Matt Sorum has an estimated net worth of $10 million. The American drummer built his wealth through a career spanning several decades and including some of the biggest names in rock music. He is best known for his time with Guns N’ Roses, where he replaced Steven Adler and performed on the band’s highly successful “Use Your Illusion” albums and subsequent world tour.
Sorum has also been a member of The Cult and Velvet Revolver and has worked with several other artists. His income has come from album sales, touring, recording, songwriting and music-related endorsements. He has also released solo albums, published an autobiography and worked on other entertainment projects.
- Matt Sorum Net Worth: $10 Million
- Date of Birth: November 19, 1960
- Place of Birth: Mission Viejo, California
- Nationality: American
- Career: Actor, Film Score Composer, Singer-songwriter, Drummer, Percussionist, Musician, Songwriter
Early Life
Matt Sorum was born Matthew William Sorum on November 19, 1960, in Mission Viejo, California.
His interest in drumming began after watching Ringo Starr perform with The Beatles during the group’s famous 1964 appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Starr’s performance inspired Sorum to take up the drums.
As he developed as a musician, Sorum drew influence from some of rock’s most respected drummers, including Keith Moon, John Bonham, Neil Peart, Buddy Rich and Roger Taylor.
He attended Mission Viejo High School, where he participated in the marching band, jazz band and wind ensemble. During his teenage years, he also joined a band called Prophecy. The group performed at amateur nights at The Starwood, a well-known West Hollywood nightclub.
Those early performances gave Sorum practical experience and helped prepare him for a professional career in music.
Early Music Career
After leaving Mission Viejo and moving into the Hollywood music scene, Sorum played with bands including Hawk and Population Five.
He later toured with a blues guitarist, gaining additional experience as a professional drummer.
In 1988, Sorum played drums for Tori Amos’s band Y Kant Tori Read on its debut album. The following year, he joined the British rock band The Cult for its touring lineup.
His work with The Cult proved to be a major turning point. While touring with the group, Sorum caught the attention of Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.
Slash was impressed by Sorum’s playing, and the connection eventually led to one of the most important opportunities of his career.
Joining Guns N’ Roses
Sorum joined Guns N’ Roses after the departure of the band’s original drummer, Steven Adler.
His arrival came during a crucial period for the group. Guns N’ Roses was preparing material that would become the massive two-album “Use Your Illusion” project.
Sorum performed on “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II,” both released in 1991. He also played on “The Spaghetti Incident?” in 1993.
Before the albums were released, Sorum contributed to the band’s recording of its cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” He also later played on the band’s recording of the Rolling Stones song “Sympathy for the Devil.”
Use Your Illusion Tour
The “Use Your Illusion” era became one of the biggest periods in Guns N’ Roses history.
“Use Your Illusion I” reached the top 10 in more than 15 countries and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. It eventually achieved seven-times platinum certification in the United States and was certified Diamond in Canada.
“Use Your Illusion II” was even more successful on several international charts, reaching No. 1 in five countries and earning platinum-level or higher certifications in numerous markets.
“The Spaghetti Incident?” also performed strongly, reaching the top 10 in 11 countries and earning platinum or higher certifications in 10 countries.
Sorum played an especially demanding role during the group’s “Use Your Illusion Tour.” He performed at all 194 concerts during the tour, which ran from January 1991 through July 1993.
The enormous scale of the tour made Sorum a key member of Guns N’ Roses during one of the band’s most commercially successful periods.
Slash’s Snakepit and Neurotic Outsiders
Sorum continued working with fellow Guns N’ Roses musicians outside the main band.
In 1994, he joined Slash and Gilby Clarke in Slash’s Snakepit. The group released its debut album, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.”
Sorum also participated in other musical projects. In 1995, he played drums on the theme song for “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.”
That same year, he and Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan formed the supergroup Neurotic Outsiders. The band released its self-titled album in 1996.
These projects allowed Sorum to continue recording and performing while expanding his work beyond Guns N’ Roses.
Leaving Guns N’ Roses
Sorum’s time with Guns N’ Roses eventually came to an end.
In 1997, Axl Rose fired Sorum following an argument. His departure marked the end of a significant chapter in the drummer’s career.
Sorum subsequently worked on several other projects. In 1998, he released the instructional video “Drum Licks and Tricks from the Rock n Roll Jungle,” sharing his experience and approach to drumming.
He also returned to The Cult in 1999. He played on the band’s album “Beyond Good and Evil” and toured with the group.
Formation of Velvet Revolver
Sorum’s most important post-Guns N’ Roses project came when he reunited with Slash and Duff McKagan.
The musicians eventually formed Velvet Revolver with singer Scott Weiland and guitarist Dave Kushner.
Velvet Revolver released its debut album, “Contraband,” in 2004. The album topped the charts in both the United States and Canada and was certified double platinum in both countries.
The band’s success gave Sorum another major commercial opportunity and reunited him with former Guns N’ Roses colleagues.
Velvet Revolver followed “Contraband” with “Libertad” in 2007. The album reached the top 10 in eight countries and earned Gold certification in Canada and New Zealand.
Sorum remained with the group during an important period in its career, contributing to its recordings and live performances.
Solo Music Career
Matt Sorum has also maintained a solo career.
He released his first solo album, “Hollywood Zen,” in 2004. A decade later, he followed it with “Stratosphere,” released in 2014.
His solo work provided another avenue for creative expression outside his work with major rock bands.
Sorum also continued collaborating with other musicians. In 2015, he played drums on the debut self-titled album by Hollywood Vampires, the rock supergroup formed by Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry.
Music Endorsements
Endorsements have also contributed to Sorum’s professional income.
Throughout his career, he has been associated with several major drum manufacturers and equipment companies, including Yamaha Drums, Mapex, Drum Workshop and Ludwig.
For professional musicians, equipment endorsements can provide income as well as instruments and gear for recording and touring. Sorum’s long career and high-profile work with Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver have made him a recognizable figure in the drumming industry.
Matt Sorum’s Book
Sorum expanded his career into publishing with his 2020 autobiography, “Double Talkin’ Jive: True Rock ‘n’ Roll Stories from the Drummer of Guns N’ Roses, the Cult, and Velvet Revolver.”
The book covers his experiences in some of rock music’s most prominent bands and provides an account of his career from his early days as a drummer through his years with Guns N’ Roses, The Cult and Velvet Revolver.
The publication added another professional project to a career that has extended beyond recording and touring.
Awards
Sorum has received significant recognition for his work with Velvet Revolver.
At the 2005 Grammy Awards, Velvet Revolver received three nominations. The group won Best Hard Rock Performance for its song “Slither.”
The band was also nominated for Best Rock Album for “Contraband” and Best Rock Song for “Fall to Pieces.”
Sorum had previously received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal for his work with Guns N’ Roses on “Use Your Illusion I.”
Velvet Revolver also won a Kerrang! Award for Best International Newcomer in 2004 and received a Billboard Music Award nomination for Rock Artist of the Year in 2005.
Personal Life
Matt Sorum married fashion designer Ace Harper on October 12, 2013, in Palm Springs, California.
The couple welcomed their daughter, Lou Ellington, on June 11, 2021.
Sorum has also spoken publicly about his dietary choices. In 2014, he revealed that he had become a vegetarian.
Real Estate
Real estate has also formed part of Sorum’s financial history.
In 2021, Sorum and Ace Harper sold their Los Angeles home for $3 million.
The approximately 3,966-square-foot property was built in 1929 and had been renovated. It featured six bedrooms and four bathrooms, along with a guest house.
Sorum converted the guest house into a music studio, making the property particularly suited to his career as a professional musician. The home also included a koi pond.
The reported $3 million sale represents a significant real estate transaction in Sorum’s financial history.
Author: Andrew Walyaula
Andrew Walyaula is a seasoned multimedia journalist. Email: [email protected]
