ROADRUNNER UK CHATS EXCLUSIVELY TO SLASHHere at Roadrunner UK were lucky enough to nab a few minutes with SLASH and Alterbridge vocalist Myles Kennedy when they were in the UK a couple of weeks ago to chat about their work on Slash's current self-titled album and how they were preparing for their (at that time) forthcoming appearance on the Download festival this past weekend.
In part 1 (below), we talk about how the tracks that Myles features on and how they came together and how he was chosen to be the vocalist for the touring band. Tomorrow, we will bring you part 2, where we chat more about how the rest of the touring band came together and why Download/Donington is such a special festival for Slash.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/page/News?news_id=95826In this second part of our exclusive interview with SLASH and his current vocalist Myles Kennedy of Alterbridge, we chat about how the touring band currently out in Europe came to be and what made Slash migrate towards the folks he is currently playing with.
Flimed before the run began, Slash also talks about why Download Festival and specifically Donington where the festival is held is so special for him. Check it out in the player below.
Slash makes his way back to the UK in the coming week for his appearance at this years Glastonbury Festival. He will follow that up with a spattering of headline shows before returning to London for Wireless festival.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/page/News?news_id=95939And from a recent print interview:
Guitar hero back on the hard stuff Perhaps the most exciting release in the hard rock genre comes from none other than Slash. His debut album is simply called Slash and features an array of the best rock voices and personalities in history.
Chris Cornell (Audioslave, Soundgarden), Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath), Lemmy, Ian Astbury (The Cult) and Iggy Pop are just some of the artists who readily agreed to feature on an album with the best rock guitarist since Jimmy Hendrix. Also featured are Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) , Maroon 5's Adam Levine and Wolfmother's Andrew Stockdale.
"I haven't been paying much attention to all the other releases because I'm currently on tour," said Slash from his hotel room somewhere in Portugal. "Hey, I just watched Portugal beat the s*** out of North Korea. It's crazy here.
"Anyway, I do think that the rock industry has become frayed. But I am currently playing the summer festival circuit in Europe and they've kinda kept the last vestiges of rock. I was wondering the other day, where the f*** does that rock spirit go after the summer is over?"
With so many vocalists featured on his album, how is he touring the album?
"I'm using Myles Kennedy from Alterbridge, who is on two of the tracks on the album. I had never met him before I worked with him. The first time I'd heard of him Led Zeppelin were auditioning him for their tour. Then my drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N Roses, Velvet Revolver) auditioned him for one of his projects. I was like, who the f*** is this guy?
"I went on to Youtube and was just blown away. I sent him some material and his songs turned out to be some of the best on the album."
"All the people on the album are artistic geniuses and I have followed all their careers. Working with Iggy was a huge honour. And one of my favourite experiences was working with Motorhead's Lemmy. I had to order a bottle of Jack Daniel's for him, which was weird for me because it was the first time I was doing the gifting. Normally I am the one receiving the Jack!
"With Ian Astbury I hadn't spoken to him in years, but I managed to track him down in New York City.
"I had known Chris Cornell for years but I didn't know him like that. His song is about his daughter, which is really sweet. In terms of recording he knows what he wants and it's not that hard for him to get it. It's in his delivery."
Slash explained that he'd write a song and then think of the most appropriate person to sing on the track. They, in turn, would come up with the lyrics and vocal melody. But why did it take so long for him to record a solo album?
"I've been in bands since I was 15, first with Guns n Roses and then with Velvet Revolver for five years. I also did guest spots on other people's records. After I parted ways with Scott Weiland I decided that I wanted to do something for myself. I wanted to be the master of my own destiny. I needed an outlet, to do something cathartic. But I also made this record for the only reason to make a record and that is to go on tour."
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