We are getting closer and closer to that special time of year…. NO, not the holidays! I am talking about the annual Winter NAMM Convention, otherwise known as the Disneyland for musicians. Music Junkie Press will be covering the convention and we look forward to bringing you live coverage of new products, artist appearances, music news as well as coverage of the TEC Awards show.
This year will be the 30th NAMM TEC Awards and it will be an amazing one. Legendary musician /songwriter/guitarist, SLASH will be honored with the Les Paul Award. “The Les Paul Award named for the revolutionary inventor and esteemed musician, honors individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of audio and music technology. Instituted in 1991, the honor has been granted to luminaries including Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Todd Rundgren, and Peter Gabriel.”
SLASH has not only achieved success with album sales over 100 million copies, won a Grammy Award, seven nominations and we can’t forget the recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. His infamous solos from Guns n Roses songs were the inspiration to many young guitar players as they aspired to be as great a guitarist. His work in Velvet Revolver brought on a whole new group of fans and then his solo work with Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, has once again brought him to the forefront of rock n roll. Most recently, with his recent release of World On Fire he has truly set the world on fire with and grabbed everyone’s attention. Check out coverage of their recent performance at the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco here.
The TEC Awards will also feature comedian Sinbad as the host and the event will be held on Saturday, January 24th and we will make sure to bring you a recap of the night.
~ Marisol
The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 9200 members from around the world. The NAMM Foundation works to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visitwww.nammfoundation.org, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
The new album World On Fire from Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators is out now! This is one album that I was waiting for and it definitely exceeded all my expectations. The album features a complete 17 songs that do not disappoint, each one ready to rock your world. You can’t help but rock out to the signature crunchy riffs of Slash, the most powerful vocals of Myles and songs that will take you on a rockin ride.
The album truly has a more cohesive band element and not a feature alone of Slash. It is truly a full body of work that will capture your attention from start to finish. The first single World On Fire garnered a lot of great attention since it’s first release, and the rest of the album followed suit and did not falter in any way. Some of my faves so far are 30 Years to Life, Stone Blind, Dirty Girl, Too Far Gone, and Avalon. It is also so hard to choose because it is such a complete body of work that contains a vast array of songs to choose from. When Slash puts out his albums, he treats his listener to a FULL album, not just 10 or 11 songs, he brings the full buffet of rockin songs!
SiriusXM is hosting “SLASH Week,” the week-long special on SiriusXM’s Octane channel celebrating the release of WORLD ON FIRE. SLASH and his band performed a private show last night (Sept 15) at Santos Party House in New York City. The concert is available on SiriusXM On Demand via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other mobile devices or online at Siriusxm.com. “SLASH Week” also features SLASH hosting a live special from the SiriusXM studios–with special co-host MYLES KENNEDY, lead singer of SLASH’s band The Conspirators. Every hour today (Sept 16) Sirius Octane will debut tracks from his new album WORLD ON FIRE. On Friday, September 19 at 6:00 pm ET, SLASH will guest host on Ozzy Osbourne’s SiriusXM channel “Ozzy’s Boneyard.” SLASH will spin tunes from his storied rock career and tell the stories behind the songs. Hear SLASH with Guns N’ Roses, Slash’s Snakepit, Velvet Revolver, and tracks from his new album WORLD ON FIRE all weekend long.
Beginning Tuesday, September 23, SLASH will celebrate the release of WORLD ON FIRE by returning to the iconic guitarist’s stomping grounds with a series of three very special sold-out club shows: September 23 (The Troubadour) and then, moving up the hill to the world-famous Sunset Strip, September 25 (The Roxy) and September 26 (The Whisky A Go Go).
We were lucky enough to catch Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators when they performed a last minute show at The Fillmore due to Aerosmith having to cancel their Concord show for health reasons. It was amazing to imagine that the concert was only five hours in the planning and it went off without a hitch. The crowd included many fans who were supposed to be at the Concord show and raced over once they heard the official announcement as well as fans who were not able to afford the Concord show or get good tickets. They were then treated to a night full of stellar rock n roll that included a set that lasted well over 2 hours. Check out a slideshow of photos by our Rockin Ryan of their set:
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Make sure to head over to iTunes and pick up your copy of World on Fire, it is pure aural porn and will have you in a dizzying rock n roll spell. Visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news. I will leave you with a video of Slash and Myles performing an acoustic version of Bent to Fly at Planet Rock Live Sessions.
Aerosmith have announced that they will resume their LET ROCK RULE TOUR this Saturday, August 16th at the Gorge in George, WA. Earlier this week. (Wednesday, August 13), AEROSMITH cancelled their concert at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA so that JOEY KRAMER could undergo a minor medical procedure. The AEROSMITH drummer, who has no history of a heart condition, said, “I’m feeling better than ever and I’ll be back sitting in the best seat in the house, hitting it harder than ever for our amazing fans. My gratitude and thanks for all the love and support showered on me during this time. #LetRockRule.”
In case you missed our coverage of Slash taking the stage Wednesday night at the legendary Fillmore, with only 5 hours in planning check out our article with full coverage here: Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators.
We are happy to hear the great news that Joey will once again be back in the saddle and ready to rock at the Gorge! Now it is time to LET ROCK RULE!
Check the dates below for to see if the tour is coming to a venue near you:
In case you missed our coverage of Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators surprise show at The Fillmore, you can read it here. How about some more SLASH news? Well, SLASH has composed an original score for Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Maze. It is Clowns 3D Music by SLASH. Check out a video in which SLASH discusses the collaboration with the theme park and the hypnotizing 3D maze:
The psychedelic 3D maze will horrify guests, taunting and tempting them with terror and treats as they parade through “Sweet Licks Frozen Clown Pops Family Amusement Center,” a dilapidated roadside attraction and one-time thriving ice cream factory run by deranged siblings and their mad clown father, Sweet Licks. As this demented trio schemes to restore the family business by luring visitors with free ice cream, guests will soon find themselves on the menu as the key ingredient of a sick new high-protein ice cream concoction.
“I’m a HUGE fan of ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ and was inspired to partner with Universal Studios Hollywood because they are the founders of creating extreme horror,” said SLASH. “I’ve been composing music for as long as I can remember and jumped at the chance to be an integral part of this year’s event and create the original score for this creepy clown maze. I can’t wait to see the fans’ reactions and will be first in line to experience the maze myself.”
“Halloween Horror Nights” 2014 at Universal Studios Hollywood will be “More Dead Than Ever,” as it brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in the living, breathing, three-dimensional world of the most notorious and terrifying creatures in existence. This year’s event will feature a slate of all-new unrivaled film production quality mazes, terror-filled scare zones and a fully re-imagined “Terror Tram” experience, uniquely themed to today’s most definitive horror properties, including, “The Walking Dead: The End of the Line,” based on AMC’s critically-acclaimed, Golden Globe®-nominated and Emmy® Award-winning television series; “From Dusk Till Dawn,” inspired by Robert Rodriguez’s cult film and El Rey network’s TV series; “Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood,” based on Universal Pictures’ upcoming epic action-adventure; “AVP: Alien vs. Predator,” based on the Twentieth Century Fox film franchise; “An American Werewolf in London,” based Universal Pictures’ Academy Award®-winning and genre-defining film, written and directed by John Landis; “Face Off: In the Flesh,” based on Syfy’s hit TV series, and “The Purge: Anarchy,” a new scare zone inspired by Universal Pictures’ blockbuster thriller.
I can only imagine where SLASH finds the time since he has been busy touring on the Aerosmith/SLASH LET ROCK RULE Tour as well as anticipating the release of his new album, World on Fire on September 16th. I hope you get the chance to catch him out on tour and if you dare, make sure to check out Halloween Horror Nights and the Clowns 3D Maze!
Yesterday we received word that the Aerosmith/SLASH concert at Concord Pavilion was cancelled due to illness of drummer Joey Kramer. No more than a couple hours after, we received word that SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators have confirmed a show for the same night at The Fillmore San Francisco. Slash made sure to LET ROCK RULE as they quickly put together a show that would takeover San Francisco!
The line circled around the block as die hard fans were glad to be there for the just announced concert. It was amazing to imagine that the concert was only five hours in the planning and it went off without a hitch. The crowd included many fans who were supposed to be at the Concord show and raced over once they heard the official announcement as well as fans who were not able to afford the Concord show or get good tickets. They were then treated to a night full of stellar rock n roll that included a set that lasted well over 2 hours.
I have seen Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators about five times and each time, they seem to outdo themselves. They are such a solid band that delivers pure epic sound that surpasses studio quality. Myles’ vocals are superb as they deliver emotion and power through each note. I have often said that man could sing the menu at Starbucks and sound amazing! He truly excels at his art. Frank was a madman on rhythm guitar and yet he makes it look so easy. Brent on drums, once again delighted us with his precision and solid drumming. Todd is a bad ass bassist and highlights his magnetic personality with his charismatic stage presence. Last, but never the least is Slash who performed at a 150%, bleeding the passion and energy into his playing. He is just jaw dropping to watch, when he solos – you listen! You are just held captive by his prowess and his impeccable playing. It was one amazing set.
Set List:
You’re a Lie
Nightrain
Halo
Standing in the Sun
Back from Cali
Stone Blind
You Could Be Mine
Doctor Alibi
You’re Crazy
Not for Me
30 Years to Life
Rocket Queen
No More Heroes
Starlight
World on Fire
Anastasia
By the Sword
Sweet Child O’ Mine
Slither
Paradise City
Check out a slideshow of photos by our Rockin Ryan of the set last night:
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Make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their upcoming shows. This is one concert you don’t want to miss.
SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators have been quite busy out on tour with Aerosmith for the Let Rock Rule World Tour 2014. But in September for a few select dates, it will be all about SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators as they takeover iconic Sunset Strip nightclubs for headlining shows. They will be celebrating the release of their highly anticipated album, World on Fire which is set to release on September 16th through Slash’s own label Dik Hayd International, distributed through Caroline- also celebrating the 50th anniversary of Guitar Center.
The three one-night only performances are scheduled as:
Tue September 23 The Troubadour
Thu September 25 The Roxy
Fri September 26 The Whisky A Go Go
Tickets for all shows go on-sale August 1 at www.SlashOnline.com. “We’re excited to unleash ‘World On Fire’ in a big way and be a part of Guitar Center’s 50th celebration,” says SLASH. “They’ve been really supportive of me since the very beginning on the Sunset Strip.”
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
Fans can be a part of history as Guitar Center will present SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators“Live From the Roxy,” to be broadcast on national television on DIRECTV’s Audience Network (Ch 239) November 9th at 8pm. The 90-minute full rock concert will be filmed in stunning 4k and 5.1 surround sound. Fans can enter to win a VIP trip for two to see The Roxy show and take home an Epiphone Les Paul signed by the legendary guitarist, visit guitarcenter.com/slash to win.
Check out the upcoming tour dates on the Let Rock Rule Tour here:
Fri 8/1 Scottsdale, AZ Talking Stick Resort & Casino *
Sat 8/2 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
Fri 8/8 Stateline, NV Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena At Harvey’s
Wed 8/13 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion
Fri 8/15 Coquitlam, BC, Canada Hard Rock Casino – Vancouver *
Sat 8/16 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre
Tue 8/19 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
Fri 8/22 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Mon 8/25 The Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Thu 8/28 Atlanta, GA Phillips Arena
Fri 8/29 Hollywood, FL Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino *
Sun 8/31 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
Wed 9/3 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
Sat 9/6 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Tue 9/9 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri 9/12 Sydney, NS, Canada Open Hearth Park
* Indicates Headlining shows
Check out the lyric video for the title track, which is available on iTunes:
So mark your calendars for September 16th for the album release and make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.
Ok so we all have to admit Spongebob is not just for children. I know that my kids might have been the reason I began watching it many years ago but our entire family watches it. Whenever someone wants to put on a kid friendly movie, our first choice is Spongebob and no one complains, not even the adults! Well get ready for a new Spongebob movie which is set for a 2015 release. They have released a new trailer for the movie and you can even catch the guitar legend himself, Slash in it!
Check it out here:
So stay tuned and get ready for more fun with Spongebob in Sponge out of Water.
SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators have had amazing success with their last album and it is on my daily playlist. One of my favorite albums. Well, they are set to release their second album, “World On Fire” on September 16th on their own label Dik Hayd International and distributed through Caroline. The title track has just been released, available on iTunes and you can check out their newly released lyric video for it
Check out the song titles to be featured on the new album:
“World on Fire”
“Shadow Life”
“Automatic Overdrive”
“Wicked Stone”
“30 Years to Life”
“Bent to Fly”
“Stone Blind”
“Too Far Gone”
“Beneath the Savage Sun”
“Withered Delilah”
“Battleground”
“Dirty Girl”
“Iris of the Storm”
“Avalon”
“The Dissident”
“Safari Inn”
“The Unholy”
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
They will be heading out this summer on tour with Aerosmith for the “Let Rock Rule” tour and have even included a couple headlining shows throughout the tour. If you have never seen SLASH perform, do yourself a favor and get yourself to a show. They put on one of the best live shows that you wish would never end! Check out the tour dates below:
*
Wed
9-Jul
Hampton Beach, NH
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Thu
10-Jul
Wantagh, NY
Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
Fri
11-Jul
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Ottawa Bluesfest (non-headlining)
Sun
13-Jul
Kitchener, ON, Canada
McLennan Park
Wed
16-Jul
Mansfield, MA
Xfinity Center
*
Sun
20-Jul
Northfield, OH
Hard Rock Live
Tue
22-Jul
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center
Fri
25-Jul
Tinley Park, IL
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
*
Sat
26-Jul
N. Kansas City, MO
Harrah’s N. Kansas City – Voodoo Lounge
Wed
30-Jul
Inglewood, CA
The Forum
*
Fri
1-Aug
Scottsdale, AZ
Talking Stick Resort & Casino – Ballroom
Sat
2-Aug
Las Vegas, NV
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Fri
8-Aug
Stateline, NV
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena At Harvey’s
Wed
13-Aug
Concord, CA
Sleep Train Pavilion
*
Fri
15-Aug
Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Hard Rock Casino – Vancouver
Sat
16-Aug
George, WA
The Gorge Amphitheatre
Tue
19-Aug
Denver, CO
Pepsi Center
Fri
22-Aug
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center
Mon
25-Aug
The Woodlands, TX
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Thu
28-Aug
Atlanta, GA
Phillips Arena
*
Fri
29-Aug
Hollywood, FL
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sun
31-Aug
Atlantic City, NJ
Boardwalk Hall
Wed
3-Sep
Newark, NJ
Prudential Center
Sat
6-Sep
Bristow, VA
Jiffy Lube Live
Tue
9-Sep
Clarkston, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri
12-Sep
Sydney, NS, Canada
Open Hearth Park
* Indicates Headlining Shows.
So mark your calendars for September 16th for the album release and make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.
SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators have had amazing success with their last album and it is on my daily playlist. One of my favorite albums. Well, they are set to release their second album, “World On Fire” on September 16th on their own label Dik Hayd International and distributed through Caroline. The title track has just been released, available on iTunes and you can check it out here:
Check out the song titles to be featured on the new album:
“World on Fire”
“Shadow Life”
“Automatic Overdrive”
“Wicked Stone”
“30 Years to Life”
“Bent to Fly”
“Stone Blind”
“Too Far Gone”
“Beneath the Savage Sun”
“Withered Delilah”
“Battleground”
“Dirty Girl”
“Iris of the Storm”
“Avalon”
“The Dissident”
“Safari Inn”
“The Unholy”
SLASH and MYLES KENNEDY talk about the album and the forthcoming tour dates in this Q&A:
WORLD ON FIREmarks your second album with your band MYLES KENNEDY (vocals), BRENT FITZ (drums) and TODD KERNS (bass). How do you feel the dynamic between the four of you has evolved?
SLASH: We had a natural chemistry from the very beginning. The longer we have been together the more it has blossomed. And because of all the touring and the different situations we have been thrown into as a band and as players, we have all subconsciously learned from that. It shows up when we’re writing and when we’re recording. It’s sort of an unsaid thing, but I can sense it. It’s a natural evolution for a bunch of musicians in a band together.
MYLES: Over the last four years we have definitely evolved into a band. Utilizing Todd’s vocal prowess and Brent’s ability as a multi-instrumentalist definitely highlights what the Conspirators are capable of. I feel like it adds to what Slash and I do as songwriters. Not to mention they are both a big part of the arrangement process. Todd even brought in a cool progression that we used for the verses in “Shadow Life” and he added an great intro to “The Dissident” which is really fun.
What are the biggest differences between the last album Apocalyptic Love and the new album WORLD ON FIRE?
SLASH: The biggest difference is that the band has also has naturally evolved with so much touring and all of these different things. There’s a difference in musicianship that shows on this record and the songwriting skills especially.
The other difference is the fact that we recorded both albums live, but we kept the first one (Apocalyptic Love) just live. That was it. There was no over-dubs or layering or any kind of studio techniques. With WORLD ON FIRE I wanted to do guitar harmonies and double up parts and just create sounds. It’s a little more produced record in that sense.
MYLES: We didn’t spend as much time fine-tuning arrangements as a unit during the Apocalyptic sessions. I think that’s part of the reason this record sounds as cohesive as it does. Slash spent a lot of time with Todd and Brent working on arrangements while I was on tour with Alter Bridge late last year. When I got off the road, I met up with them in LA so they could get a feel for how the songs felt with vocals.
Another difference is that Slash played all the guitars on WORLD ON FIRE. During the Apocalyptic sessions I sang and played guitar which was fun, but it definitely cut into the amount of time I had to focus on lyrics, etc. Not playing guitar on WORLD ON FIRE gave me additional time to fine-tune lyrics and melodies which improved the songs in the end. I’m very happy with how it turned out.
For WORLD ON FIRE you teamed up with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Alter Bridge, Falling In Reverse, Incubus). What do you feel he brought to the table?
SLASH: Elvis is very conscious about guitar and guitar tones as well as drums, bass and vocals. For me, it is important to work with somebody who is very dialed-into guitar sounds. In this particular day and age it’s a rarity to find someone who really understands guitar sounds. Elvis is an extremely hard-worker. I consider myself a hard worker as well as Myles. He was somebody that, over the course of making the record, gave me an even more of an extra push in some moments. So he brought out the best in me as well as Myles and the drums and everything. He was a pleasure to work with.
MYLES: Elvis is brilliant. It’s the fifth record I have had the pleasure of recording with him. His ability to get the best out of a rock band is pretty special. He always seems to be aware of what the fans want to hear from an artist. He did a great job documenting Slash’s tone and sound. I remember the first time I heard the solo for “Battleground”–I was blown away. Elvis captured the sonic hallmarks that made Slash’s playing resonate with me 25 years ago.
Elvis is hands-on with every element of the recording process. From the arrangements to the final mix, he is relentless at making sure that the record is everything it should be and more.
Did you guys experiment with any new sounds with the production?
SLASH: Yes and no. The whole record sounds new compared to the last album. Yes we did do a lot of tonal and EQ and guitars. I can’t say we were looking to break ground with new technology, because we did this to tape. But from a tonal and equalization point of view, we definitely broke a lot of new ground.
MYLES: That would be a question for Elvis or Slash. I can definitely hear some new approaches that I haven’t heard on the last two records.
What makes “World on Fire” the perfect single choice?
SLASH: I think there’s a lot of singles on the record, but it’s a good kick-off song. It’s up-tempo, aggressive, it’s a fun song. I love the whole world on fire, larger-than-life kind of vibe that the title and lyrics have.
MYLES: It’s got a certain intensity and drive that made it a compelling choice for the lead-off track.
In what ways are we all suffering from a World on Fire?
SLASH: To be literal about it, we have the global warming thing. But that’s not the catalyst for the title. “World on Fire” is more of a tongue-in-cheek, positive, fun thing– it has a lot of sexual connotations in the actual song itself. It’s a euphemism for going a little bit crazy and pulling out all the stops.
MYLES: “World On Fire” isn’t necessarily a profound statement about where we are as a planet. It’s about living life to the fullest….carpe diem. Some might perceive the track as carnal in nature, but the idea of seizing the moment and doing what makes you happy is the overall theme. Then again, it’s not up to me to dictate what a song will mean to everyone. All I can do is tell you what was going through my head as the lyrics were being written.
What are a couple of other songs that you feel are highlights for you right now?
SLASH: When doing a record I hate to identify with any one particular song or two particular songs. It’s not like the record is written with one great song and the rest are filler. They all mean as much as the others. There are a few songs that are very different than what we did on the last record. There’s a song called “The Unholy” which was influenced by my work in film. There’s another song called “Thirty Years to Life” which is a little bit of a departure. There’s another song that sticks out in my mind called “The Dissident” that’s a little bit unpredictable compared to stuff that people would expect from us.
You’re touring with Aerosmith this summer for the “Let Rock Rule” tour. It feels like true rock is needed more than ever in a very pop-driven landscape. How do you guys feel about this?
SLASH: I am a Rock n’ Roll guy. The music business has become a pop-oriented sort of thing and all of the different music genres have become pop. I love the fact that I am doing Rock n’ Roll and have always done the same thing from a very heartfelt place. Aerosmith has represented that to me ever since I was kid. The two of us going out there and doing this big tour and holding that banner and doing it as sincerely as it can be done is something that I can be proud of.
MYLES: Though rock is not the force that it once was in America, it still has a loyal fan base that always seems to continue regardless of what popular culture deems as the “cool thing.” It’s great because you go to a rock show and you know folks aren’t there because they are following trends, they aren’t fair weather fans, they’re following their heart and listening to music that they love. People have been saying rock is dead for years but the reality is that it just falls out of favor with pop culture from time to time. The rock fans are still out there and that’s why a tour like this is so important.
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
They will be heading out this summer on tour with Aerosmith for the “Let Rock Rule” tour and have even included a couple headlining shows throughout the tour. If you have never seen SLASH perform, do yourself a favor and get yourself to a show. They put on one of the best live shows that you wish would never end! Check out the tour dates below:
*
Wed
9-Jul
Hampton Beach, NH
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Thu
10-Jul
Wantagh, NY
Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
Fri
11-Jul
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Ottawa Bluesfest (non-headlining)
Sun
13-Jul
Kitchener, ON, Canada
McLennan Park
Wed
16-Jul
Mansfield, MA
Xfinity Center
*
Sun
20-Jul
Northfield, OH
Hard Rock Live
Tue
22-Jul
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center
Fri
25-Jul
Tinley Park, IL
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
*
Sat
26-Jul
N. Kansas City, MO
Harrah’s N. Kansas City – Voodoo Lounge
Wed
30-Jul
Inglewood, CA
The Forum
*
Fri
1-Aug
Scottsdale, AZ
Talking Stick Resort & Casino – Ballroom
Sat
2-Aug
Las Vegas, NV
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Fri
8-Aug
Stateline, NV
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena At Harvey’s
Wed
13-Aug
Concord, CA
Sleep Train Pavilion
*
Fri
15-Aug
Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Hard Rock Casino – Vancouver
Sat
16-Aug
George, WA
The Gorge Amphitheatre
Tue
19-Aug
Denver, CO
Pepsi Center
Fri
22-Aug
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center
Mon
25-Aug
The Woodlands, TX
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Thu
28-Aug
Atlanta, GA
Phillips Arena
*
Fri
29-Aug
Hollywood, FL
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sun
31-Aug
Atlantic City, NJ
Boardwalk Hall
Wed
3-Sep
Newark, NJ
Prudential Center
Sat
6-Sep
Bristow, VA
Jiffy Lube Live
Tue
9-Sep
Clarkston, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri
12-Sep
Sydney, NS, Canada
Open Hearth Park
* Indicates Headlining Shows.
So mark your calendars for September 16th for the album release and make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.
SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators have had amazing success with their last album and it is on my daily playlist. One of my favorite albums. Well, they are set to release their second album, “World On Fire” on September 16th on their own label Dik Hayd International and distributed through Caroline. The title track is set for a radio release in just a couple weeks on June 13th. The cover art for the album was designed by Ron English. Check it out here:
Check out the song titles to be featured on the new album:
“World on Fire”
“Shadow Life”
“Automatic Overdrive”
“Wicked Stone”
“30 Years to Life”
“Bent to Fly”
“Stone Blind”
“Too Far Gone”
“Beneath the Savage Sun”
“Withered Delilah”
“Battleground”
“Dirty Girl”
“Iris of the Storm”
“Avalon”
“The Dissident”
“Safari Inn”
“The Unholy”
SLASH and MYLES KENNEDY talk about the album and the forthcoming tour dates in this Q&A:
WORLD ON FIREmarks your second album with your band MYLES KENNEDY (vocals), BRENT FITZ (drums) and TODD KERNS (bass). How do you feel the dynamic between the four of you has evolved?
SLASH: We had a natural chemistry from the very beginning. The longer we have been together the more it has blossomed. And because of all the touring and the different situations we have been thrown into as a band and as players, we have all subconsciously learned from that. It shows up when we’re writing and when we’re recording. It’s sort of an unsaid thing, but I can sense it. It’s a natural evolution for a bunch of musicians in a band together.
MYLES: Over the last four years we have definitely evolved into a band. Utilizing Todd’s vocal prowess and Brent’s ability as a multi-instrumentalist definitely highlights what the Conspirators are capable of. I feel like it adds to what Slash and I do as songwriters. Not to mention they are both a big part of the arrangement process. Todd even brought in a cool progression that we used for the verses in “Shadow Life” and he added an great intro to “The Dissident” which is really fun.
What are the biggest differences between the last album Apocalyptic Love and the new album WORLD ON FIRE?
SLASH: The biggest difference is that the band has also has naturally evolved with so much touring and all of these different things. There’s a difference in musicianship that shows on this record and the songwriting skills especially.
The other difference is the fact that we recorded both albums live, but we kept the first one (Apocalyptic Love) just live. That was it. There was no over-dubs or layering or any kind of studio techniques. With WORLD ON FIRE I wanted to do guitar harmonies and double up parts and just create sounds. It’s a little more produced record in that sense.
MYLES: We didn’t spend as much time fine-tuning arrangements as a unit during the Apocalyptic sessions. I think that’s part of the reason this record sounds as cohesive as it does. Slash spent a lot of time with Todd and Brent working on arrangements while I was on tour with Alter Bridge late last year. When I got off the road, I met up with them in LA so they could get a feel for how the songs felt with vocals.
Another difference is that Slash played all the guitars on WORLD ON FIRE. During the Apocalyptic sessions I sang and played guitar which was fun, but it definitely cut into the amount of time I had to focus on lyrics, etc. Not playing guitar on WORLD ON FIRE gave me additional time to fine-tune lyrics and melodies which improved the songs in the end. I’m very happy with how it turned out.
For WORLD ON FIRE you teamed up with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Alter Bridge, Falling In Reverse, Incubus). What do you feel he brought to the table?
SLASH: Elvis is very conscious about guitar and guitar tones as well as drums, bass and vocals. For me, it is important to work with somebody who is very dialed-into guitar sounds. In this particular day and age it’s a rarity to find someone who really understands guitar sounds. Elvis is an extremely hard-worker. I consider myself a hard worker as well as Myles. He was somebody that, over the course of making the record, gave me an even more of an extra push in some moments. So he brought out the best in me as well as Myles and the drums and everything. He was a pleasure to work with.
MYLES: Elvis is brilliant. It’s the fifth record I have had the pleasure of recording with him. His ability to get the best out of a rock band is pretty special. He always seems to be aware of what the fans want to hear from an artist. He did a great job documenting Slash’s tone and sound. I remember the first time I heard the solo for “Battleground”–I was blown away. Elvis captured the sonic hallmarks that made Slash’s playing resonate with me 25 years ago.
Elvis is hands-on with every element of the recording process. From the arrangements to the final mix, he is relentless at making sure that the record is everything it should be and more.
Did you guys experiment with any new sounds with the production?
SLASH: Yes and no. The whole record sounds new compared to the last album. Yes we did do a lot of tonal and EQ and guitars. I can’t say we were looking to break ground with new technology, because we did this to tape. But from a tonal and equalization point of view, we definitely broke a lot of new ground.
MYLES: That would be a question for Elvis or Slash. I can definitely hear some new approaches that I haven’t heard on the last two records.
What makes “World on Fire” the perfect single choice?
SLASH: I think there’s a lot of singles on the record, but it’s a good kick-off song. It’s up-tempo, aggressive, it’s a fun song. I love the whole world on fire, larger-than-life kind of vibe that the title and lyrics have.
MYLES: It’s got a certain intensity and drive that made it a compelling choice for the lead-off track.
In what ways are we all suffering from a World on Fire?
SLASH: To be literal about it, we have the global warming thing. But that’s not the catalyst for the title. “World on Fire” is more of a tongue-in-cheek, positive, fun thing– it has a lot of sexual connotations in the actual song itself. It’s a euphemism for going a little bit crazy and pulling out all the stops.
MYLES: “World On Fire” isn’t necessarily a profound statement about where we are as a planet. It’s about living life to the fullest….carpe diem. Some might perceive the track as carnal in nature, but the idea of seizing the moment and doing what makes you happy is the overall theme. Then again, it’s not up to me to dictate what a song will mean to everyone. All I can do is tell you what was going through my head as the lyrics were being written.
What are a couple of other songs that you feel are highlights for you right now?
SLASH: When doing a record I hate to identify with any one particular song or two particular songs. It’s not like the record is written with one great song and the rest are filler. They all mean as much as the others. There are a few songs that are very different than what we did on the last record. There’s a song called “The Unholy” which was influenced by my work in film. There’s another song called “Thirty Years to Life” which is a little bit of a departure. There’s another song that sticks out in my mind called “The Dissident” that’s a little bit unpredictable compared to stuff that people would expect from us.
You’re touring with Aerosmith this summer for the “Let Rock Rule” tour. It feels like true rock is needed more than ever in a very pop-driven landscape. How do you guys feel about this?
SLASH: I am a Rock n’ Roll guy. The music business has become a pop-oriented sort of thing and all of the different music genres have become pop. I love the fact that I am doing Rock n’ Roll and have always done the same thing from a very heartfelt place. Aerosmith has represented that to me ever since I was kid. The two of us going out there and doing this big tour and holding that banner and doing it as sincerely as it can be done is something that I can be proud of.
MYLES: Though rock is not the force that it once was in America, it still has a loyal fan base that always seems to continue regardless of what popular culture deems as the “cool thing.” It’s great because you go to a rock show and you know folks aren’t there because they are following trends, they aren’t fair weather fans, they’re following their heart and listening to music that they love. People have been saying rock is dead for years but the reality is that it just falls out of favor with pop culture from time to time. The rock fans are still out there and that’s why a tour like this is so important.
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
They will be heading out this summer on tour with Aerosmith for the “Let Rock Rule” tour and have even included a couple headlining shows throughout the tour. If you have never seen SLASH perform, do yourself a favor and get yourself to a show. They put on one of the best live shows that you wish would never end! Check out the tour dates below:
*
Wed
9-Jul
Hampton Beach, NH
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Thu
10-Jul
Wantagh, NY
Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
Fri
11-Jul
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Ottawa Bluesfest (non-headlining)
Sun
13-Jul
Kitchener, ON, Canada
McLennan Park
Wed
16-Jul
Mansfield, MA
Xfinity Center
*
Sun
20-Jul
Northfield, OH
Hard Rock Live
Tue
22-Jul
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center
Fri
25-Jul
Tinley Park, IL
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
*
Sat
26-Jul
N. Kansas City, MO
Harrah’s N. Kansas City – Voodoo Lounge
Wed
30-Jul
Inglewood, CA
The Forum
*
Fri
1-Aug
Scottsdale, AZ
Talking Stick Resort & Casino – Ballroom
Sat
2-Aug
Las Vegas, NV
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Fri
8-Aug
Stateline, NV
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena At Harvey’s
Wed
13-Aug
Concord, CA
Sleep Train Pavilion
*
Fri
15-Aug
Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Hard Rock Casino – Vancouver
Sat
16-Aug
George, WA
The Gorge Amphitheatre
Tue
19-Aug
Denver, CO
Pepsi Center
Fri
22-Aug
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center
Mon
25-Aug
The Woodlands, TX
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Thu
28-Aug
Atlanta, GA
Phillips Arena
*
Fri
29-Aug
Hollywood, FL
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sun
31-Aug
Atlantic City, NJ
Boardwalk Hall
Wed
3-Sep
Newark, NJ
Prudential Center
Sat
6-Sep
Bristow, VA
Jiffy Lube Live
Tue
9-Sep
Clarkston, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri
12-Sep
Sydney, NS, Canada
Open Hearth Park
* Indicates Headlining Shows.
So mark your calendars for September 16th for the album release and make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.
Music Junkie Press 