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Re: Slash Talks New Velvet Revolver Album, tour, book, Solo Disk
By ERIC SCHELKOPF
If you believe Sammy Hagar, Velvet Revolver is the best rock 'n' roll band left on the planet.
Not everyone is a fan of the band, however. Japanese immigration
officials in November wouldn't grant the band visas, resulting in the cancellation of four shows in Japan.
In a wide-ranging interview, Slash spoke about that incident, his obsession with the 'Guitar Hero' video game (he is part of 'Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock'), and how Velvet Revolver stacks up against Guns N' Roses.
I understand that Japanese immigration officials wouldn't give you visas so you could play in that country. That must have been quite the blow.
We're trying to appeal that situation. It's nothing that we did since the last time we played there. But for whatever reason, they decided to do that. That obviously disappointed a lot of Japanese fans.
Ironically, the name of your latest album, 'Libertad,' is Spanish for 'freedom.'
Yeah, maybe that's it. Maybe Japan is turning Communist. It's a drag. We have a huge fan base there that are being denied concerts and whatnot.
There are three former members of Guns N' Roses in Velvet Revolver, including yourself. As far as the dynamic of Velvet Revolver, how do you think it is different from Guns N' Roses?
It's just a different band, that's the only way I can answer that. It's a rock band, and there's a lot of similarities to any of the rock bands I've been in. But it's a whole different group, really. I found that in most of the rock bands I've been involved with, the approach is pretty similar. You get together and listen to different ideas. It's a little bit more smooth sailing and a little bit faster in this band than it was in my last band.
Last year at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Sammy Hagar referred to you guys as the best rock 'n' roll band left on the planet. Do you guys see yourselves that way?
This is definitely one of the few real rock bands out there, as least that is getting played on the radio. The whole sort of rock 'n' roll spirit, and that whole energy and that vibe of living on the edge, is just rare among new groups. It's just the way it is.
Was 'Libertad'' easier to make, because you already had one album under your belt?
It was a lot of fun to make. It was definitely one of the more pleasurable recording experiences. The camaraderie between the guys in the band and producer Brendan O'Brien was awesome.
So does this look to be a pretty big year for the band?
It's been great so far. We've done a lot of touring. We're definitely not going to tour as much as we did on the last record. That almost killed us. We were out for 2-1/2 years. In April, we are going to start working on the next record.
Any other projects you are working on?
Yeah, there's a couple of things here and there. There's a couple of recordings I have going on. I don't really talk about that stuff until it's out.
Any dream projects you are looking forward to?
I have a solo record that I'm looking forward to doing. But I'm not going to do it until the Velvet Revolver record is done. That will be in the next year or two.
Slash, Bill Gates show off their licks together on '˜Guitar Hero III'
I see that you were at the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas this month with Bill Gates, and that he was showing off his prowess on 'Guitar Hero.' How do you think he did?
He seemed proficient enough on 'Guitar Hero.'
And he had the right stance and everything?
No, unfortunately Bill Gates will always be the computer nerd. I don't think he will ever have the right stance on guitar. But it was great meeting him, and it was fun hanging out with him.
I understand that you are a big fan of the game.
I got turned on to it in the back of a tour bus last year. I got hooked on it. So when they asked me if I wanted to be involved in the new 'Guitar Hero' and to do something that 'Guitar Hero' basically had never done before, which was to take a real musician and actually insert him in the game, I was over-the-top excited about it. And it's turned out really good.
What excited your about the project?
It's just a cool game. It's one of the cooler video games. It's definitely unique, and it involves music, so it's right up my alley.
Are you afraid though that kids are so hooked on the game that they never want to pick up a real guitar?
A lot of kids, believe it or not, are going from 'Guitar Hero' and wanting to play a real guitar, more so than if they never have been exposed to it.
Slash's résumé
'¢ Born Saul Hudson in London in 1965.
'¢ Member of Guns N' Roses from 1985 to 1996. The band reached worldwide fame with 1987's 'Appetite For Destruction,' then 'Use Your Illusion I' and 'Use Your Illusion II' in 1991.
'¢ In 1990, Slash collaborated with Michael Jackson on his comeback album, 'Dangerous.' He performed guitar on two hit singles, 'Black Or White' and 'Give In to Me.' Also worked on Jackson's 'HIStory' and 'Invincible' albums.
'¢ Has worked as a session guitarist on records by Insane Clown Posse, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Daughtry and others.
'¢ Slash's Snakepit,
another band he formed, released the albums 'It's Five O'Clock' in 1995 and 'Ain't Life Grand' in 2000. Slash and the band also contributed music to Quentin Tarantino's film 'Jackie Brown.'
'¢ Helped form Velvet Revolver in 2002. The band, which features three former Guns N' Roses members and former Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland, released 'Contraband' in 2004 and 'Libertad' in 2007.
- Gunslinger
- Rep: 88
Re: Slash Talks New Velvet Revolver Album, tour, book, Solo Disk
If you believe Sammy Hagar, Velvet Revolver is the best rock 'n' roll band left on the planet. That's a win by default unfortunately.
I wasn't impressed by Libertad but still think they could put out another good album if they really want to, if they can keep Scott straight long enough. Slither showed they have the potential I just haven't seen anything from them since that even hints at that same level.
- Mikkamakka
- Rep: 217
Re: Slash Talks New Velvet Revolver Album, tour, book, Solo Disk
Wow, then VR must be a lot of fun for him. I mean maybe Slash is the only rocker celeb on the world today. The GN'R nostalgia, his bestseller book and his appearance in the GH3 made his superstar status again. He should do a solo album for both artistic and financial reasons. I mean Slash is more popular today than his band, lol. (And IMHO he created much better music with the two Snakepit incarnations.) Every rational reason says 'do a solo album', yet he chose to work again with the VR guys, although they sweat blood to make the second album and after all the pain it wasn't successful. Very strange, I don't get his motives behind it. 
Re: Slash Talks New Velvet Revolver Album, tour, book, Solo Disk
3 seems to be the magic number these days for record contracts....I wonder if they are just gonna fulfill the contract and part ways...i mean cornell couldnt get the last audoslave album finished fast enough so he could take off for a solo gig
- Mikkamakka
- Rep: 217
Re: Slash Talks New Velvet Revolver Album, tour, book, Solo Disk
3 seems to be the magic number these days for record contracts....I wonder if they are just gonna fulfill the contract and part ways...i mean cornell couldnt get the last audoslave album finished fast enough so he could take off for a solo gig
I don't think that their contract wouldn't let them doing solo stuff. Weiland announced working on his second solo album after Contraband. I also don't think that they'd have like 6 years to complete the 3 record deal. As unbelievable as it is, they're likely having fun playing together.
Re: Slash Talks New Velvet Revolver Album, tour, book, Solo Disk
SLASH ITCHING TO START NEW VELVET REVOLVER DISC:
January 23, 2008
Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash says the group is planning a significantly shorter turnaround for its third album.
The Los Angeles rockers plan to start working in earnest on the follow-up to last year's "Libertad" in April, almost immediately after they finish a tour that starts Thursday in Chicago and includes dates in North America, Australia and Europe.
"That's the big thing right now," Slash says. "I'm really jazzed about doing it. I've been working on new ideas, and we've had a couple times where the guys all got together and worked on some stuff. I'm itching to see what this third record's gonna be, 'cause I think it's gonna be ... awesome, and I think we don't necessarily need to spend two years on the road like we did last time (for 2004's 'Contraband')."
No producer has been chosen for the project, but Slash says he favors "Libertad" collaborator Brendan O'Brien. And while the Velvet Revolver album is on the front-burner, Slash still wants to move forward on a solo album, which he says will feature a roster of guest vocalists.
Re: Slash Talks New Velvet Revolver Album, tour, book, Solo Disk
3 seems to be the magic number these days for record contracts....I wonder if they are just gonna fulfill the contract and part ways...i mean cornell couldnt get the last audoslave album finished fast enough so he could take off for a solo gig
Sad enough- Revelations was Audioslave's best album and stronger work by Chris than that of his latest solo album. Audioslave was just realizing their potential i felt.
