.	Ex-GnR members find singer for new band: The group known as simply "The Project" (could be named Loaded or Re-Loaded), featuring ex-Gunners Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, staged a live presentation for film studios at their rehearsal space in April with Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland on vocals. Afterward the band received several requests to contribute songs to movies as far off as 2004, and the guys have agreed to donate tracks to "The Italian Job" and "The Hulk." For "The Italian Job," a remake of a 1969 Michael Caine heist film, the band contributed a faithful rendition of Pink Floyd's "Money." While the film was still in rough cut screenings last month, the Project recorded the cover with guests Weiland, Ziggy Marley and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, who toured and played with Guns during their Use Your Illusion period. Weiland sang lead vocals, and Marley had a small speaking part. For the "The Hulk," Slash and company contributed an original song called "Set Me Free," again with Weiland on vocals. Up through last week, Slash was still recording the guitar parts for the urgent rock track. Judging by demos obtained by MTV News, the Project's original material has a wide range, with some songs sounding like they'd be at home on Appetite for Destruction thanks to a hard blues edge and classic Slash melodies under the vocal line. Other tracks are more reminiscent of the Cult in that they're darker, with a more cohesive rhythm-and-groove orientation. "Set Me Free," by comparison, is the first of the new songs to really showcase the group's songwriting strength, especially since it doesn't sound reminiscent of the bands from which the Project's members sprang. An unmixed demo of "Set Me Free" was blistering and riff-oriented, with Weiland's vocals starting as a growl and building to an almost pained, higher register chorus: "Set me free, set me free/ 'Cos I think you need to heal my soul." "It's a rocker," Sorum said. "Very action-oriented-type number, up-tempo, about 160 [beats per minute], which is nice and fast. It's killer, man." Though they may be listed in "The Italian Job" credits as The Project, an official name is still being chosen, Slash's spokesperson said. The bandmembers are scheduled to meet Friday to discuss what to call themselves for "The Hulk" track. The group's contributions will not appear on soundtracks, Vereecke said. "The Italian Job" opens May 30, and "The Hulk" comes out June 20. The band had been auditioning singers from all over the world, but Sorum tells us they knew Weiland was their man the minute he walked into the studio. McKagan says they hope to release an album next February. He calls the two soundtrack songs, "a good way to start this thing. Number one, it puts a little money into our thing so maybe we can do our own record and license it out, but it's also a good way to see what it's like in a studio situation with Weiland." Among those who auditioned for the job are former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach (who, the source said "desperately wants to come back again"), Days of the New singer Travis Meeks, Lit singer A. Jay Popoff, ex-Buckcherry singer Joshua Todd and ex-Neurotica singer Kelly Shaefer. To date, more than 600 potential candidates have campaigned for the gig, with Slash and Co. bringing in at least 100 known and unknown singers for live auditions. Various Sources	.
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