Sick (Loaded album)

When singer and guitarist Duff McKagan began working on a new project with his former Guns N' Roses bandmates Slash and Matt Sorum in 2002, he effectively put Loaded on hiatus the same year. Adding former Loaded guitarist Dave Kushner and Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland to the lineup, they formed the hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver in 2003. and continued to play shows on occasion. Knowing that Velvet Revolver's tour was ending, Loaded rented a rehearsal space including "Mothers Day," "I See Through You," "Sleaze Factory," "Flatline," and worked on older material such as "Sick," wrote in 2002, and "Wasted Heart," wrote in 2006–07. with producer Martin Feveyear at Jupiter Studios in Seattle, Washington. The album was primarily recorded by the band, ==Promotion==

On June 24, 2008, Loaded made Dark Days available for free download, from select websites, to help promote the band. They began touring prior to the release of the album, touring the UK, Europe and Japan. and the Loud Park Festival in Japan. From June 2008 the band released several promotional webisodes, five on the making of "Sick" and one of the 2008 U.K. tour. Following the release of Sick, Loaded toured the United States, South America, and Europe. They released one single, "Flatline," though it failed to chart. Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany, Rockfest in the United States, and the Sauna Open Air Festival in Finland. They joined Mötley Crüe on their tour of Europe, as their support band, before joining Black Stone Cherry on their tour of Europe and the UK. ==Release==

Sick was released in Europe on March 20 and in the United States on April 7, 2009. It entered the U.S. Billboard Top Heetseakers charts at #43 in its first week, selling over 1,400 copies. This edition also featured a new album cover, which was previously used only on limited edition LP versions of the album The iTunes edition was also updated. ==Reception==

Sick was met with generally positive critical reviews. Most reviewers noted punk influences on the album and offered some comparison to that of McKagan's former band Guns N' Roses. Tim Grierson of About.com said that the band "will appeal to those who wished GNR had just kept making albums like Appetite for Destruction until the day they died" noting "[t]he emphasis is on brawling guitar riffs and three-minute songs" but "occasionally McKagan slows down the tempo for bluesy ballads." He continued, stating that the songs "may not be the greatest, but there is an inviting quality about them that encourages listeners to just rock along for the ride" and noted that they "giv[ed] off a feeling of experience grounded by youthful energy." ==Track listing==

:All information is excerpted from the album's stated information. ;Loaded: • Duff McKagan - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar on "Mother's Day" • Geoff Reading - drums, backing vocals • Jeff Rouse - bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Translucent" • Mike Squires - lead guitar, backing vocals ;Additional personnel • Norman Baltzo - horns on "Blind Date Girl" • Greg Schroeder - horns on "Blind Date Girl" • Nate Schlermer - horns on "Blind Date Girl" ;Bonus DVD credits • Dave Meehan - director • Martin Feveyear - concert audio mixing, mastering • Julie Briscoe - DVD authoring • Paul Hurt - location audio • David Ellison - camera • Chris Moorcraft - camera • Jake Meehan - camera • Scott Johnson - camera • Viv Quick - camera ;Production • Martin Feveyear - production, engineering, mixing, mastering, additional percussion • Jon Ervie - assistance • Stewart Shank - assistance • William Brown - assistance • Steve Joh - A&R • Rick Canny - management • Brian H. McPherson Esq. - legal • Jenna Adler - US booking agent • Ian Sales - Europe/UK booking agent • Beth Sabbagh - accounting • Christel Layton - accounting • Terri Beverford - accounting • Craig Howell - art design, layout • Lance Mercer - photography ==Release history==