SLASH

Shaking It Up with SLASH

Interview by Ken Morton - Photos by Jack Lue

Slash is widely known and revered as one of the greatest and influential guitar players on the planet - first with the legendary Guns N’ Roses and now with his own band Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators. Recenty issuing their bramd new album entitled 4. Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators are back out on the road, rocking the masses with their absolutely raging tunes! Highwire Daze checked in with the one and only Slash just prior to the tour to discuss the epic refrains of 4, recording and touring with Covid in the midst, discussing another guitar great Eddie Van Halen, his own family connection to the Rocky Horror Show, and more! Read on!

First of all, 4 is such a magic number when it comes to albums. Zeppelin had a big hit with 4, Foreigner had a big hit with 4. Was that kind of in your mind when you called the album 4?

Uh, no. I called the album 4 because I thought it was sort of a milestone that we got to 4 – bit more importantly, because we had just gone through 2020, which was just such a globally disastrous year on every level. And I didn’t know how you could name a record without referring to that somehow. And I didn’t want to do that. I just wanted to sort of move on from it, so I figured either a song title or 4 would be good – so I went with 4.

What was it like recording during? I believe Myles even had Covid in the midst of recording.

Yeah, we did it in Nashville with Dave Cobb at RCA Studio A. We took all the necessary precautions. And we took a tour bus down there to avoid commercial travel and all that. And we tested regularly. And everybody was fine. And as soon as we finished tracking the whole record, Myles tested positive suddenly. And fortunately, we recorded the album live, so we had the record done with the exception of some background vocals and assorted overdubs. But he had to go into quarantine and then everyone else tested, and consequently Brent and Todd also tested positive. So, I got some harmony stuff done and what not, and then Dave and I were like “Well, now what?” And decided we’ll start rough mixing the record until those guys feel better, and then they’ll come in and finish up their stuff. So that’s basically what we did. We actually did the background vocals at the house where we were all quarantining. I caught it quickly after that. It was inevitable because we were all living in the same house and sharing the same kitchen. So even though everybody was quarantining in their rooms, we did have to use the universal kitchen. So, I ended up getting it and my guitar tech got it. But I got vaccinated while I was in Nashville, so it was a real short turnaround for me. But anyway, we finished the background vocals back at the house, and when everybody was feeling better, we got together, and we mixed the record. We had a little bit of a hiccup, but it was all part of that adventure. We still don’t know how Myles caught it.

Was there any kind of magic recording at RCA Studio A in Nashville where all these legendary country artists recorded?

Yeah, there was definitely a very tangible vibe – and the sort of aura of these really fucking, enigmatic and iconic artists had all worked there. They had black and white candid photos of everybody from Dolly Parton to Waylon Jennings to Johnny Cash to Elvis Presley to Charlie Pride – all around the studio. And Steve Cropper’s office is in the building as well, so there was definitely a vibe – and it was pretty inspiring actually.

So, what has it been like touring in a post pandemic age for you? It must be pretty cool to finally get back on the stage again.

It’s nice obviously to get back out. It was really a frustrating period when we were all sidelined for so long. I did go out with Guns some months ago, and that was my first time out on the road – and it was very explosive because people were first getting out of the house, and we were first getting out on the road – and the coming together of the two dynamic was pretty explosive. So then, for us, it’s been three years, so it’s the same kind of vibe now. It’s like really combustible – we can’t wait to get out there and play to an audience that’s actually dying to get out and do something. It’s really sort of magical.

A series called Pam & Tommy is currently playing on cable right now. Have you seen it, what do you think of it – and if

someone did one on Guns N’ Roses, who would play you?

I haven’t seen it and I sort of don’t want to see it. I know Tommy and I remember that period and I don’t want to be reminded of it. But my significant other is watching it, and she says it’s really funny. (Laughs) We’ve been offered for some docu-drama type deal – one was for my book when I did it – I got a lot of offers on that – and then there’s a few people that have come to Guns. I just don’t think it’s possible. I don’t like rock autobiographical movies – I think they all sort of miss the beat – and they just don’t come across as genuine – they always come off and sort of stupid and corny. (Laughs) I don’t see anybody in Guns signing off and having anybody come in and play them. I definitely can’t imagine who would play me.

Your son London is in a band called S8nt Elektric. Have you seen them yet, and did you think your son would ever follow in your footsteps and become a musician?

I did see them – I’ve seen them a couple of times. They actually played a festival with Guns on that last tour that we did, which was great. But it’s weird – he’s really good – he’s got a natural flair for drumming. I’m totally sort of blown away and impressed with it. I didn’t necessarily see it coming. I wasn’t trying to sort of push the kids in that direction – I just wanted to support what they wanted to do. And London gravitated to drums at some point – and he really didn’t take it seriously until he started working with the guitarist Niko who is in the band S8nt Elektric and all of a sudden, he just turned a corner and got really good really quick. I’m really proud of him – I’m proud of both of them (London and Cash) – they are both really musically inclined.

Your mom was involved with the Rocky Horror Show at The Roxy back in the day. What was that experience like, and were you ever a fan of The Rocky Horror Show?

Yeah, I loved it! You’re talking to a self-professed horror fanatic – anything like that was a turn on to me as a kid. But I remember it was quite the experience, hanging out at The Roxy. They did sort of a residency there for a week – and just being there every day – it was definitely cool! And I’m reminded of it, because we lost Meat Loaf recently, and he was somebody that I was drawn to as Eddie in the cast. And we had a real close friend named Kim Milford who actually played the monster in the play – he’s not in the movie but he was in the play – I was around it for that whole period 24/7. It was also the first time I got to see Cheech and Chong live and they were fucking hilarious – even back then – I was 7, maybe 8 years old. But yeah, it was fun memories.

Did you ever at any time have any theatrical inspirations –

where you wanted to act and do something like that?

No, it’s totally counter to my personality. Actually, it’s mind blowing to me that people can do that. It’s a skill that I will never understand. And I see it in person because I’ve been producing horror movies for the last nine years, and I watch people go into character and act, and it’s just so otherworldly to me

Are there any plans for another Guns N’ Roses album as far as you know?

There is stuff coming out – there’s songs that are already recorded that we’re just sort of putting out piecemeal. So, some stuff is definitely going to be coming up. And then at some point, there will be a Guns record which will be a compilation of all the material that’s been out. Roses pinball machine when I got that call. I remember the exact moment – I had been away from my phone all day because I had been in the factory room where they put the machines together when I said let me go check my phone. And I went into the office and my phone had all these messages and it was about Eddie, and it was just heartbreaking.

What’s up next for Slash Ft. Myles and the Conspirators?

We’re finishing out this tour. We’re really only just getting started – we’re about five or six shows into it of a 29-show run. Then I’m going to go back to Guns for a European tour, an Australian and also a South American tour – makeup dates for 2020. And then at the beginning of 2023, The Conspirators go out and we do our international run of Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia.

People consider you a guitar legend. Another guitar legend recently passed away – Eddie Van Halen. Did you know Eddie Van Halen and what were your initial thoughts when he passed?

I knew Eddie for years. I actually have some great memories with Eddie. He was just one of these people that I’m going to miss a lot. But I was in Chicago working on the Guns N’

You are going to be busy – that’s for sure!

Yeah, yeah – the pandemic sort of put us in a pot, shook it all up, and now it’s coming out all topsy-turvey. It’s sort of a mess, but we’re figuring it out…

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