Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators (SMKC) are set to release their fourth album, the appropriately titled 4, this Friday (February 11th). In advance of its release, Heavy Consequence caught up with the legendary guitarist to discuss the album, the band’s 2022 US tour, and more. We’ve also teamed up with Slash and Gibson to give away one of his signature Epiphone Les Paul Standard guitars.
In speaking about the new album, Slash told us that the songs are a combination of tracks written before and during the pandemic, adding that he really set out to make a concise LP this time. “I was insisting that this only be a 10-song record. I’ve been trying something under 12 songs my whole career.”
As the guitarist previously revealed, all but one of the members of Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators contracted COVID-19 during the recording process — despite taking several safety precautions, including taking a tour bus cross country to Nashville.
“We get to Nashville and set up and record the album basically live, and that was done in five days,” Slash recalled in our interview. “So, on the sixth day, Myles tells me that he just tested positive … turns out [drummer] Brent [Fitz is] positive and [bassist] Todd [Kerns is] positive. … then all of a sudden I tested positive. … We got through it, and it probably added a week to our schedule.”
When we pointed out that the song “Fall Back to Earth,” the closing track on 4, has a bit of a David Bowie vibe, the conversation turned toward the rock legend. Slash’s mother was very close with Bowie, having designed his outfits and developed a strong bond with the singer over the years, so the guitarist new the rock icon from a young age.
“David was great,” said Slash. “He was one of these people that my mom brought around, I guess is the best way to put it. He was really, really cool. I got on with him very well, and I maintained a relationship with him. … He was definitely bigger than life.”
He continued, “And it was with David that I was introduced to ’70s mega-rock stardom. … That was when rock stars were rock stars, and David definitely was one. But he was a very down-to-earth, very creative and sensitive individual, and I liked him a lot.”
Slash also talked about 4 being the first album released by the new label Gibson Records, as well as the tie-in to his signature guitar line with the company. Among the guitars in the collection is Slash’s signature Epiphone Les Paul Standard, which comes in a variety of finishes. Heavy Consequence is giving away one in a “November Burst” finish, and you can enter for a chance to win by filling out the contest form below.
Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators kicked off their 2022 US tour on Tuesday (February 8th) with a 21-song setlist. The outing runs through a March 26th gig in Orlando, Florida, with tickets available here.
Elsewhere in our interview, Slash also discussed a few songs from 4; what he learned from Guns N’ Roses’ fall outing as far as touring during the pandemic; his upcoming horror movie The Breach; and his thoughts on classic rock revival bands like Dirty Honey and Greta Van Fleet.
Watch our full interview with Slash above, and enter for a chance to win one of his signature Epiphone Les Paul Standard guitars in the contest box below. If you want to guarantee yourself a Slash guitar, you can pick up one via the Epiphone website. And look out for a very limited-edition “4” Les Paul to coincide with the album’s release on February 11th. The album itself is available for pre-order in a variety of bundles here.
Trouble viewing the video interview in the player above? Watch on YouTube.
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