While Slash promotes a mediocre new album and Axl Rose sues everyone in sight, two other ex-members of Gun ‘N Roses have formed a sort-of supergroup with a few other hard rockers you forgot existed. Described as the “ultimate all-star party band”, Carnival of Dogs matches GNR drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Tracii Guns (also of L.A. Guns) with bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol) and frontman Franky Perez (Slash & Friends, Scars on Broadway).

The quartet made its live debut May 3rd at a MusicCares charity event and plans to announce more gigs soon. Though the band’s website seems unfinished – it’s the internet equivalent of “Testing 1-2-3” – Sorum posted a personal note on his own site, writing that “These guys play the stuff I grew up with.” This new group marks the third new project Sorum has announced in the last year, following a tour with Motörhead and a drummer collective with Tommy Lee.

The press release wisely saves the kicker ‘til the end: this is a “70s rock cover band.” While we don’t begrudge these guys a chance to let loose, have their careers really come to this? “Smoke on the Water,” now at a Bar Mitzvah near you!