1999.12.15 - MTV News - Slash Says "Ain't Life Grand!"

SLASH SAYS "AIN'T LIFE GRAND!"

ARCHIVE-SORELLE-SAIDMAN
12/15/1999

Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash has settled on a title and a tentative release date for his new album.

A spokesperson for the guitarist confirmed to MTV News that "Ain't Life Grand!" could be making its way to CD players as early as February 22, courtesy of Geffen/Interscope.

The album, produced by Jack Douglas, includes the title track as well as songs called "Break You," "Been There Lately," and "Mean Bone;" the latter features a rap by singer-rapper Raya Beam. While there's at least one ballad on the record, the spokesperson assures us that otherwise the album is solid rock.

"Ain't Life Grand!" is the second effort from Slash, who previously released "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" in 1995 while still a member of GN'R. But don't call it a solo project, the guitarist says.

Slash stresses the album is by Slash's Snakepit, which is very much a band. The new version of Snakepit features new discovery Rod Jackson on vocals, well known L.A. guitarist Ryan Roxie (most recently seen with Alice Cooper and heard on Tal Bachman's debut), drummer Matt Laug, and bassist Johnny Griparic.

Meanwhile, over on the Guns N' Roses front, the just-issued "Live Era '87-'93" double album is already going to see a re-release.

Fan posts have been chock full of complaints that many of the CD's are mislabeled, have flaws in the accompanying booklet artwork, and have a serious 'skip' (which is actually a 'loop'), apparently a factory error.

According to a source close to the project, the problems have been corrected on a second pressing, which will be shipped to stores in the near future while the first version gets recalled, rendering it something of a collector's item. Alert fans will notice a slight difference in the cover artwork, though the exact nature of the change remains to be seen.

The group's label rep was not available for comment.

http://www.mtv.com/news/1429772/slash-says-aint-life-grand/