2010.04.04 - New York Post - Q&A With Slash

Q&A with Slash

The former Guns N’ Roses guitarist riffs on rocking out with Fergie, meeting ‘obnoxious’ Cher and why a reunion with Axl is doubtful.

By Larry Getlen

Considering the train wreck Axl Rose has become, it’s hard to believe that Slash was in a band with him for even a minute. Slash’s mellow demeanor is nearly equal in degree to Axl’s level of personal turbulence. And yet Slash, who created some of the greatest guitar riffs and solos of the rock era (“November Rain,” “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” “Welcome to the Jungle,” etc.), struck lightning not once, but twice, in the wacked-out vocalist department by creating Velvet Revolver with singer Scott Weiland.

The poster child for Ray Bans and top hats spoke to The Post.

Since your mother [OLA HUDSON] was a costume designer for musicians and your father [Anthony Hudson] created album art, Were you exposed to rock stars growing up?

Yeah. A lot of pop-star eccentricity — a lot of wants and needs and delusions of grandeur. Joni Mitchell was probably my favorite. She was just a very deep, soulful individual. Then, on the flip side, there was Cher, who was obnoxious. She had a lot of attitude. My mom had a store, and she would come into the shop and be demanding and rude.

When Axl finally released “Chinese Democracy” in 2008, What did you think?

It was the perfect Axl record — exactly what I would have expected from the final years of us working together, and seeing where he was headed musically. It’s very heavy; sort of a dark, depressing record. He’s f- – – ing phenomenal.

But the two of you haven’t spoken in years. would you be open to speaking again?

I’m more standoffish because I know how vehemently he hates me. So that sort of makes me doubt it. But if we ran into each other and all that animosity were to pass for a second, then I’m sure we could have an interesting conversation.

Axl Rose and Scott Weiland are great vocalists, but not so stable. Is that why you worked with so many guests on your new record?

Now you’re getting into the deeper psychological aspect of it, which I hadn’t really taken into consideration. Maybe a couple of hours on the couch might pull that one out! I think the whole thing was just inspired by great singers that I wanted to work with. I didn’t think about other aspects of it. But the one cool thing that did come out of this was that it gave me a whole new respect for singers, and changed my attitude toward them given the last couple of guys that I’ve worked with. These people were all amazingly gracious and professional. I’ve done so much session work where I write or play with somebody, and it’s an empty feeling when you’re done because they take off with the material — it’s like being a surrogate. So this time, I had all these people play on my record.

That song “Beautiful Dangerous” is pretty hard-rocking for Fergie!

It is. But here’s the thing about Fergie: I met her at club Avalon in LA four years ago. We did a little rock medley, and she sang “Black Dog,” “Live and Let Die” and “Barracuda” like nobody’s business. I just don’t hear great female rock singers like that anymore. It was f- – – in’ amazing. She’s actually more of a rock ’n’ roll singer than a pop singer; I think even Will [will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas] knows that.

On Tuesday, Slash releases his first-ever solo album — simply titled “Slash” — featuring a range of guest vocalists that includes Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie, Adam Levine, Chris Cornell, Iggy Pop and more.

* “I was a huge fan of old ‘SNL.’ I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Dan Aykroyd over the last few years. He is one of the all-time great actors. He’s just fantastic. I don’t think anybody’s come along who can do what he does.”

* “I was just in the Bahamas. I like hanging out and being outdoors and in the sun. Being near water and diving are fun.”

* “Who do you think my favorite author would be? It goes without saying that I’m a huge Hunter S. Thompson fan. Have been ever since I read ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.’ I’m somebody who actually tweets Hunter S. Thompson quotes.”

* “Right now, I’m reading Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Hocus Pocus.’ I love the way he writes, and how involved his stories are. They’re very tricky and unpredictable. I also like English author Graham Greene. I just love his sarcastic, dark look at everything. It has a sense of humor to it that’s very English. Definitely twisted.”

* “I’m a big fan of Colombian food, and the marinated steaks that they do. They taste good, and I like anything spicy.”

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