slash
GUNS N’ ROSES Rumor: IZZY STRADLIN To Take Limited Role In Reunion
According to The Pulse Of Radio, the latest rumor emanating...
Reunited GUNS N’ ROSES To Play Next Year’s COACHELLA FESTIVAL
According to U.S. music industry magazine Billboard, GUNS N' ROSES....
SLASH Says It’s ‘Impossible To Take Seriously’ Poll Naming ‘Sweet Child’ Second Greatest Riff Of All Time
Slash told an Australian radio station in a new interview that it is "impossible to take seriously" a recent poll in which "Sweet Child O' Mine", the GUNS N' ROSES track from "Appetite For Destruction" that became the band's biggest hit single, was voted the second greatest guitar riff of all time by listeners of BBC Radio 2.
"I definitely don't sit there and go, 'Yeah, it's the greatest riff,'" Slash told Triple M (hear audio below). "But it's very surreal when somebody says something like that. It's almost, like... impossible to take it seriously. Do you know what I'm saying? It's not tangible. I mean, obviously, someone is walking around saying that and there's been some sort of a poll. But it's also nonexistent as far as… You know, it's really hard to really take seriously. You're not part of the effort of finding out that information and researching it; all of a sudden, it just appears. So it's something that you sort of take with… You're very appreciative about it and you sort of count your lucky stars that you got mentioned in that position, or even at all, and then you sort of take it with a grain of salt and try not to dwell on it and take it too seriously."
LED ZEPPELIN's "Whole Lotta Love" topped the BBC Radio 2 poll, which included 100 riffs drawn up by a panel of Radio 2 and 6 Music DJs, critics and record producers. "Back In Black" (AC/DC) was third in the poll and "Smoke On The Water" (DEEP PURPLE) the next most popular.
Slash told a Cincinnati radio station earlier in the year that he wasn't a fan at first of "Sweet Child O' Mine". He explained, "I didn't hate it, but I wasn't fond of 'Sweet Child O' Mine'. And that gives you a good idea of how credible my opinion is. The actual riff itself I love, but the song itself…"
Slash added: "GUNS N' ROSES was always a real hardcore sort of AC/DC kind of hard rock band with a lot of attitude. If we did any kind of ballads, it was bluesy. This was an uptempo ballad. That's one of the gayest things you can write… It's a great song — I'm not knocking it — but at the same time, it just did not fit in with the rest of our, sort of, schtick. And, of course, it would be the biggest hit we ever had."
"Sweet Child O' Mine" eventually hit No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart and helped propel "Appetite For Destruction" to sales of millions of copies.
Slash told The Pulse Of Radio a while back why he thought "Appetite" became such a monster success. "We were the only band that was doing what it was that we were doing, with the attitude that we had," he said. "People were starved for it, because, I mean, other than us, there was SIMPLE MINDS and MÖTLEY CRÜE. I mean, you know, [chuckles] Cyndi Lauper, you know? I mean, that's what was going on then. So people were dying for, like, a real, blood-sweat-and-tears rock-and-roll band."
In addition to being the biggest hit from that album, "Sweet Child O' Mine" has been covered by artists ranging from Sheryl Crow to Luna.
Slash was asked in a U.K. interview to name the most lucrative song he ever wrote. He replied, "I'd guess 'Sweet Child O' Mine', because it's the most covered."
SLASH: Reunion Of Classic GUNS N’ ROSES Lineup Is Not ‘In The Cards’
Mistress Carrie of the Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts radio station WAAF recently conducted an interview with legendary guitarist Slash. You can now watch the chat in four parts below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).
On whom he would like to play him if a movie is ever made about his life:
Slash: "I hope they never do that. The thing about rock movies is that they never give the reality of rock and roll, they never do it justice, it always turns out to be a parody. Even the best rock movies are laughable. [Unless they're intended to be a parody] and then they're funny. 'Spinal Tap' was great, but I think 'Spinal Tap' got under everybody's skin and we haven't been able to get rid of it since. But very few rock movies are really credible. So when you're doing a story like that, artistic license and so on, it makes me very nervous."
On the never-ending barrage of questions he gets about a possible reunion of the classic GUNS N' ROSES lineup:
Slash: "It's a subject I just avoid. 'Cause I've tried all different approaches on this particular subject. The thing is it's been dead in the water since 1996. I'm not gonna joke about it. Anything I ever said that led anybody to believe that there might be any kind of a reunion was just me being nice. No one's ever considered it. It's not really in the cards. And the thing with the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was that was the closest we got to it, or could have gotten to it, and it didn't happen. And I said, 'You know what?! Let's just close the books. That was a very public event, and hopefully everybody gets it.'"
"World On Fire", the third album to be made available under the Slash solo banner, will be released on September 15 via Slash's own label Dik Hayd International distributed through Roadrunner Records (Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America). A total of 17 songs, including one instrumental, were laid down for the follow-up to 2012's "Apocalyptic Love" with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette (ALTER BRIDGE, FALLING IN REVERSE, INCUBUS).
VELVET REVOLVER Has Lead Singer Audition Coming Up, Says SLASH
Argentinean rock journalist Lucas H. Gordon, who currently resides in Hollywood, California, conducted an interview with Slash on the red carpet of this past Monday's (May 12) 10th annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert, which honored BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne. Speaking about the current status of VELVET REVOLVER, the band he formed in 2002 with fellow ex-GUNS N' ROSES members Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, Slash said (see video below): "I think we're gonna audition a singer coming up. So there's that. But I'm gonna be out on the road for the next year and a half [with my solo band], so…"
VELVET REVOLVER released two full-length albums through RCA/Sony BMG — 2004's "Contraband" and 2007's "Libertad" — before dismissing singer Scott Weiland back in April 2008.
VELVET REVOLVER reunited with Weiland for a four-song set in January 2012 at a Los Angeles tribute concert for late songwriter John O'Brien, but the band has otherwise remained inactive.
At one point it was reported that VELVET REVOLVER was going to team with STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor, but the idea was ultimately vetoed by Slash. The group and Taylor recorded demos of 10 songs together.
In a recent interview with Rock Revolt Magazine, Sorum called the launch of VELVET REVOLVER the" biggest moment" of his career. He explained: "Because at a certain point during the formation, I was like, 'Can we really do this? Can we really pull this off again?' And we all did. We got together and had a very successful band after GUNS N' ROSES. That was really icing on the cake, especially for Slash, Duff and myself. To be able to come out of a band that big, and basically have Hollywood turn their back on us, was initially very difficult — and the answer to the low point. To go back and reinvent ourselves wasn't easy. When we managed to do just that, we were very, very ecstatic.
"Duff and I came out of a subway one day in New York City and some kid yelled at us, 'Hey! You're Duff and Matt from VELVET REVOLVER!' That was the first time we ever heard that after years of, 'Hey it's Duff and Matt from GUNS N' ROSES!' And we knew right then that everything was going to be alright. We were able to move on; we were able to move forward."
SLASH Completes Mixing New Album
Slash and his backing band, MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, have finished mxing the third album to be released under the Slash solo banner.
SLASH: 16 New Songs ‘Worked Up And Completed’ For Third Solo Album
Slash and his solo band, MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS, are back in the studio to record the third album under the solo Slash banner. The legendary guitarist has offered some updates on Twitter as the band gets to work on the follow-up to 2012's "Apocalyptic Love", saying earlier today (Thursday, December 19), "16 tracks worked up and completed. plus an instrumental? Hard to decide what goes on the record, what will be bonus tracks. It's all cool." He previously stated about the upcoming CD: "Going to be a heavy record."
The former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER axeman began this chapter of his career back in 2010 with his self-titled solo debut.
That album was recorded with a number of guest musicians and vocalists, including ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy. The latter first joined Slash as his touring vocalist, then became the permanent singer starting with "Apocalyptic Love".
Slash told The Pulse Of Radio that the partnership with Kennedy seemed natural from the start. "We work really well together," he said. "I never really thought about how that's progressing. It's real natural. So it's like any kind of sort of close relationship, where I think we established it really, really early on and now we're just sort of doing our thing, you know. Yeah, I don't know what else to say — it's just a really cool kind of synergy that we've got."
Kennedy and ALTER BRIDGE released their fourth album, "Fortress", earlier this fall and will hit the road in early 2014.
Slash also recently launched a second career as a movie producer, with his Slasher Films production company issuing its first release, called "Nothing Left To Fear", in October.
SLASH Says MOTÖRHEAD’s ‘Aftershock’ Is ‘One Of The Most Brilliant’ Rock Albums That Has Come Out In A Long Time
In a brand new interview with Independent.com, legendary guitarist Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER) was asked what still excites him about playing guitar.
"I don't know; I just love playing guitar, and it seems the longer I've been doing it, the more I love it," he replied. "I've never really stopped to think what's really at the bottom of that. I just go with it."
Slash also spoke about how touring now compares to touring with GUNS N' ROSES.
"It's actually comparable to GN'R in the '80s, except for all the drugs that happened back then," he explained. "I really enjoy it, it's a lot of fun, and I like the pace of it. We do anywhere from five to six shows per week, and I love that; the more I do it, the more I love it."
Regarding whatnew music has caught his attention of late, Slash said: "The latest record that I'm really in love with is 'Aftershock' by MOTÖRHEAD. I think it's one of the most brilliant rock 'n' roll records that has come out in a long time. I also really like the new BLACK SABBATH record."
Asked what kind of advice he bestows upon young kids who want to pursue music, both for hobby and as a career, Slash replied: "As a hobby, it's a hell of a lot of fun, but as a career, it's a hell of a lot of work. Patience, perseverance, and practice — those are the three things that come to mind, and those are things that I still practice today. It's a never-ending process, but at the same time, if you love what you do, it's very rewarding."
Read more from Independent.com.
SLASH On Possibility Of GUNS N’ ROSES Reunion: ‘If It Happens One Day, It Happens’
Legendary guitarist Slash stopped by the "Larry King Now" studio last week for a taping with Larry King. Several clips from the show can now be seen below.
Asked if there is any possibility of a reunion of the classic lineup of GUNS N' ROSES, Slash replied: "That's the $64,000 question. But it's not something that any of us have reached out to each other and said that we wanted to do thus far. So, rather than be a pessimist and say, 'No, it'll never happen,' it's not like I'm harboring a lot of resentment. But it's not something that we're all thinking about doing. So if it happens one day, it happens. If it doesn't, I don't think anybody's, you know, losing any sleep over it."
Slash told Rolling Stone in April 2012 that GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose "hates my guts." The two have not performed together since 1993. Rose currently tours with a completely different version of GUNS N' ROSES featuring no original members but him.
During a 2009 interview with longtime friend and former road manager Del James, first published on Spinner, Rose called Slash a "cancer."