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Re: Slash interview by Sarah Maunder
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Slash interview by Sarah Maunder
by Slash France on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 9:02am
Sarah Maunder's interview of Slash, a bumblefoot fan got the opportunity to talk to the guitar hero himself !
10th February 2011.
S.Maunder: Before we started, I just wanted to congratulate you on the Superbowl, the performance.
Slash: Oh thankyou.
S.M.: alright, no problem. So yeah, my first question today, what was your favorite song on the album “Slash” to record?
Slash: Um, you know, it really wasn’t a matter of, y’know, a favorite track. The whole record was really a lot of fun to do. And because there was so many different vocalist involved and all the sort of different experiences sort of meshed into one, y’know, one big session, the whole thing really was a lot of fun.
S.M.: I wanted to ask you about a particular song, I really loved “Gotten”, I just wanted to know, who wrote it, and what was the inspiration behind the lyrics and music?
Slash: Well, I wrote the music, and Adam Levine wrote the words. And, I’m not sure where he got the inspiration for the lyrics, um, but the music was something that i came up with on the acoustic guitar, I kept getting drawn to it, and i kept playing it, and I put the guitar down, and go away for a little bit, and come back and pick it up, and I kept working on that particular track, so I decided i’ve got to pursue it on the record, because it (didn’t) look like it was going anywhere, so I gave it to Adam, and he came up with those words, and I never did stop and ask him who inspired those lyrics.
S.M.: You’ve worked with an incredible lineup of gifted musicians, will you be working with any of them again, for a second album, or will you have a whole new lineup?
Slash: Well, I think that was a one off concept, to do a record with different musicians. I don’t really have plans to do another one, um, the next record that I’m starting to work on right now is something I’m going to do with Myles Kennedy who is on that (the current) record.
S.M.:Is there anyone you would really like to work with in the future, either session or other?
Slash: I’m sure there is! I mean, I work with a lot of people, but theres not a lot of forethought in that. It just sort of happens. Pretty spontaneous, y’know, sometimes someone will give me a call and ask me if i want to do something, or sometimes i’ll run into somebody that i have a large respect for musically, and we’ll get to talking and we’ll end up working together. Theres never a time, with the exception of making my record, where I had to figure out who was gonna sing each song. Prior to that all the session work is just sort of off the cuff and spontaneous, so, I don’t have any plans on different people who i’d like to work with in the future, which is sort of, y’know, everything just happens.
S.M.: Your touring Soundwave this year, which has got one of the best lineups for all the festivals going on at the moment, are you going to take time off to see anyone, watch any of the other bands perform?
Slash: Um, you know what, I don’t have the itinerary in front of me...but it’s pretty much a one on, one off kind of tour, so there is not really a lot of time a lot of anything besides, y’know, driving, playing, playing and driving. So we’ll see what happens.
S.M.: What can we Australian fans expect to see from your show?
Slash: Well, I mean, we spent a lot of time in Australia last year, and it’ll sort of be an extension of that, it’ll be some tracks that we didnt play last year that we’ll be playing this year, and its just pretty high energy sort of rock n roll kinda thing y’know (laughs) it’s not a choreographed show, its not a technical show, its not a big production kind of event, just a live rock n roll band that is sort of spontaneous in the moment.
S.M.: What do you think of Australian fans and crowds?
Slash: Oh they’re awesome! Thats one of the reasons why I love coming to australia so much, the main reason. I mean, I love australia in general, but the people are great and the crowds are great, and they really appreciate, y’know, when a band comes along and just gives it their all. They’re really sort of there for them. It’s a great audience to play for, because they are very sincere, and very genuine. Y’know?
S.M.: Do you have a favorite Australian tour memory at all?
Slash :Y’know, in all honesty, the last run that we just did was so well received so i’d say my last trip to Australia was my favorite Australian memory. And prior to that, y’know there was trips with Velvet Revolver that was great, and y’know the early days with Guns N’ Roses were pretty memorable as well. But this last run on my own supporting this record i came out with was just really really phenomenal.
S.M.: So is your family coming with you down to Australia?
Slash: No no, it’s just me and the band.
S.M.: Do you reckon you’ll pick up an Aussie Souvenir for Cash and London?
Slash : (laughs) I dunno! We’ll see, if i see something that, that i think that they would really dig, and it’s not too big to carry around, we’ll see!
S.M.:Is there anywhere in Australia that your going to visit or sightsee while your here, or anywhere your going to revisit?
Slash: Umm, really I don’t have any plans at this point. I’m just gearing up to get out there and play. Thats always the main thing on my mind. As much as travelling as i do on the road, it’s always about the gigs, i never really think too much about what I’m gonna do in my spare time while i’m there, or anywhere for that matter. But y’know, i do wander off and find things to do.
S.M.: What sort of bands are you listening to right now? What music is inspiring you, are you listening to any new rock bands or anything?
Slash: Ah, y’know, not really. Um there just hasn’t been a lot of stuff thats really caught my attention, um, certainly not since this years started. There was some stuff last year...actually they are an australian band, ummm, oh now i can’t remember their name! Um, y’know the little, the Australian band, they’re sort of ACDC-ish, this generations version of ACDC. Y’know what I’m talking about?
S.M.: (laughs) umm, i think i do! I might, I’m just trying to think of a name myself....oh (laughs)
Slash: (laughs)
S.M.: Now I’m coming up a blank!
Slash: We were touring with them last year if I remember right....
S.M.: Anyway, I just wanted to ask, i’m fair sure it’s safe to say that you’ve been at the top of your game, like musically and talent wise for a while now, um, how does someone like you, who’s just, y’know, reached the top, how do you keep growing and challenging yourself to reach new levels?
Slash: Um, haha, i appreciate that, thank you. Um, basically, i dunno, i just love what it is that i do. And i have to keep doing stuff that excites me, so i’m always searching for fun and interesting and exciting things to do. And all of them revolving around music and I just keep at it y’know? It’s...it’s...I dunno exactly where it all comes from, but I’m fortunate because i really love it, and probably love it more now than i even did when i started. And, a lot of people don’t share that same sentiment y’know. At least in my business.
S.M.:Have you got any plans for the next 5 - 10 years, or anything planned for the future, what are you looking forward to?
Slash: Um, well, I don’t really look 5, 10 years into the future. It’s hard for me to even begin to think that far ahead. So i really, y’know, more in the moment, and whats happening right now, and what i’m doing maybe tomorrow and over the next couple of months, and thats pretty much were my focus is. But the stuff that I’m going to be doing over the next couple of months takes me in to the next couple of years. You know what i’m saying? So you sorta get setup and go with it, and see where it takes you.
S.M.:Also, a friends asked me to ask this: Um, is that the original top hat that your wearing, like, is it the same one that you’ve had for the past 20 years, or do you have a few different ones now?
Slash: Well, the one that i have had for the last...oh wow...um, y’know the one (i’ve been wearing) for the last year and the year before i’ve had since the late 80’s and early 90’s, i’ve been wearing that hat right up until just a month ago, where i put it away, and i took another old hat that i’ve had forever that was in the closet, and i covered that one with leather and i took that one out, and thats the one thats on the road with me now.
S.M.: Oh okay, cool, and it’s like a belts been wrapped around it hasn’t it?
Slash: Yep, yeah, and those belts i’ve had forever, I can’t even tell you how long.
S.M.: (Laughs) haha, fair enough.
Also, I just finished Steven Adler’s autobiography, and I was just wondering, are you still in contact with him, and hows he doing? Is he still doing pretty good?
Slash: He’s doing great! He’s out on the road, and he’s having a blast, and I talk to him all the time.
S.M.: Ohh, thats great.
Slash: Yeah, he’s doing really really well, and I’m really proud of him.
S.M.: Yeah, it was a really really interesting read...haha, yeah i thought i’d just ask, and see how he was!
Slash: Yeah he’s good, he’s good. He’s touring Europe right now.
S.M. :Oh, um, so this is actually my last question, so thankyou for talking with me today, this last question, I saw, um (can you tell i’m nervous..) like, what you would call the “new” Guns N’ Roses at the end of last year, um, and the current guitarists touring with them, y’know Bumblefoot and Richard Fortus, um, they’re pretty talented guys, do you, i mean, have you ever crossed paths with them? Is it awkward when you do? if you do?
Slash: I havnt crossed paths with any of those guys, except for, I did meet DJ Ashba at some point...uhh, a couple of years ago. But thats about it.
S.M.: Oh okay...like, was it cool, like there wasn’t any...uh...
Slash: Oh yeah, I wouldn’t imagine there would be any hostility between myself and any of Axl’s hired Guns.
S.M.: Oh cool. haha.
Umm, actually we have a little more time, so I do have one more question for you, i read recently off your website that your a little bit of a movie buff, do you have a favourite movie?
Slash: Um, oh I have a lot of favourite movies! It’s hard to really name just one, but i mean, i actually just started a horror movie production company called Slasher films, so thats how into it i am. Um (laughs) but i would probably say that one of my favorite movies of all time is probably Jaws.
S.M.: Oh Jaws? Oh thats great...haha, yeah, i’ve been trying to collect all of Steven Spielberg’s films myself..so yeah thats been a quite a journey hahaha! (*notice how i didn't wait for him to answer this?? I'm mortified i said this!)
Anyway, thankyou so much for talking with me today
Slash: Nice talking to you
S.M.: Goodluck with all the festival stuff!
Slash: See you at Soundwave then! (*i think this is what he said here, unfortunately i was babbling over him...ugh)
All credits by Sarah Maunder.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Slash interview by Sarah Maunder
Ah, y’know, not really. Um there just hasn’t been a lot of stuff thats really caught my attention, um, certainly not since this years started. There was some stuff last year...actually they are an australian band, ummm, oh now i can’t remember their name! Um, y’know the little, the Australian band, they’re sort of ACDC-ish, this generations version of ACDC. Y’know what I’m talking about?
I think it might be Airbourne.
