Todd Kerns speaks on playing bass with Slash and living the rock 'n' roll fantasyAugust 21, 2011
On whether or not he was a big Guns N' Roses fan: "I was massively into Guns N' Roses, especially on Appetite for Destruction. I mean we often talk about how Nevermind kinda changed everything--and it absolutely did--but there was a period where Appetite came along and put the kibosh on a lot of stuff too. I think it sort of opened the door and felt like it was something real and something a little bit dangerous. You know, we?re talking like before there were dolphins in the videos and stuff like that [laughs]."
On whether he?s ever played with a guitarist as capable as Slash before: "I?ve known a lot of technically proficient players, and I?ve known a lot of very skilled musicians, but there?s always that sorta X-factor that comes in with guys like Slash where it?s kinda like there?s something more there. Not only is he a great guitar player, he has this whole other thing going on that kinda comes with the package and creates this whole other giant entity. I think that there?s a real trick between being a great musician and being a rock star or a legend or whatever the hell it is; there?s something else there. And he?s one of those kinda guys."
On singing lead with Slash's band on a couple of songs: "On the last solo album Slash did he had Iggy Pop and Lemmy from Motorhead singing on a couple of tracks, and he really wanted to do those songs, and Myles [Kennedy] just sorta went: 'Let Todd sing those, I can?t sing that kinda stuff.' So it's a pretty challenging gig. People think it?s like a walk in the park playing bass with Slash, but you gotta keep in mind there was Duff McKagan on the Guns N' Roses stuff, there?s Mike Inez of Slash?s Snakepit on stuff, Chris Chaney from Jane's Addiction plays on the solo album--very talented people. And then on every song there?s some sort of impossibly challenging vocal harmony to try and hit, and to try and do well. So I?ve definitely grown in doing it."
On whether he gets the impression from hanging out with Slash that he's in favour of a Guns N' Roses reunion: "Slash is kind of in the position where he doesn?t do anything if he doesn?t want to. He plays music 'cause he wants to play music. Guys like him are in a whole other league of success, and I think that as far as Guns N' Roses goes... I never got into a major conversation with him about it, but I know that he enjoys playing in the particular lineup that we have now because there?s not a lot of drama. People show up on time; people don?t have drug problems. I know that there?s probably a giant dollar amount that's being added to this thing, and if those guys haven?t accepted it yet, I don?t really know what would be the thing that would make them do it. But I certainly think there?s a possiblity, and I would be one of the first ones in line to see it, you know."
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http://www.straight.com/article-434836/vancouver/todd-kerns
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