.

But the story of the hour, of course, is that police allegedly discovered Velvet Guillotine frontman Jackson Havoc heavily intoxicated and runningnakedthrough the halls of the hotel. Havoc was allegedly banging on every door screaming the lyrics to Elton John’sGoodbye Yellow Brick Road.

In true Velvet Guillotine form, Havoc did not go quietly. After allegedly throwing punches and taking out three officers, Mr. Havoc was eventually subdued by four police officers with the help of a tranquilizer.

While excessive, this newest altercation with law enforcement and flaunting of the law, in general, comes after a long string of similar incidents stretching back to essentially the band’s formation. Velvet Guillotine has risen through the charts over the last five years to be one of, if notthe, best-selling rock band of all time. And are currently on track to beat out Elvis Presley, The Eagles, Oasis, and The Beatles for that title. The band has built a reputation with their fan base on a culture of excess, mayhem, and as they’ve frequently referred to it in interviews, “pure rock ’n roll hedonism.”

While this makes for a great show, multiple voices have been quite loud in condemning this “hedonism” for bleeding off the stage into the day-to-day lives of the four members. Mr. Havoc along with all three other members of the band have been publicly linked with not just leading ladies of Hollywood and fashion supermodels, but also the criminal elements of London, New York, Chicago, and elsewhere. Most recently, in Las Vegas, where rhythm guitarist Will Cates allegedly got into a brawl with mob prince Luca Carvelli at Caesars Palace three months ago.

While the band’s—and mostly Mr. Havoc’s—off-stage escapades seem to have done nothing butincreaserecord and ticket sales, an insider in the Velvet Guillotine camp has told us that legal representation and management have begged the band, especially Havoc, to tone down the partying and to finish the rest of this tour without incident. Especially considering the wide range of civil and criminal legal battles that have been mounting against the band over the last five years.

And yet, the band seems to show no sign of slowing down or stopping. Hot on the heels of their fourth studio record in just five years, Velvet Guillotine has just announced plans for yet another U.S. tour of thirty cities. This, of course, flies directly in the face of the United States Justice Department issuing a statement apparently banning the group from even landing on US soil in light of unaddressed drug allegations from the last tour. Viewers may recall that drummer Iggy Watts was arrested by undercover agents for attempting to purchase large amounts of heroin, cocaine, and MDMA before the group’s sold-out Miami show last summer.

Whether or not the might of even the United States Justice Department can stop a force of nature like Velvet Guillotine, has yet to be determined.

Twelve years ago, New York City:

In shocking news today—orperhaps not so shocking news if you've ever even onceheardof the band Velvet Guillotine—frontman Jackson Havoc is allegedly being questioned by police regarding an incident earlier in which he allegedly waved a loaded gun in the faces of paparazzi outside his hotel.

Mr. Havoc was seen leaving The Waldorf Astoria, seemingly extremely intoxicated, along with band members Will Cates, Iggy Watts, and Asher Sins. The four were accompanied by Victoria's Secret sensation Vanessa Hill, eighteen-year-old Hollywood starlet Elena Martins, infamous band groupie and one-time Playboy Playmate Judy Blue, and of course, Mr. Watt’s wife of almost ten years, Alice Watts.

When confronted by paparazzi, Havoc allegedly shoved them back. When pressed, he allegedly pulled the firearm from his jacket and brandished it before firing once into the air.

Speculation has of course already run rampant that this will derail Velvet Guillotine’s newest U.S. tour before it even begins. Fears that, in this reporter’s mind, are completely unfounded if not utterly ridiculous.

Because, as it seems,nothingcan stop Velvet Guillotine. Not the US Justice Department. Not the hurricane that almost took their plane out of the sky nine months ago. And certainly not any of the legendary antics of frontman Jackson Havoc.

Not with a forty-venue tour already sold out ahead of them. Not with the release of their fifth studio record,Infinite Excess, which has been sitting at the very top of the charts since it was released two months ago. And not with the band’s new video for the hit singleExorcise My Lovewinning the distinction of being the first video on YouTube to break twobillionplays…a record speculated to be at least partially due to frontman Havoc’s costume—or perhaps lack thereof.

Mr. Havoc can be seen in the video cavorting suggestively on stage with his guitar, clad only in low slung leather pants. Pants slungsolow, in fact, that the band’s records have been pulled from shelves in more religiously conservative communities around the US and Europe. The smash hit video forExorcise My Loveis also allegedly responsible for the band’s shows in Turkey and Russia being canceled, with local authorities citing “questionable morality”.

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