Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators released their latest studio album, 4, back in February. The recording process was unlike anything they had done before, partly because most of the band members, including Slash and Kennedy, came down with COVID-19 during the sessions.
“It was a bit of a challenge,” Kennedy told Heavy Consequence in the video Zoom interview above. “Initially, we followed all the protocols and everybody tested before we went in and everybody seemed fine, and we started making the record and recording the basics, and a few days in, I was like, something just doesn’t feel right.”
Kennedy explained that it was extra difficult dealing with COVID-19 as a singer, “because it made it challenging to sing towards the end,” adding, “But I did the best I could, and somehow we managed to get it all finished up.”
According to the singer, a careful listen to the album may even reveal signs of his battle with COVID in his vocals. “It didn’t really start to really take hold until about four days in. That’s when I started to notice something was going on with my respiratory system,” Kennedy continued. “But, on the first single, ‘The River is Rising,’ every time I hear it, I’m like, I can hear how congested I am! But, hey, in some ways it’s part of the story of the record.”
Kennedy also spoke about the chemistry between himself, Slash and the rest of the band. “It’s a good cast of characters,” he said. “There’s not a bad apple in the bunch. Everybody really is there for the common cause, which is just to play great music, have a great time and there’s no ego and none of that. It never existed in this camp. There’s no inkling of it. So, that’s good, and I think having that fun is really … maybe that’s part of what people gravitate towards with these records.”
On Slash, Kennedy remarked, “He does have this mystique, right? As the years have gone on, you get more and more of a glimpse into who he is and how he operates. The thing for me that I did start to recognize really early on and continues to be a theme is just how passionate he is about continuing to make music and play music. He’s at a point in his career where he doesn’t have to do it. He can do whatever he wants… I think that’s why it works. I have that same drive and passion to create, and that’s our purpose. That’s why we’re on this planet. For those of us who find that passion, it’s like a drug. You get addicted to it. So, it’s a lot of fun to see that and see that fire and see someone who still after all these years and all that success is still just as passionate about it as I’m sure as he was when he started 35 years ago.”
[editors-picks id=”1186868″]
Kennedy wrapped up by briefly discussing plans for a new Alter Bridge album, which according to a recent interview with guitarist Mark Tremonti, is targeted for a September release. The band also just announced a massive fall UK and Europe tour with Halestorm and Mammoth WVH, with tickets available here.
Watch Heavy Consequence‘s full interview with Myles Kennedy in the video player above, and pick up the new SMKC album, 4, here. Plus, see our recap and photos of Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators performing last month in New York City.
Trouble viewing the video above? Watch on YouTube.
