Slither (song)

For the song by Earth Crisis, see Slither (album). For the song by Metallica, see Reload (Metallica album).

"Slither"
Single by Velvet Revolver
from the album Contraband
Released	April 12, 2004 (2004-04-12)
Genre	Hard rock alternative rock
Length	4:08
Label	RCA BMG
Songwriter	Velvet Revolver
Producer	Josh Abraham
Velvet Revolver singles chronology
"Set Me Free" (2003) "Slither" (2004) "Fall to Pieces" (2004)
Music video
"Slither" on YouTube

European two-track edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Slither"	Scott Weiland Slash Duff McKagan Matt Sorum Dave Kushner	4:08
2.	"Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover)	Kurt Cobain	4:17

European three-track edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Slither"	Weiland Slash McKagan Sorum Kushner	4:08
2.	"Bodies" (live Sex Pistols cover)	John Lydon Steve Jones Paul Cook	3:19
3.	"Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover)	Cobain	4:17

United Kingdom double CD edition (disc one)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Slither"	Weiland Slash McKagan Sorum Kushner	4:08
2.	"Bodies" (live Sex Pistols cover)	Lydon Jones Cook	3:19
3.	"Negative Creep" (Nirvana cover)	Cobain	4:17

United Kingdom double CD edition (disc two)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Slither"	Weiland Slash McKagan Sorum Kushner	4:08
2.	"Money" (Pink Floyd cover)	Roger Waters David Gilmour	7:38
3.	"Set Me Free" (live)	Weiland Slash McKagan Sorum Kushner	7:11

United Kingdom 12" picture disc (side A)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Slither"	Weiland Slash McKagan Sorum Kushner	4:08

United Kingdom 12" picture disc (side B)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Set Me Free"	Weiland Slash McKagan Sorum Kushner	4:07

Personnel

• Scott Weiland – lead vocals
• Slash – lead guitar
• Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals
• Matt Sorum – drums
• Dave Kushner – rhythm guitar

Chart performance

The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and stayed there for nine weeks. It also became their sole No. 1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, maintaining the position for four weeks. "Slither" also charted at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Velvet Revolver's highest-charting song and one of the highest-charting songs that Scott Weiland has appeared on.

Weekly charts Chart (2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [6] 26 Canada (Nielsen BDS) [7] 21 Canada Rock Top 30 ( Radio & Records ) [8] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [9] 17 France (SNEP) [10] 81 Ireland (IRMA) [11] 47 Italy (FIMI) [12] 38 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [13] 46 Norway (VG-lista) [14] 12 Scotland Singles (OCC) [15] 34 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [16] 58 UK Singles (OCC) [17] 35 UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [18] 1 US Billboard Hot 100 [19] 56 US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [20] 1 US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [21] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard) [22] 2 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [23] 10

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [24]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [25]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	April 12, 2004	Mainstream rock active rock alternative radio	RCA BMG	[26]
Australia	May 24, 2004	CD		[27]
Denmark				[28]
United Kingdom	July 12, 2004			[29]

References

1. Official Charts Company info OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
2. Stosuy, Brandon (January 5, 2009). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs". Stereogum . Retrieved June 19, 2021.
3. "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound . July 5, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
4. Prato, Greg (October 10, 2014). "Scott Weiland: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
5. "GUNS N' ROSES Performs VELVET REVOLVER's 'Slither' Live For First Time (Video)". Blabbermouth.net . June 4, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
6. "Velvet Revolver – Slither". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
7. "The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles" . Retrieved January 12, 2025.
8. "October 8, 2004 - RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Retrieved June 19, 2021.
9. "Velvet Revolver: Slither" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
10. "Velvet Revolver – Slither" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
11. "Chart Track: Week 29, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
12. "Velvet Revolver – Slither". Top Digital Download. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
13. "Velvet Revolver – Slither" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
14. "Velvet Revolver – Slither". VG-lista. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
16. "Velvet Revolver – Slither". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
18. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
19. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
20. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
21. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
22. "2004 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles". Billboard . December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
23. "Year in Music & Touring: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. December 25, 2004. p. YE-70. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
24. "British single certifications – Velvet Revolver – Slither". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved December 8, 2023.
25. "American single certifications – Velvet Revolver – Slither". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 22, 2022.
26. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records . No. 1550. April 9, 2004. p. 20.
27. "Slither". BMG Australia. Archived from the original on June 13, 2004. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
28. "Velvet Revolver: Single". click2music.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on June 21, 2004. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
29. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . July 10, 2004. p. 27.