no Axl to grind: Slash

[GypsySoul]

Source:  New York Post (newspaper), Sunday June 13, 2004
MUSIC
Slash:  no Axl to grind
Velvet Revolver's lead guitarist creates new musical life after Guns N' Roses
By DAN AQUILANTE
Photo credit:  George Chin/WireImage

Former bad boy Slash still wields a musically leathal guitar.

A far as supergroups go, there are few that rival Velvet Revolver's pedigree as the bastard lovechild of Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots.
 
While 39-year-old Slash - Saul Hudson to his mom - is reluctant to take credit for assembling this group, the legendary bad-boy guitarist's desire to create the perfect band has been his ambition since the early '90s, when GN'R exploded onto the hard-rock scene.

The seeds of Velvet Revolver were planted back in 2002 when Slash, drummer Matt Sorum and bassist Duff McKagan (all GN'R alums) played together in a benefit for the family of a friend who had died.

"This benefit concert was going to be a one-shot affair," says Slash from his L.A. home, "but as soon as Matt, Duff and I plugged in ... we tore the house down. The next day I called Duff and Matt, and said, 'All the Guns N' Roses s--t aside, we really have to do something with this - it's a waste not to."

That brings us to Velvet Revolver's voice: Scott Weiland, the former STP singer who became addicted to heroin, was arrested, sent to prison and is currently still involved in court-ordered rehabilitation care.

Slash defends Weiland. "There was no trepidation whatsoever about Scott. I don't want to sound like a hopeless romantic, but our decision was based on the desire to do this kind of music. No obstacle was too high."

And with more than a little empathy, he adds, "Look, Scott had a drug problem. I had a drug problem. So did Matt and Duff."

Slash, now clean and sober, remains a wild man on stage, as his recent New York performance will attest, but when he's offstage he's a homebody - married with a baby boy and another due next month. Times have definitely changed.

Why get back with Matt and Duff?

Let's start with Duff. When he and I first met, I fell in love with his sound as a bassist. Our relationship as friends and players is special; we've written some great stuff together, and the combination of his bass and my guitar makes for some pretty amazing riffs.

What about Matt Sorum?

He's the best drummer alive. Between the three of us, we had this great rock trio.

Why bring in Dave Kushner as a second guitarist?

He was in Duff's previous band, and I went to junior high with him. Not only was he a good friend, his playing gave the music another texture, another level of depth.

Why doesn't Velvet Revolver sound like either Guns or STP?

It wasn't a conscious effort to eliminate either; we mentally surpassed that right away. I attribute the new sound to the different relationships that we've developed.

During our conversation, you've been reluctant to even say the words Guns N' Roses. Do you have any regrets?

I feel bad about all the people who got ripped off by Guns N' Roses.

You mean the no-shows, late performances and bad shows?

You know what I mean by that. The fans were so f---ing great. They embraced us, and a band couldn't have asked for more, and we let them down.

Do you blame (lead singer) Axl Rose, or do you take some of the blame yourself?

I would be a total assh--e if I didn't put some of the blame on me. But I'm not responsible for the band breaking up. I worked too hard, for too long, trying to keep things together. I don't like to blame Axl either. He seems to be the scapegoat for everything.

So Axl isn't to blame?

Nobody involved with Guns wants to blame Axl, but there's no one else to blame. That's a tough one.

What did Guns do for you guys?

We went from being little gutter rats to being on top. We did it without any concessions, and we played by our own rules. We didn't last for 25 years - we probably shouldn't have lasted one year.

Do you think Velvet Revolver will last a year?

We wanted to do what we've been doing since we were kids, and we have a collective unit to do it with. After all the s--t we've been through, we made a band. We have been given a second chance and we're not going to f---k around with it. We're in it for the long haul.
end

VELVET REVOLVER
"Contraband"
* * * 1/2  (three and a half Stars rating)
RCA

SURVIVAL is the name of the game for rock stars too young to die and too old to wallow in a sea of smack.

So, with the core of Guns N' Roses jamming together with Stone Temple Pilot's Scott Weiland, this new super band of hard rockers makes total sense.

The band seems most comfortable on the arena-bound boomers like "Sucker Train Blues" and the bottom heavy "Big Machine."

There's a blues-rock heaviness that makes you think old Aerosmith.

Chemisty between Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum in the rhythm department is outstanding, and Weiland remains a great rock frontman.

Maybe this time around, the band will show moderation in their appetite for self-destruction.
-Dan Aquilante
end

[Voodoochild]

Thanks Gypsy, great article/interview. Didn't like the "You mean the no-shows, late performances and bad shows?" but hey, that's how the media look at GNR now. It's really a shame.  

[D]

big ups to slash for not bashing axl!

i like that how he pretty much defended axl saying "everyone wants axl to be the scapegoat for everything, and he cant entirely blame axl, thats awesome and gives me a whole new respect for slash

i think one day we will have a guns reunion

slash just hasnt burnt any bridges like most bandmembers would have by now, any other band they would rip axl a new asshole everytime they had a shot, but they keep their mouths shut as if they had a gag order on them like everyone else around axl does

like he said guns probably shouldnt have lasted a year

so they've moved on, they have a great band a great cd and i hope they keep their eyes on the future and dont get in a pissing contest with axl, cause it would be hard to have to try and choose a side

realistically it should be easy to like both sides

but if things got ugly u would have to choose one side or the other

look at 2pac and biggie, i mean i loved 2pac and hated biggie, wouldnt even and still dont give biggie a chance


but great review great interview!

[Dizzy]

Velvet Revolver's pedigree as the bastard lovechild of Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots.

That's an interesting title.    Perhaps they should use that as an intro to their shows.

You wanted the best?  Well they didn't fucking make it!  So here's what you get.  From Hollywood, the bastard lovechild of Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots; VELVET REVOLVER!

 

[Layne420]

"One that is made to bear the blame of others" that couldn't not be Axl  

 Hopefully this will be last inteview of this bullshit. We all can point the fingers but I would rather see guns n roses go out like they did then some of these old bands who still doing it
 
 Until they all come together and talking about the past and what really happen it's only up til people's opinion.

 

 

[blues_rock_axeman]

big ups to slash for not bashing axl!

i like that how he pretty much defended axl saying "everyone wants axl to be the scapegoat for everything, and he cant entirely blame axl, thats awesome and gives me a whole new respect for slash

i think one day we will have a guns reunion

slash just hasnt burnt any bridges like most bandmembers would have by now, any other band they would rip axl a new asshole everytime they had a shot, but they keep their mouths shut as if they had a gag order on them like everyone else around axl does

You got all that crap from one line?  

That was nothing more than a standard interview for Slash, he just whipped out the same stuff he's been doing since VR started, and with the Guns stuff it's been even longer.

I think the general feeling among the ex-Gunners is: Axl wasted this. WE wasted this.

[Slashly]

Thanks  Gypsy.Question:All those Slash pics you see in the articles are from now or are old??Cause he looks pretty young in this one!



Baby Slash//

[vicarious existence]

I'm pretty sure that pic is recent.

[Pviljoen]

I knew slash wouldnt backstab axl. It would be so easy for him to bash Axl right now, when he is getting tons of media attention and axl gets next to none.

I think he still likes axl, but is just dissapointed. I also like how he blames himself in part for the dismantling of GNR.

[Imfuckincrazy]

Slash is awesome.  

Thanks for the interview!

[Oddy]

but if things got ugly u would have to choose one side or the other

look at 2pac and biggie, i mean i loved 2pac and hated biggie, wouldnt even and still dont give biggie a chance

but great review great interview!

hahaaha i had a freind like that who only listend to tupac and because of the feud refused to listen to biggie. I happily listened to both and could not understand why he shut out biggie. i would think "the feud is between tupac and biggie........not you and biggie".

Its very similar to the whole gnr and vr.........some people refuse to give vr a chance to stay loyal to axl hahaha.

[D]

slash took blame, he didnt say "axl is a stupid fuckin psychotic control freak asshole that drove us out of the band

he said it aint right makin axl the scapegoat, and it was a little bit of everyones fault

thats a great statement, i hope axl can be a big man like slash and take blame and not talk shit about the old members


i just dont like those east coast rap fuckers, to me tupac was rap, 2pac was a real motherfucker while most of the east coast bastards were just pretending to be hard

2pac was the real deal

[Dizzy]

slash took blame, he didnt say "axl is a stupid fuckin psychotic control freak asshole that drove us out of the band

he said it aint right makin axl the scapegoat, and it was a little bit of everyones fault

I concur, but inevitably, we're going to have people post here who say "Slash is only trying to make himself look like the good guy."

to me tupac was rap, 2pac was a real motherfucker while most of the east coast bastards were just pretending to be hard

2pac was born in Brooklyn and lived there until he was in his teens.  He only lived in Oakland during his rap career, so it was stupid of him to talk shit about the East coast.  The whole damn East-West feud was really stupid, and it would only happen in rap.

[axl_rose_700]

big ups to slash for not bashing axl!

i like that how he pretty much defended axl saying "everyone wants axl to be the scapegoat for everything, and he cant entirely blame axl, thats awesome and gives me a whole new respect for slash

i think one day we will have a guns reunion

slash just hasnt burnt any bridges like most bandmembers would have by now, any other band they would rip axl a new asshole everytime they had a shot, but they keep their mouths shut as if they had a gag order on them like everyone else around axl does

like he said guns probably shouldnt have lasted a year

so they've moved on, they have a great band a great cd and i hope they keep their eyes on the future and dont get in a pissing contest with axl, cause it would be hard to have to try and choose a side

yea, rock on!

well done slash for not having a go, proove you are bigger than that and move on, thats the way to go!

Dunno if I can see a reunion though!  

[Booker Floyd]

2pac was born in Brooklyn and lived there until he was in his teens.  He only lived in Oakland during his rap career, so it was stupid of him to talk shit about the East coast.  The whole damn East-West feud was really stupid, and it would only happen in rap.

Tupac was born in Brooklyn, but actually lived in Baltimore until his teens.  Same thing though.

One of his first rap names was actually "MC New York"...

i just dont like those east coast rap fuckers, to me tupac was rap, 2pac was a real motherfucker while most of the east coast bastards were just pretending to be hard

2pac was the real deal

 

Not to get too off-topic, but Biggie sold crack, Tupac went to the Baltimore School Of Arts and took dance classes.  He also began his career as a positive, high-top wearing political rapper before becoming his thugged-out Bishop character.  Despite changing, Tupac was the real deal, but so were most east-coast rappers - especially B.I.G.

[badapple81]

During our conversation, you've been reluctant to even say the words Guns N' Roses. Do you have any regrets?

I feel bad about all the people who got ripped off by Guns N' Roses.

You mean the no-shows, late performances and bad shows?

You know what I mean by that. The fans were so f---ing great. They embraced us, and a band couldn't have asked for more, and we let them down.

Wonder if Slash is also referring to the fans that he thinks got ripped off going to see the new GN'R, when in fact it really isnt GN'R in his book?

[Mattman]

slash took blame, he didnt say "axl is a stupid fuckin psychotic control freak asshole that drove us out of the band

he said it aint right makin axl the scapegoat, and it was a little bit of everyones fault

thats a great statement, i hope axl can be a big man like slash and take blame and not talk shit about the old members

LEEDS FESTIVAL, 2002

FAN IN AUDIENCE: "Where's Slash?!"
AXL: "He's up my ass."

[Dizzy]

Wonder if Slash is also referring to the fans that he thinks got ripped off going to see the new GN'R

I doubt it, because he said "we", meaning when he was in the band.  Plus, he was talking about the old days when he made that statement.  But he has said that he feels people seeing Axl now are being cheated because some of them have gone expecting to see him in the band and they're being disappointed.

[Hung Well]

slash took blame, he didnt say "axl is a stupid fuckin psychotic control freak asshole that drove us out of the band

he said it aint right makin axl the scapegoat, and it was a little bit of everyones fault

I concur, but inevitably, we're going to have people post here who say "Slash is only trying to make himself look like the good guy."

to me tupac was rap, 2pac was a real motherfucker while most of the east coast bastards were just pretending to be hard

2pac was born in Brooklyn and lived there until he was in his teens.  He only lived in Oakland during his rap career, so it was stupid of him to talk shit about the East coast.  The whole damn East-West feud was really stupid, and it would only happen in rap.

Well, 2Pac thought that Biggie set him up to be killed--so I think its understandable that he was upset with him (especially when he did a lot for Biggie when he was nothing).  

The East/West thing started way before that, though.  2Pac getting out of prison and joining up with Death Row just took it to a whole new level because of his beef with Biggie.