The five members of hard rock band Velvet Revolver have canceled a string of concerts in Japan as they were denied visas due to their previous legal problems.

Velvet Revolver was scheduled to perform four concerts between November 26 and November 30 in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Yokohama to promote its current album “Libertad,” produced by Brendan O’Brien and released in July.

A message posted Nov. 16 on the band’s official website (www.velvetrevolver.com/) informs that the “increasingly tough Japanese immigration officials are taking exception with the backgrounds of various band members, which have included arrests.”

This means that the band will not be able to perform as scheduled. “We want to apologize to our fans in Japan that we won't be able to perform our scheduled concerts,” Velvet Revolver said in a group statement.

“We don't understand why the authorities won't give us visas when they granted them for us in 2005 for what was a successful tour and a great experience. We love Japan and look forward to our return there.”

Reuters contacted a spokesman for the immigration department at the Justice Ministry, who said he could not comment on individual cases. Under Japanese law, anyone with a drug conviction can be refused entry.

Velvet Revolver consists of lead singer Scott Weiland, former frontman of Stone Temple Pilots, and three members of legendary Guns N' Roses - Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, as well as Dave Kushner.

While touring in Japan has been denied the rockers, they will continue with their Australian tour that begins on December 4 in Brisbane. They are scheduled to perform Dec. 12 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, CA.

With such unexpected additional free time on his hands, Weiland may well start work on the memoir he announced a couple of days ago he would write. Reuters reported Sunday that Weiland confessed he has a publishing deal to write an autobiography.

While he did not reveal the name of the publisher, the 40-year-old singer said he would collaborate on the project with David Ritz, who has co-written autobiographies for artists such as Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles.