RockisaGirlsBestFriend "...During the encore Stockdale invited Slash out to play "By The Sword." Whatever the audience was doing before Slash hit the stage, they turned up 300 notches when he did take the stage. RockisaGirlsBestFriend
ARTIST DIRECT The power of the riff compelled Slash and pretty much everyone else at LAYN Rocks last night.
The legendary Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist certainly knows how to give a crowd a good time and, alongside some friends, that's exactly what he did for almost two hours.
Those "friends" happened to be some of the most legendary men to ever pick up a microphone or a guitar. Sunday's AMA lineup far paled in comparison to LAYN Rocks—and the event was for a very good cause, helping homeless kids across Los Angeles.
Host George Lopez put it best, " With all due respect to the AMAs, this is the fuckin' place to be on Sunday night!"
Slash brought together the best and brightest rock n' roll stars of the past four decades for the most riff-tastic benefit show ever. There's nothing quite like watching him and Dave Navarro rip through Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song," volleying the classic riff back and forth with a new vibrancy.
Slash infused the solo with gritty gutter blues, and the entire crowd was mesmerized by the six-string God. During Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak," Tom Morello tore through a scratchy lead that gave the song a hip hop fire and a spacey tone. Morello, Navarro and Slash complimented each other perfectly with each and every solo and riff brandishing its player's own signature.
Wolfmother's "Mother" had a deadly Black Sabbath-style stomp. Vocalist Andrew Stockdale gave a fiery performance worthy of the legends he shared the stage with, and Slash laid down a furious lead mid-song. During Zeppelin's "Tangerine," Slash donned a double neck and instantly transported the crowd back to the '70s.
However, the standout with Stockdale was he and Slash's original cut, "By the Sword," from Slash's forthcoming solo album. Smoky, ominous and psychedelic, the opening riff proved to be one of Slash's best. It's melancholy yet strangely energetic, and Stockdale's howl felt divinely otherworldly — a new classic.
Linkin Park and Dead By Sunrise mainman Chester Bennington gave "Good Times, Bad Times" a serious gusto that even Robert Plant couldn't conjure. Chester's got a classic old school rock n' roll edge and a modern sensitivity that makes him a true star. He's got one foot planted in tradition, but he's also the most forward thinking singer on the scene. He proved that during "Slither" and a raucous "Paradise City" complete with Stephen Adler behind the kit and Duff McKagan on bass. Chester definitely stood proudly even alongside Perry Farrell who did phenomenal renditions of "Mountain Song," "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Jane Says."
It all came back to the riff when Ozzy Osbourne hit the stage though. "I Don't Know," "Iron Man," "Crazy Train" and "Paranoid" exploded with Slash and Navarro lighting their fret boards up to finish the evening.
As Ozzy requested, the crowd went "fucking crazy," but it was all for a good cause—and the riffs are still resounding ... [ARTIST DIRECT]
—Rick Florino 11.23.09
(Check out Rick Florino's new novel Dolor available now for FREE here ...)
NME Slash teamed up with Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello and Linkin Park's Chester Bennington for a special benefit concert in Los Angeles last night (November 22).
The ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist joined forces with a host of guest stars at the LAYN charity show at the Avalon to help raise funds for the homeless.
He was joined by his former bandmates Duff McKagan and Steve Adler, who also played with him in Velvet Revolver, plus Bennington, who fronted their rendition of "Paradise City.".
Slash was also joined by Wolfmother's Andrew Stockdale, Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro and Blink-182's Travis Barker for the show.
The guitarist is currently working on his solo album Slash And Friends which includes many of the guests who joined him onstage last night.
"Gearing up for the LAYN fundraiser on the 22 at the Avalon.
With this line-up its a pretty historic event.
Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Perry Farrell, Chester Bennington, Andrew Stockdale, Tom Morello, Dave Navarro, Travis Barker, Franky Perez, Chris Chaney, myself & George Lopez hosting.
Be there & support Los Angeles Youth Network for the 1st LA "Slash & Friends" event!
Going to perform a new song off my record with Andrew Stockdale on Nov 22nd at the LAYN event."
White Lion drummer Troy Patrick Farrell has shot down reports that Guns N'Roses will perform in India in November. He says in a statement, "The dates in India were to be with Dizzy Reed, Eric Dover and myself as well as Gilby Clarke's bassist Muddy Stardust. Those dates moved to October (NOT NOVEMBER and not in the city of Bengaluru) and Dizzy Reed CANNOT and WILL NOT be in India for any event as far as I am aware of. At least not any event involving me. (Kids, don't try to read into that, but I simply don't speak for GN'R in any way, shape or form)."
He adds, "This rumor is the result of an overzealous promoter that mixed up information. I have spoken my direct contacts in India to confirm that they in no way shape or form alluded to the fact that Axl or any version of GN'R would perform in India.
Irving Azoff is their manager and all GN'R-related events go through him, not me.
I don't know who Rhapsody Inc. is, nor do I know or have ever been in contact directly with Chromosome Production Pvt. Ltd.
I love GN'R rumors as much as the next one, just not one that can somehow through a few degrees of separation involve me.
If all goes as planned, I will be in India on September 30 and October 3 and the lineup will be confirmed when it comes from my mouth, no one else's.
If Guns is playing in India at any time, I have nothing to do with it in any degree.
I will now go back to my life of 'who the fuck is Troy?'"
Guns N’ Roses are playing in India. Pinch yourself, because this isn’t a dream! After decades of speculation and rumours about coming to India, the American rock band will perform in Bengaluru on November 7 at the Palace Grounds.
Confirming this news, Raj Sinha, director of Rhapsody Inc, the company that is organising the concert said, "Yes, it is true that we are bringing Guns N’ Roses to India. As of now I can tell you that the Bengaluru concert has been confirmed. We’re still in talks with people in Mumbai and Delhi, so let’s hope that works out. However, there is a good chance we can take the band to Shillong as well.
The band was supposed to have played there on September 19, but for some reason it didn’t work out."
Dubbed as Axl and Friends, the band has seen major transformation over the years and the only founding member to be a part of the current lineup is vocalist Axl Rose.
While other famous members like Slash, Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan left the band citing various differences, Axl remained. The band finally released the album Chinese Democracy with newer members in 2008. The album was in the making for around 15 years and was much awaited, though it received a timid response.
"I can confirm that Axl Rose and Dizzy Reed will be there. DJ Ashba, their latest entrant, will be there. There will also be a person called Troy and two other members," said Sinha.
Rhapsody Inc. is a venture of Chromosome Production Pvt Ltd, a company that has organised concerts of musicians like AR Rahman and Jagjit Singh. This is the company’s first international venture. Let’s hope for all our sakes, this one really works out.
Ron Wood's solo stuff performed live in Kilburn 1974 with Keith Richards, Ian McLagan, Willie Weeks and Andy Newmark as The First Barbarians. Special guest Rod Stewart.
XILS Labs has just released the Xils3 software synthesizer, a recreation of the great EMS VCS3 Modular synthesizer from the 1960’s. This synth was used by Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Brian Eno amongst others and well known for its individual character and unique experimental sounds.
Chris Pitman has programmed some factory presets for this software version. Included are sounds for bass, ambient soundscapes, noise and experimental sounds, and new for this structure are polyphonic sounds.
Black Gives Way to Blue available everywhere September 28/29.
All Secrets Known Check My Brain Last Of My Kind Your Decision A Looking In View When The Sun Rose Again Acid Bubble Lessons Learned Take Her Out Private Hell Black Gives Way To Blue
via Blabbermouth Sick, the second full-length album from Duff McKagan's Loaded, has been released in the US on limited-edition vinyl.
According to the band, "The custom multi-colored record comes with LP-only cover art by Mexican Chocolate Design, and is packaged with a white label two-song 7-inch!"
Try as I might, I can't seem to find much information on Dizzy Reed's shows at the Viper Room.
I was able to find this blurry picture from his performance there last Saturday night, but that's it so far. Apparently, he's showcasing some new songs from his "upcoming" solo album. I haven't been able to find out any song titles yet.
I also found this:
August 15
Summer Fest 2009 featuring Natasha Bedingfield, 3 Days Grace, 7 Bridges, Draw the Line, Tessane Chin, Dizzy Reed and Richard Fortus of Guns N' Roses and Secret Po Po at the National Stadium. General admission $75, $105 reserved on the field, and $205 VIP. Doors open at 5.30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Go to www.bdatix.com for tickets. (The Royal Gazette)
According to his twitter page, Duff "will be writing new LOADED songs tonite and tomorrow. Some great ideas and riffs have come on this latest tour. Excited for sure!"
This is bittersweet news for many of Duff's fans. In my opinion, it implies that Velvet Revolver is indeed staying parked on the back burner. 2010 will see Slash's solo album and I presume, an ensuing tour. Loaded, in turn, will likely cycle through another period of songwriting, recording, touring, etc. I imagine it will be a few years before VR convenes again, if ever.
Later today, Duff tweeted:
"VR will continue our search for our singer. It WILL happen! When I speak of Loaded, I am certainly not speaking against VR!"
Okay.
I've been listening to Loaded's latest Sick, and while I do enjoy it, it's a little to happy and upbeat for my tastes. I prefer their 2001 release, Dark Days.
There are some great songs on this record though. "Sick" has aggressive lyrics and a crazy guitar solo. "Forgive Me" is a perfect little alt-pop-rock song that crystallizes Loaded's sound quite well. Duff's vocals sound great on that track. "Wasted Heart" wouldn't sound out of place on the Stones' Beggars Banquet LP. "No More" is probably the catchiest tune on the disc.
In an interview with Guitar World Magazine, Duff explained that the band decided to write a new album when, at a Christmas benefit gig, they realized how many good unrecorded songs they had.
Although Duff wrote most of the songs on Dark Days, much of Sick was composed by the band or with other writers. One track, the somber “Mothers Day,” took shape from McKagan and Rouse jamming together on bass guitars. It was called “Two Basses” until McKagan wrote lyrics about friends he’s lost to drugs.
Surprisingly, although doing time in GN’R and Velvet Revolver cemented his association with Slash, McKagan credits former Gunner Izzy Stradlin as the guitarist that most influenced his own rhythm playing. “I think from Izzy I learned where a rhythm guitar player should be, within the band,” McKagan says. “As a result, I don’t overthink it.”
via Blabbermouth Ozzy Osbourne has revealed to Classic Rock magazine that he is currently searching for a new guitarist for his solo band.
Classic Rock caught up with Osbourne last week at the Slash & Friends gig in Norway, where the whispers backstage had guitarist John 5 lined up as a possible replacement for Zakk Wylde.
"Well, I'm getting a new guitar player as we speak," Ozzy told Classic Rock, "and everyone has been saying to me for a long time, 'Get Johnny 5!' And I tried him at one time and I didn't really give him a chance. We'll see, I don't know. I haven't fallen out with Zakk, but Zakk's got his own band, and I felt like my stuff was beginning to sound like Black Label Society. I just felt like I wanted a change, y'know?
I've got a guy from Greece coming in — not the musical, the country of Greece — but I'm not going to say too much about it, 'cos I don't know myself at this point. I've got a new album, I'm working on it as we speak. I've got a studio at my house and I've got a guy called Kevin Churko, the guy that did the last album — he's great to work with.
And it's great to have your own studio. On one hand it's great and on the other it's not, 'cos when you're at the studio you can go, 'Sorry darling, I can't get home for dinner, I'm stuck at the studio' But she can fucking come down stairs now! But I'm just enjoying my life now"
Classic Rock: So you're taking it easy recording this album?
Ozzy: "Oh yeah. Zakk came down and did a bunch of stuff and I don't know if I want to use it but I've got it there if I do. And this Kevin Churko is a bit of an all-rounder so I'm getting back to basics in some respects. One thing about a guy who can't do all the finger-tapping stuff is that he plays better on the riffs 'cos it's not all [hums riff for 'Iron Man' followed by over-the-top widdling]."
Classic Rock: Does Heaven & Hell having a new album out make you more competitive?
Ozzy: "No. Not in the slightest. I really wish them well. I mean I've been out of that band three times longer than I was ever in them. But people say, 'What do you think about Dio?' He's great singer. I've grown up since the days when I used to get pissed and slag him off. For whatever it's worth, good luck to them. I don't want to make enemies — I made enough when I was drinking, I try to make friends with people these days!"
You can read the full interview here. Thanks to IngridMJ for the photos.
"Was working on posting a new song of mine on songsbymister.com, and while I was working I started receiving a series of bizarre PMs on my message board, explained best here ..."
"I've been out of the loop for a while. Maybe you guys can help me. The help I need is ...
If word doesn't travel that I have this stuff, I'll never be able to trade it. There are more songs out there, people have them, but I'm very out of the loop. I got the (Rock Band II) multitracks like everyone wanted, now it's time to turn them into something else.
The timing for me couldn't have been better as I really want people to hear my new songs and a lot of people seem to be checking out www.songsbymister.com for the first time due to this stuff.
When I first started getting the files, I thought they were fake for sure, but then my drummer figured out how to make it work and I was like "oh fuck."
Hope to have more GN'R info soon guys. First I gotta wait for the hoarders to come to me. May take longer than I'd hoped for word to spread that my contacts at Electronic Arts have finally paid off."
-Mister Saint Laurent (MSL)
You can check out some new (and old) songs by MSL at songsbymister.com
