ROCK INVASION.

Byline: STORIES BY FRED SHUSTER

>MUSIC WRITER

In the highly competitive rock festival field, local radio station KROQ's events are usually among the winners.

The reason is amply illustrated by the lineup at Saturday's L.A. Invasion all-dayer at the 26,000-seat Home Depot Center in Carson. Along with perennials such as the Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver and Cypress Hill, the annual event, which this year has moved from the Inland Empire to Los Angeles County, brings up 'n' comers Paramore and Hot Hot Heat, plus well-chosen unsigned acts, to the fore.

In previous years, the concert has shone a spotlight on bands that later made a dent in the alternative rock charts -- Kings of Leon, Dashboard Confessional and Interpol, among them.

This year's array of volatile personalities is the best yet. In one day, Billy Corgan, Dave Grohl, Scott Weiland and Slash, Kid Rock, Perry Farrell and Chris Cornell will share the stage. Expect the results to end up on the celeb gossip Web sites.

"Throw in L.A. favorites Cypress Hill, up-and-coming bands Paramore, Against Me! and four local, unsigned SoCal bands to kick it off and this is arguably one of the biggest rock shows of the year," enthused Kevin Weatherly, KROQ's program director.

Let us be the judge of that, Kevin!

Here is a preview of the show, with stories on Velvet Revolver and Hot Hot Heat, plus a quick glance at all the main-stage acts.

>VELVET REVOLVER: REINVENTED BAND STILL SHOOTS FROM THE HIP OF HARD-CORE ROCK

Velvet Revolver provide the meat and potatoes at the KROQ event.

The band, whose members used to be in Guns N' Roses (guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum) and Stone Temple Pilots (vocalist Scott Weiland), deliver artifice-free hard rock that's comfort food to an audience raised on Guns, Queen and Def Leppard.

Launched in 2002 after Guns N' Roses imploded, Velvet Revolver released two Top 5 albums -- "Contraband" and the recent "Libertad" -- and has weathered internal fights, external fights, relapses, rehab and dodgy fashion statements while building a fiercely loyal fan base.

"I'd like to think if I was a teenager, we'd be my favorite band," says Slash (born Saul Hudson), whose iconic visual image includes a top hat, a mound of shaggy black curls covering his face, cigarette dangling from his mouth and a riff-churning Les Paul guitar slung low. "We've been around forever, but there's no competition coming up. There's really nothing going on right now that's anything like us. There's not a lot of real rock 'n' roll around anymore."

That was also true when Guns N' Roses stormed out of the pallid Sunset Strip scene of the late '80s and ruled the rock world until Nirvana introduced a new world order in 1991. Today, Slash, Weiland and their fellow old-school bad boys from 20th-century megabands are almost the last of the Mohicans.

"I still like the same 12 records I've always liked," says Slash. "Today, kids aren't hearing the same things we came up on. We were influenced by Aerosmith, Queen and the Sex Pistols. Now it's all about sampling and computerized beats and dance club music. Where are the sleazy guitars?"

As far as rowdy hard-rock groups go, Velvet Revolver has the wattage to put its point across. On the band's current tour, images of wrecked cars, near-naked women and various criminals flash on a screen behind the musicians, who themselves are adorned with skull-and-crossbones symbols. Crowd-pleasing Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots anthems are scattered throughout the set.

"Playing a show like L.A. Invasion, we have to stick to the hits," Slash said. "I mean, we get up there and do it for ourselves, but we still have to give the fans what they want and expect. And at an all-day thing like that, they're tired and want a shot of adrenalin. And that's what we give them."

>HOT HOT HEAT: EVOLVING INDIE BAND STARTING TO SIZZLE WITH WIDESPREAD SUCCESS

The forecast is sunny for Hot Hot Heat.

The indie dance-rockers, whose just-released "Happiness Ltd." album retains the Canadian quartet's playful melodies and witty wordplay, are on the verge of widespread success after years of touring and self-marketing their own music.

"Even though we still have one foot firmly planted in a niche we created for ourselves, it's great to finally get a push," said frontman Steve Bays. "But I kind of cringe when I hear the word 'mainstream' because growing up in a million punk bands and putting on do-it-yourself shows for years, it's still about us getting together as buddies and writing songs we're excited about."

Hot Hot Heat, who will take the stage Saturday afternoon at the L.A. Invasion festival, has played high-profile shows with the Foo Fighters (also on the KROQ bill), the Killers and opened a couple of Greek Theatre dates in June for Snow Patrol. The group is about to head out under their own steam with reggae-pop band Bedouin Soundclash in the warm-up slot.

Despite being signed to a major label, Bays says he has mixed emotions about the digital revolution and the proliferation of bootlegging.

"I'm aware of the way the industry and the fans look at it," Bays said. "It's a very useful way to distribute your music and get it heard, whether you're getting paid or not. I remember before the Internet when all we had was a phone card and we'd pull the van over and find a pay phone and make our calls to promote the music. The world has completely changed eight years later. We were selling our demo tapes out of the back of our van."

In the evolution of Hot Hot Heat from noisy, synth-based combo in 1999 to today's aggressively catchy and danceable pop band, the group has become adept at recording, working closely with producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) on "Happiness Ltd.," which came out Tuesday.

"We recorded a ton of music for this record that didn't make the album," Bays said. "I'm excited people will be able to hear those tracks -- after I intentionally leak them."

As for his interest in Saturday's lineup, Bays is looking forward to hearing a band he never really appreciated before: Smashing Pumpkins.

"I'm kind of blown away at the level of positive feedback they've been getting for their comeback," he said. "I'm excited to get backstage to pick up on their vibe."

KROQ L.A. INVASION

>Where: Home Depot Center, 18400 Avalon Blvd., Carson (on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills).

>When: 2 p.m. Saturday.

>Tickets: $35 to $85. www.ticketmaster.com.

CAPTION(S):

11 photos

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) ROCK INVASION

ALL-DAY FESTIVAL HITS SO CAL WITH VELVET REVOLVER, KID ROCK AND MORE

(2 -- color) >SMASHING PUMPKINS: Great pumpkin Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain are the only original members, but the band still makes the right noises.

(3 -- color) >FOO FIGHTERS: Dave Grohl and company just hit the top of the modern rock charts with "The Pretender," a track from the forthcoming "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" album. These guys don't disappoint.

(4 -- color) >CHRIS CORNELL: A remake of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" as a foreboding ballad is a highlight of the ex-Soundgarden singer's set.

(5 -- color) >KID ROCK: The Michigan rocker is preaching the gospel of "Rock N Roll Jesus," a new album due next month.

(6 -- color) >CYPRESS HILL: Back from a three-year hiatus, the THC-fueled rappers never fail to rev up the party.

(7 -- color) >PERRY FARRELL'S SATELLITE PARTY: A blend of rock, electronic, urban beats and symphonic elements from the bizarre ex-leader of Jane's Addiction.

(8 -- color) >AGAINST ME!: Aggressive folk-punk, anarchist protest music -- and there's not enough of it around these days.

(9 -- color) >PARAMORE: Fronted by 5-foot teen pixie Hayley Williams, this emo band from Tennessee is zooming up the charts with the single "Misery Business." Don't miss 'em.

(10 -- color) >VELVET REVOLVER

(11 -- color) >HOT HOT HEAT