Hey, Iâm Slash and Iâm here to talk about my new album 4 and my upcoming tour with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators. AMA
Friendly_University7 : Slash, can you speak to what was
the catalyst that led to you and Axl burying the hatchet? I've seen you
guys 3x on your last two tours and have been blown away each time. Hard
Skool rocks and I'm very much looking forward to your new music. Hope
SMKC makes it to Pittsburgh on a tour soon.
SlashOfficial : The catalyst that led to me and Axl burying our hatchet was just the two of us talking for the first time in 20 years.
Rowf: Whatâs your most âSpinal Tapâ moment?
SlashOfficial: My life is a Spinal Tap moment.
No_Reporter_7250: Do you have a favourite warmup exercise for guitar?
SlashOfficial:
I'm always looking for a good warmup exercise so I make up new ones all
the time, but one of the best for guitar playing is just doing a lot of
scales slowly, then speeding up and just trying to get your muscles
working properly.
Elirockinglife: Hi, I'm
Eli and I wanted to ask: When you are composing, and a riff comes out,
do you ever have a moment that you think, maybe youâd heard it before,
and then you realize "oh wait, this sounds similar to this song?â
And
if that happens, do you just forget about that riff and start over, or
do you make adjustments to make it workâ with differences to the
original song? Any examples would be cool.
SlashOfficial:
There are moments that a riff sounds familiar and you might have to
research it, and if it's identical to something else then you just sort
of forget about it, but sometimes it might just be one note that causes
it to have the same inflection as something else and you might just need
to change that one note. There are so many variables to how to approach
that situation.
AlternativeOld: Why
were all the guitars tuned down 1/2 step for all GNR recordings? Just
wondering the reasoning behind that. I prefer that sound... Is it for
vocals? Just cuz it sounds cooler?
SlashOfficial:
We have always tuned down a half step just because it makes it a little
easier on the vocals, and I do the same with the COnspirators as well.
At the end of the day it does actually sound pretty cool.
subwinds: Hi Slash! You mentioned in an earlier interview that you started contact
with GNR camp a few years ago because you wanted to make sure the
footage from the Illusions tour was safe and sound. What's the status of
all that footage?
SlashOfficial: The footage is in good condition.
Giinocchio:
Hey slash! Any chance of you ever coming back too play in Stoke? It was
an incredible show last time you played the Victoria Hall. I'd love for
you to come back so my 7 year old can experience a proper rock and roll
show in his home town.
SlashOfficial: I've thought about it many times and I actually do plan on doing it at some point, maybe next year. We shall see.
kookoojo: what is the oddest or most unlikely music that you enjoy?
SlashOfficial: I listen to a lot of movie scores. And I also listen to a lot of rockabilly...
heavymetalharry :
Hey I'm looking for advice, Im 27, I still feel like a kid but I worry
that my opportunity to make it as a guitarist is leaving me. Do you
think that there is an age limit to get started on what you do?
also I
see you used to be buddies with Dave Mustiane back in the day, do you
think there would have been a possibility that you would have been the
guitarist to write Tornado of Souls?
Anyway, huge fan ,you were my first guitar hero.
SlashOfficial:
I don't think there's a statute of limitations on becoming a
professional guitarist... I have no knowledge of writing any Megadeth
songs, but I did used to LOVE jamming with Dave.
MattGOG666:
Hey Slash! Do you think Slash's Snakepit gets enough recognition? I
absolutely love Ain't Life Grand and Beggars and Hangers on. Cheers!
SlashOfficial: Yeah I think Snakepit gets enough recogntion considering how short lived both bands were.
Abloh314 : Slash, in a very digital world, is inspiring to see a old-school record being made ALL LIVE!
Can you talk a little about the whole experience of recording a album like a live session?
What is the pros and cons about that format? You pretend to do it again?
Thanks!
SlashOfficial:
The pros of recording an album like a live session are that you capture
the energy & spirit of a band all playing off of each other in the
moment. The cons are if you make a mistake you have to live with it.
-antonia-- : what's your favourite guitar solo?
SlashOfficial: I have millions. I can't choose one that's my all time favorite.
Deaththinius : Hey man, been to your show with Miles Kennedy and the Conspirators - god damn you guys rocked the f out!
My
question: how do you get over the initial adrenaline rush when running
up on stage at the start of the show? I'm about to start playing live
and this is one of my biggest worries, I have a feeling my hands will
freeze for the first 5 minutes up there haha, how do you do it, and
also, what are some techniques not involving alcohol or drugs to
minimize it?
Also what are the best ways to promote your new music?
Is there even a point in going to a record label these days? How many
songs would we need to record to get someone's attention?
Cheers for doing this!
SlashOfficial:
You just have to go for it. You never totally get used to it. Still to
this day I still get butterflies when I go on. You just have to work it
out in the first 5-10 minutes on stage. Deep breathing I've been told
really works, though I've never actually practiced it.
Re:
promote new music... it's an entirely new landscape out there. I think
probably the best way is through social media at this stage. I'm not
really so sure about record labels these days. Especially if it's rock
& roll. I think probably 3, up to 4 songs are needed to get
someone's attention. 3 songs is probably optimum, but maybe even 2. But
more than 1!
-antonia-- : what's your favourite song out of your whole discography?
SlashOfficial:
I have no idea how to answer this question, I don't have a favorite out
of my whole discography... my favorite to play live is also too hard to
give a straight answer.
JulieLocke19:
Hey there!! According to my 5 kids, Iâm the epitome of a straight edge
âmomâs momâ & they find it hilarious that SLASH is my MOST FAVORITE
of ALL TIME- no one else even comes close! When they ask me what I want
for my birthday, Motherâs Day, ect⊠I say every time âto meet Slash!!â
Your music has been rocked in MANY a carpool line!! I truly hope you
realize the impact your music has made people of ALL walks of life!!
Even though I may not look like the typical rock fan, I can promise you
that Iâm the biggest fan you have!! My question: How do you balance
being a dad & showing up for your kids while being the most awesome
musician of ALL TIME?? 🖤
SlashOfficial: Being a
professional musician and being a parent is a little bit tricky, but
you just have to be there as much as possible. If I'm on the road and
they can't be with me then I try to stay in contact all the time.
Sudden-Potato-9332: Slash, Whats your Favourite thing about playing in Scotland?
I
seen velvet revolver play both times in Glasgow when I was about 14, we
asked the sound tech for a setlist but he had already given it away, he
then went into his tech stand and said I seen slash practicing using
these.. he then produces 2 black Jim Dunlop guitar picks and gave me and
my step bro one each and we left grinning ear to ear, I never really
genuinely believed or honestly knew if they were real but to this day
they belong in a frame with the tickets in my room😂✌🏻🎩
SlashOfficial:
It's just one of the most kickass audiences around. Scots really know
how to have a good time at a show, and they really appreciate the music
for the music's sake.
Ken_the_bad_guitarist : Hi Slash, Which do you prefer playing in? Large arenas or small venues.
PS my favourite gig was you guys in the Olympia theatre Dublin, with Charlie Sheen hanging from a balcony. Great night
SlashOfficial: I really like the variety of different sized venues, from the smallest clubs to stadiums and everything in between.
Tartack:
Hi Slash, hope you're doing well ! Do you listen to other types of
music (jazz, classical, etc.) and does it influence you in your
compositional process ? Also, have you ever feel the desire to learn a
new instrument and/or learn some music theory ? Thanks for being who you
are : because of your influence, you contributed greatly (and still do
!) to who I am today musically and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
SlashOfficial:
I do listen to a lot of different types of music, some jazz, mostly
blues-oriented jazz, not fusion jazz. a lot of classical, country,
rockabilly, movie scores... it all has an influence on the compositional
process because some different melodies and chord structures influence
the way you think when you're writing songs.
I would love to learn to play the harp one day, and at present I'm learning how to play pedal steel guitar.
LeoDuke_Music
: Hey Slash! First of all, thank you for sharing my River is Rising
Cover a few months back! I canât tell you how much that meant to me!
Something Iâve been really curious about is whether you have plans to
write another book? I love your autobiography, Iâve probably read it
three times so far. But considering all the stuff you did after that
boom was released, I bet Iâm not the only one who wants to know what
happened while you were starting SMKC and even when you got back
together with Guns! Looking forward to seeing you in Boston!
SlashOfficial: I don't have any plans to write another book as of right now.
TAWOG_LVRS:
Hi Slash! This question is from my mum, she's wondering if you are
going to watch the new season of The Walking Dead and she's also asking
if you like Indian food (I don't know why)
She also wants me to mention that it was her birthday yesterday (same day as Axl's haha) Anyway, thanks for your time Slash!
SlashOfficial: Yes I'm going to watch the new season. I'm a Walking Dead loyalist! And yes I love Indian food.
VorticalAxeRage41:
Slash! So your arguably the most famous Les Paul player on the planet
along with Jimmy Page And Ace Frehley. If we were in an alternate
universe and you instead played a Fender Guitar, what Fender would you
have played and why? -Cheers, Tom From New Jersey.
SlashOfficial: It would probably be a telly.
Dale187:
Hey Slash, do you have any plans to release new colours in the Epiphone
range? I have the Anaconda Burst and it's my favourite guitar. Hope
youll come to the UK with SMKC soon, do you ever do meet and greets?
Thanks (can't stop playing the three new tracks)
SlashOfficial: No new plans for the Epiphone range right now...
I
don't do official M&G's, sometimes meet with fans after the show
outside, but because of covid that's unfortunately not really a
possibility right now.
EdsonGates: Hello
Slash!! You as a professional guitarist... What meaning does family,
friends and other social circles related to affective bonds have for
you? (of course, I'm not saying that these don't matter but I want to
know your vision)
Two questions in one... What do you recommend to
young guitarists who are growing in the world of music but don't know
how to start? PDT: I hope you can answer the 2 questions or just some
SlashOfficial:
Family and friends are super important, especially when you have a
career in entertainment because the relationship with your family and
friends is the biggest thing that keeps you grounded.
2nd question -
my recommendation to young guitarists is perseverance, solid work ethic,
sacrifice, and you have to know what you want.
shaggyrocker1993:
Hey Slash I'm Adam and I'm living in Lodz Poland. I'm a sound engineer
and local crew at a many, many Concerts in Poland. Could you tell me
please? When you come to Poland with Slash 4 Tour? In which city would
you like to play?
Take care and keep rockin' Adam
SlashOfficial:
We should be in Poland in early 2023 with the Conspirators. I would
like to play Warsaw because we play all the other cities but haven't
played Warsaw for some reason.
SlashOfficial: We might've done it a while ago, but not recently...
J_Odea:
Hey Slash, went to your concert in Missoula Montana in 2021 with my
mother who saw you guys back in the day. How did you like the Museum of
the Rockies in Bozeman? Also why did mammoth cancel that day? You are a
rock god!
What is your favorite museum youâve visited?
SlashOfficial:
The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is an amazing museum, I loved it.
Mammoth had to cancel that day because somebody in their crew got Covid
so they had to test everybody and wait for the results.
There are actually too many great museums to list. The Museum of the Rockies is definitely one of them.
Sad_Sheepherder : How long do you think you will be making albums with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators?
I'm
a big fan of your work with them, already have my tickets to your show,
bought them the moment I saw the announcement. You guys are a match
made in heaven, and I was already a huge fan of Myles because of his
work in Alter Bridge. Couldn't believe it when I discovered you guys
were making music together.
SlashOfficial: I don't see any reason why I would stop making albums with SMKC.
Melissamargaret1978:
Hello Slash! My husband and I love you! He plays your music all the
time. We almost made it to see you in Moncton, Newbrunswick, Canada once
and are REALLY hoping you can come back to Atlantic Canada! Do you
think you will tour this way again??
SlashOfficial: I'm hoping when the Conspirators tour internationally next year we'll do a whole Canadian tour.
Popular_Spray506:
I'm a huge fan of you from Tunisia 🇹🇳 ( north Africa) u are the
reason why i picked my electric guitar and started playing rock music My
question is : After sending a demo to your band members Do Frank
Sidoris sometimes give some ideas on how the songs should be rhyming Or u
just write all of them and finish them on your own without considering
Todd , Frank, myles suggestions
SlashOfficial:
Whenever I have a musical idea that I send to the other guys, they just
do their own interpretation of it. I don't usually dictate what they
should play, Frank Sidoris included. But when I write a new song, at the
end of the day we all sort of complete the song together.
Thorghal001:
Any future dates in Belgium ? Last time i've seen you I hooked you up
with a bottle of good old Jack N' Daniels. You signed my guitar way back
then also . Slash Snakepit tour . The real question I wanna ask is do
you personally scout talented people and do you still work on horror
movies?
SlashOfficial: I would hope that we'd be playing a date in Belgium on our next European tour at the beginning of 2023.
I don't scout talented people but I'm aware of them from time to time. And yes, I'm still producing horror movies.
Mystic_Celebi: are there any surprises on the upcoming setlist?
also what was the reasoning for working with Dave Cobb this time around?
canât wait for the new record, itâs gonna be killer!
SlashOfficial: There are gonna be a couple surprises on the upcoming setlist. Just basically songs we haven't played in a really time.
Dave
Cobb is one of the only really down to earth rock & roll producers
around, and One of the reasons that I wanted to work with him is that he
likes to record live.
SlashOfficial : That
was great, thank you all for your questions. Hopefully me and the
Conspirators will see you all out there on tour starting tomorrow.
Transcript by Slash2baz for Slashfrance.netSource : Reddit â February 2022