members of Velvet Revolver: Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, Dave Kushner and Scott Weiland. The recording also featured actor Robert Downey Jr. Other work In 1985, he co-starred with Geena Davis in the TV show Sara, playing her next-door neighbor Stuart Webber. Hudson also worked closely with Phil Ramone and sang background vocals on many albums/songs produced by Ramone, such as "Crazy for You" by Madonna. In 1986, he was the in-house bandleader on Fox's short-lived The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers. Rivers referred to the band as, "Mark Hudson, The Party Boys and The Tramp." In July 1994, he joined Disney's Hollywood Records as a songwriter and producer for performers such as Alice Cooper and Aerosmith. Disney brought him on board to sharpen production, and identify new acts. In 2004, he was recruited by Sharon Osbourne to join her team as vocal coach for the UK TV show The X Factor. Nicknamed "Weird Beard" because of his colourful facial hair and flamboyant clothing, he coached all the under-25s in the first series and the over-25s in the second. He also co-wrote 3 tracks on Bon Jovi's 2004 box set, 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong. On March 5, 2006, he achieved his first Number 1 in the UK Top 40 singles chart with an original song he had written for Chico Slimani, X Factor contestant. Called "Chico Time", it displaced Madonna from the top of the chart. It has sold over 100,000 copies in the UK. The X Factor: Battle of the Stars was screened in the UK during the week of May 29, 2006. Hudson was recruited to reprise his coaching role, this time with celebrities who performed in a week long once-a-night version of the show, raising money for their chosen charity. The show was won by Lucy Benjamin, actress; runner up was Matt Stevens, England Rugby International. The British public voted for their favourites as Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, and Simon Cowell sat in judgment. At Hudson's request, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler made a guest appearance on Keith Anderson's July 2006 single called "Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll", the title track from his debut album. The single was remixed by Hudson in Nashville, and Tyler's vocal added at Hudson's studio in Los Angeles. In 2006, Hudson again assumed his coaching role on the 3rd series of The X Factor, this time coaching all