Live4MusiC

Guns N' Roses have been nominated for induction to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

They join 15 other finalists for the prestigious ceremony, includingThe Cure, Heart, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Eric B and Rakim, The Spinners, The Small Faces, Freddy King and Rufus with Chaka Khan.

Some nominees from previous years who didn't make the cut have returned to the nomination list, including Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Laura Nyro and War Donovan.

Votes are cast by more than 500 music industry professionals and musicians. The five acts with the highest number of votes will be inducted to the 27th ceremony on April 14.

"It's a great honor," said former Gn'R guitarist Gilby Clarke when asked about their first ever nomination. "The band deserves it. It was a long time coming."

Acts must have released their first record over 25 years ago to be eligible for the award. The only remaining member of the group from 25 years ago is frontman Axl Rose, after tensions within the band led to members leaving or being "fired" by Axl. He is reportedly still not on speaking terms with guitarist Slash.

What will Slash do if the band are inducted to the hall of fame, when there is still some tension between former members? "We'll cross that bridge when we get there," he said (viaBlabbermouth). "If they're gonna pass you over, I don't think it's worth worrying about too much." 

- Ultimate-Guitar 

Don’t expect to hear any Foo Fighterssongs sung by the sugar-sweet voices of the ‘Glee’ team anytime soon. Back in March, frontman Dave Grohl spoke out against what he felt was unfair pressure for his band to allow their music to be featured on the hit Fox show, and last Wednesday he reiterated his stance during an appearance on ‘Chelsea Lately.’

“As a musician, you should be able to say no. You should be able to say, ‘No, I don’t want to do your show,’” Grohl told Chelsea.“Why should you have to say, ‘Okay, Glee. Take my song and turn it into a f—ing musical?’”

Grohl isn’t the first rocker to turn down ‘Glee.’ In January, ‘Glee’ co-creator Ryan Murphy asked permission to use a Guns N’ Roses song, but former guitarist Slashpromptly nixed the request, calling the show“worse than ‘Grease.’”

In the same month, Southern rockers Kings of Leon got into their own verbal tiff withMurphy after they denied the show licensing rights. Murphy weighed in on the feud with a simple, “F— you, Kings of Leon. They’re self-centered a–holes.”

In his interview with Handler, Grohl also explained the Foos’ recently released steamy ‘Hot Buns’ video that promotes the band’s upcoming tour. He says he was inspired to make the trucker-inspired video from a real-life experience at a truck stop. “Those are really our butts,” he reveals of the brief nudity in the uncensored version of the clip.

For more details please visit loudwire.com. 

After seemingly endless speculation regarding the reformation of the original or classic line ups of Guns N’Roses, Slash, as he has in the past, has emphatically stated that it’s not going to happen.

In a recent interview with the Bangkok Times, Slash unequivocally refuted that it could happen and laid the blame firmly at the feet of Axl Rose.

When asked the question of reunion directly Slash replied:

"Do you feel like you’re the only person in this whole room who’s thinking about that question on this planet? – No."

"It’s been, what, 15, 16 years. No one in the original Guns N Roses ever said ‘let’s try to put the band back together.’ Also, it’s all about Axl. The reason that everybody left was because in the back of his mind I think that’s the way he wanted it. So the reason why there’s no Guns N Roses was because of him. I’ve got nothing to do with it. I quit for the same reason that everybody did. So it’s really his problem."

Thanks for the report to RockAAA.com. 

SINGAPORE: Playing in Singapore for a second time in just over seven months, one might be tempted to think that Saul Hudson, or Slash as he's better known by, holds a soft spot for this little country.

No one though, could anticipate the living legend would break away from the norm and confess his love, saying, "You guys are ****ing awesome. What's playing here three or four times a year?"

With that, Slash and co. etched their way into the hearts of the 2,500 present last Saturday, on Day 2 of the Big Night Out festival at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. It was a mighty strong performance that will surely live in the memories of many in the crowd till Slash returns.

The band, featuring Myles Kennedy (lead vocals), Bobby Schneck (rhythm guitar), Todd Kerns (bass), and Brent Fitz (drums), provided the perfect compliment to the star of the night as they delivered 21 songs of pure entertainment.

Slash kick-started the night with "Ghost", a track from his latest eponymous album.

He then worked the crowd gingerly, starting conservatively before unleashing his finger party on them.

Breaking out in spontaneous solos and showing what 45-year-old fingers can still do to worn and battered fretboards, Slash pulled out all the stops by running, hopping and spinning around all over the stage, even going on his knees at one point in true showmanship fashion.

He was captivating, to say the least, but did not overshadow his other famous colleague, the Alter Bridge front man Kennedy, who broke into his own with a soulful and heart wrenching take on "Starlight".

By the time they reached the world famous Guns N' Roses classic "Sweet Child o' Mine", the crowd had been whipped into a frenzy and once the signature riff echoed through the arena, a riot erupted.

Slash impersonators, fans and practically anyone who happened to be there, simply could not resist the lure of the beat and were found whooping and throwing their hands up in surrender to the guitar god on stage.

This lasted all the way till the band closed their set proper with "Slither", a heart thumping rock anthem that earned Slash a Grammy award back in 2005 with Velvet Revolver.

And the crowd cried for more.

Yet one could not ask for a more perfect finish to the gig when Kennedy declared before their last encore song, "This next song is about as fitting for a city like this, as a song can be."

No prizes if you named "Paradise City" as the finale. 

-CNA/jl

Slash has revealed that the Alter Bridge frontman is in it for the long haul. Get more details inside!

Slash has begun to think about his second solo album and has confirmed that when it is made, he’d like Alter Bridge vocalist and the top-hatted legend’s touring vocalist Myles Kennedy to handle singing duties on the whole album. Get more details here!

He also says that his solo band won’t be at Download again in 2011 as he won’t be touring his solo material over the summer until August.

- Metal Hammer 

This is probably the closest we're ever gonna get to Guns n Roses but hell some might argue this could be better. Slash was on top of his game and Myles Kennedy was just on crack with his vocal capabilities. Not to forget the solid rhythm section comprised of Bobby Schneck, Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz. 

Music knows no boundaries is the take-home of the day with a sold-out crowd ranging from the youngest kids to the most elderly folks (I swear I saw the most out-of-place looking elderly dude right behind me but that just makes it so much cooler!). It was a sight to behold. How could it be better than Guns N Roses you might ask? How about GnR, Snakepit, Velvet Revolver and Alter  Bridge combined? =)



Sticking to their standard setlist, the band played non-stop for 2hrs rocking the whole of Fort Canning for what's to be one of the most exciting week of gigs Singapore has ever had as a 3 Day SINGFEST shortly follows.

Setlist:

1. Ghost
2. Mean Bone (Snakepit)
3. Nightrain (GnR)
4. Dirty Little Thing (Velvet Revolver)
5. Back From Cali
6. Beggars & Hangers-On (Snakepit)
7. Civil War (GnR)
8. Rocket Queen (GnR)
9. Fall to Pieces (Velvet Revolver)
10. Sucker Train Blues (Velvet Revolver)
11. Nothing to Say
12. Starlight
13. Watch This
14. Guitar Solo/Godfather Theme
15. Sweet Child O' Mine (GnR)
16. Rise Today (Alter Bridge)
17. Slither (Velvet Revolver)
18. By The Sword
19. Paradise City (GnR)

Despite dripping with perspiration from start to finish, Slash still blew the crowd away with his trademark emotional guitar playing. Once again, a band pays tribute to the almighty Dio with the song "Starlight" and deservingly so for someone who was looked upon by many as one of the Godfathers of Heavy metal.



With the crowd heating up like a erupting volcano, the venue really erupted when the GnR anthem, Sweet Child O' Mine, sounded through the venue. The iconic intro to the song played by the very man himself, Slash! 

It was full-steam ahead from there and ending off with their trademark encore, By The Sword and Paradise City. The band looked like they utterly enjoyed themselves because! The Singapore Crowd was A W E S O M E! 

They say you reap what you sow. Singapore has continuously sowed very healthy seeds as an amazing crowd. Will we see more and more heavy-weight bands hit our shores? I say yes! =)

 

All pictures courtesy of Donald Soh! 

RockOn!
Yuda 

THE man spent 11 years of his life as the lead guitarist of one of the biggest rock bands of the late '80s and early '90s. And then it all went pear-shaped. Well, at least for a while. 

Some 14 years after officially quitting Guns N' Roses, guitarist Slash has been rather busy, having done stints with rock supergroups like Slash's Snakepit (formed while GNR were on their last legs) and Velvet Revolver (a veritable who's who of rock); earning himself a star on Hollywood's Walk Of Fame; getting heralded in innumerable "Top Guitarists" lists; and now, going on tour to support his solo self-titled album.

Sure, it wasn't all a smooth ride. Along with the trappings of fame and fortune, Slash also saw its pitfalls like drug abuse and alcohol addiction. But wasn't that what rock 'n' roll was all about? Apparently not. 

These days, the 45-year-old musician, born Saul Hudson, said that the "rock star" caricature many paint of him is probably off the mark. 

"I imagine what people think about me is probably entirely different from what I'm like," he said over the phone from Los Angeles. 

"Because I'm very low-key, I'm pretty soft-spoken. I don't think I'm a loud kind of guy.

"My lifestyle is a little crazy at times, and I'm surrounded by whatever it is that we do, but at the same time, I'm not necessarily the rock star type."

Er, dude, your face is on the cover of Guitar Hero III. 

"Well, I don't think I act like one," corrected the married father-of-two. 

"I'm constantly hustling to get better at my playing the guitar, arranging rehearsals, getting all sorts of s**t organised ... It doesn't all just magically happen. And a lot of people (who perpetuate his rock star status), really don't understand that I'm very insecure about that."

So in the spirit of not perpetuating that rock star misconception, we'll be replacing all expletives in our chat with Mr Hudson with a more family-friendly word "bunny".

Let's hop to it.


Time magazine named you No 2 in their list of Top 10 Electric Guitar Players last year. How does it feel to be constantly hailed as the epitome of what a rock guitarist should be?

That's an interesting question. It keeps me working hard at it and keeps me focused on trying to get better at it all the time - like, get a good guitar sound and all that bunny. Try to be consistent. I have moments where I feel like I'm hitting all the notes right, but I think a lot of what happens with guitar playing is - as much as I hate to say it because I used to do drugs - like you're always chasing that same high. I mean, you have one good night and all you're trying to do is get another one. 


Well, your album has been well received and we're all excited that you're coming to Singapore. 

I'm probably more excited that you are. I'm really looking forward to it. I've got a great band and everything is just coming together ... The band is just bunny great, you know? And, no, they didn't all just volunteer. I had to hire all these guys. You know how hard it is to get a good band together? 


With so many stars from Fergie to Ozzy Osbourne singing on the album, was it difficult to put it all together?

It was exactly the opposite. It was an organic process. It was just me writing music, matching the music to whom I thought were the appropriate singers. I worked out the songs beforehand, which is an old habit ever since way back in the day. Then it was just calling them up, sending the demo and setting up a date to go into the studio and record. And it was a really easy, simple record to make, really a painless and fun experience. The hardest part of doing this record, hands down, was actually getting the clearances from the record companies for the singers. That was the hard part. 


Have you had any Spinal Tap moments with your new band?

You know, you wouldn't be rock 'n' roll without a Spinal Tap moment. I have to say though, we don't have any of those ego guys in the band. But you know Nigel Tufnel, with the amp going to 11 though? That would be me. 


Does it bug you that you're often seen as just a guitarist even though you've done so much more? 

I don't feel squashed into one tiny stereotype. Mostly because I do have so many different facets. I play guitar, yeah, but I'm out there a lot. I don't think people just see me as the guy with the cigarette hanging out of his mouth, with the hat, who plays the Les Paul. I think I've sort of broadened it a little bit. But, you know, anybody can think what they want. 


Considering the bad blood you've had with Axl Rose, does it annoy you when people request for Guns N' Roses songs? Are you bored of playing them?

All things considered, I don't think I fall into that rut. I mean I can think of songs throughout the years that I got sick of playing. Like I definitely got sick of playing bunny It's So Easy and Mr Brownstone - because in any group that I've been in, those were the only two Guns N' Roses songs that anybody could do. So in this band, we're doing songs I haven't played in years - 15, 16, 17 years - so it's fun for me. And I like the songs - it's really cool just because I haven't played them in so long. We keep it interesting.


How interesting will the show be in Singapore?

Judging from the shows that we've done already, it's a rock-'n'-roll band that flies by the seat of its pants. At the same time, we've got a mixed set of songs from this record, some Guns N' Roses stuff, some Velvet (Revolver) stuff. It's just bunny from pretty much my whole catalogue. And it's a high-energy band. Myles Kennedy, who sings with us, is just bunny phenomenal. This guy is so good.


What's the best thing or worst thing about being Slash?

The best thing right now is that I put together a new record and it's actually been well received around the planet, which is exciting for me. And going out on tour, having a great band, my family's healthy and happy - it's all really good. The only downside is having too many things to do. I don't know if I can get it all done. 

- TODAY

Singapore, 9 July 2010 – One lucky fan will have the rock „n‟ roll experience of a lifetime with a live air guitar concert, a chance to win an Epiphone guitar and a personal meeting with the God of the Axe himself.

Visa cardholders in Singapore will get the chance to show off their best air guitar moves in a competition organized by Visa and LAMC Productions.

Three finalists will face off in a showdown before a live audience
on 30 July 2010, at Hard Rock Café.

The winner will be presented, by sponsors Visa, LAMC Productions and I_S magazine, with an Epiphone guitar at the Hard Rock Café‟ and will also get to meet Slash during his Fort Canning concert on 2 August 2010. Slash will personally autograph the winner‟s guitar then.

Visa Premium cardholders who purchase two or more tickets to Slash‟s concert will enjoy the Early Bird price of $98 per ticket till 1 August 2010.

Meranda Chan, Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei, Visa said: “Visa cardholders are always on the lookout for unique lifestyle experiences. We are excited to offer them the opportunity to live their rock star dreams of performing in front of a live audience and rubbing elbows with Slash.”

Slash is one of the most high-profile rock musicians in the past 20 years, first with Guns „N Roses, and then with his own band, Slash‟s SnakePit, in the 1990s and with Velvet Revolver in 2000. He has worked with Michael Jackson, Ray Charles and most recently with Jamie Foxx at the 82 Academy Awards.

To participate, contestants simply have to make a purchase with their Visa card from 1 to 30 July 2010. They can then log on to www.lamcproductions.com to submit a 30-second video clip of their air guitar performance covering any Slash song from Guns „N Roses, Velvet Revolver, Slash‟s SnakePit or his latest solo album. The three contestants with the most Facebook „Likes‟ will move on to perform live on 30 July 2010. The finalists must bring a Visa card sales slip and their Visa card to Hard Rock Café for verification purposes.

The winner will be chosen by Visa, LAMC Productions and the audience. The closing date for the contest is 28 July 2010.

Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist says he’s happy to stay out of limelight.

When one of the most recognisable names in rock history tells you he’s actually a “very shy guy”, it takes some convincing.

Yet, that’s exactly what guitarist Slash seemed to personify in an interview with The New Paper.

It certainly explains the hair – that ubiquitous mess of curls that obscures most of his face underneath
that signature top hat.

It’s the same hairstyle that has kept the 44-year-old looking exactly as he did when he first burst onto the scene in the mid-80s as part of rock outfit Guns N’ Roses (GNR).

“I need the hair. I can hide behind it.

“Even before I had the top hat, I had the hair,” he said in a phone interview from Los Angeles.

“I saw a picture of myself in a magazine recently at a Dodgers game and I had my hair up in a ponytail.

“I was still wearing a leather jacket, but I just looked weird, man. So I’m keeping the hair.”

Going solo
The one thing that has changed is that Slash is now going solo.

His new, self-titled debut album has him working his six-string for singers such as Iggy Pop, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Alice Cooper and even Fergie.

To support the album, he “handpicked” a new band – fronted by Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy – for a world tour, including a stop in Singapore in August.

Slash said: “It’s been very liberating. You don’t have to answer to anybody. I can do whatever I want, which is cool.

“I don’t have to deal with the diplomacy and democracy of a group.”

His sentiments hint at the unpleasantness surrounding his last band, Velvet Revolver.

The future of the Grammy-winning super-group, made up of Slash and former GNR-mates, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum, was left in the air after singer Scott Weiland suddenly rejoined his former band Stone Temple Pilots.

But Slash insists Velvet Revolver is alive and “quietly looking for a new singer”.

Definitely dead and buried is GNR, which split in the mid-90s.

When controversial frontman Axl Rose released a new album, Chinese Democracy, in 2008 under the GNR name, there were reports that the Gunners were plotting a reunion, much to the joy of fans.

Slash admitted he’s constantly amazed by the “rock ’n’ roll status” of the band but “I’m pretty confident a reunion won’t be happening”.

“I will never say never, but that’s because I don’t want to sound negative to the fans. But after all this time I’ve quit the band, I haven’t spoken to Axl.”

Despite that cold war, Slash is diplomatic about Rose’s album.

“It’s a good Axl statement. When you hear his voice, you realise he’s an awesome singer and he expresses himself with such sincerity. That’s what made him so good.

“Musically, it’s pretty much what I thought it would be.”

With so many frontman troubles, why not just step up to the microphone himself?

Slash said: “At some point, I will be forced to sing. But at the moment, no. I’m really very shy.

“It’s just not my personality to sing. I’m very low-key.

“I’ve done background vocals on The Spaghetti Incident? but I didn’t do it and walk away thinking: ‘Oh, I had fun on that’.”

Homebody
You get the feeling that Slash enjoys letting his lead singers dominate the limelight. The guy’s just happy to be a homebody, tinkering with his guitars – all 100-odd of them – and his infamous collection of snakes – all 260-odd of them.

His life now centres around his two boys, London, seven, and Cash, five, and his “pillar”, wife Perla Ferrar. No Slash Jrs for now, though.

It’s a bit of an anomaly that, unlike his peers –Poison’s Bret Michaels, Warrant’s Jani Lane, to name a few – Slash, whose real name is Saul Hudson, has somehow avoided the washed-up rock star cliche.

Time magazine recently picked him as No. 2 on its list of the 10 Best Electric-Guitar Players second only to the late Jimi Hendrix.

He collaborated with Quentin Tarantino on the Jackie Brown soundtrack, did a guest spot on American Idol and worked with the late Michael Jackson (“it is sad...all he ever wanted to do was make
people happy”).

He’s also one of the most popular playable characters on video game Guitar Hero III: Legends Of
Rock.

Slash explained: “I don’t make a conscious decision to stay relevant. I’m just very passionate and enthusiastic about what I do.”

But if you think this hellraiser has turned into a fuddy-duddy, don’t forget he used to be in a band dubbed the Most Dangerous Band in the World. There are still shades of the old rocker in him.

Discussing his last visit here in 1995, he said with a chuckle: “Was I ever in Singapore? I honestly don’t remember. I must’ve been drunk.”

- The New Paper 

pwnerer: Do you agree with all these 'Top 100 guitarists of all time' lists? I mean they systematically exclude guitarists from the jazz and classical genre, only have a handful of blues and folk guitarists, while 95% of the list are guitarists from mainstream, generic rock bands. What are your thoughts on these lists? 

SLASH: I don’t really pay much attention to them. These lists are more popularity contests than anything. 


forsaknazrael: How has your experience with your solo album differed from your solo work in the past (Slash's Snakepit)?

SLASH: This was more a record that I made on my own from top to bottom without a band or a record company. This record was definitely the 1st time I could do whatever I wanted. 


CoreysMonster: What is your opinion of the direction the music industry is going nowadays, with record companies becoming less and less diverse in their chose of new bands signed, due to the fact that record sales have become less and less lucrative? 

SLASH: I think the industry as it is stands right now is killing the spirit of commercial music by diminishing the possibilities of musical diversity. We have to come up with a way for new acts to get a fair chance. 


Eddy~: What other playing styles and genres you like to venture into when you're just playing by yourself; ever play Jazz, Metal, Pop, and such? 

SLASH: Some Jazz/Blues, Latin, Metal & some other styles I don’t have a proper name for. 


Duffman123: What other artists would you have wanted to collaborate with on your new album?

SLASH: Steven Tyler, Dave Mustaine. 


wizards?: If you had the chance, would you go back to whenever you started and do it all over again at the risk of not becoming famous? 

SLASH: I don’t think I have a reason to go back & do it all over again, I wouldn’t change anything if I did.


TwistedLogic: How did you come up with that Appetite tone? It has a lot of early Zep in it for sure, but it makes me think of Lemmy for some reason. It is just dirty and nasty, and effectively conveys life in the seedy side of town, no offense. So, being gear heads here on UG, how did you do it? 

SLASH: My tone has always been the product of what I want to hear, ever since I got my 1st amp. I have a very defined sense of what I do & don’t like in a guitar’s sound. I just go for what sounds good to me as simply as possible. 


SomeoneYouKnew: If you could have mad skills on any other instrument in addition to guitar what instrument would you choose? 

SLASH: Violin or Saxophone. 


androidred0100: You're a pretty rocking guy, with a definite, tangible, and highly sculpted image and people obviously see you in a certain light. Do you ever do anything that people would consider "Un-Slash-like"? For example do you listen to world beat music, play the sitar in your spare time or are you a secret Dungeons and Dragons dork? Basically, is there anything that you do that you'll openly admit to that people just wouldn't believe to be true?

SLASH: I do have a very nice sitar that I got from India. I never play it though. LOL! I love Disneyland as much as my kids. I watch Spongebob. I love pinball & play it constantly. I TiVo dinosaur programs & hang out in natural history museums in the dinosaur exhibit in every city in every country I visit. 


androidred0100: I've read your book and it's pretty apparent that you've been through a lot in your life and most average joes would be content to be where you are now for the rest of their lives. And yet you continue moving forwards. What's next for you? What makes you get up in the morning and say "Man, I can't wait to get started!"? 

SLASH: I’m always trying to progress in what I do. I want to play all the time & hopefully get better at it. If I rest now that’s as far as I will have gotten. Plus, I love what I do more & more as time progresses.

- Ultimate- Guitar