2024.10.17 - Press Release (Slash) - Slash's 'S.E.R.P.E.N.T.' Festival Raises More Than $125,000 For Charity

Slash's 'S.E.R.P.E.N.T.' Festival Raises More Than $125,000 For Charity

Slash has spread the love to more than just fans who attended one of the 23 S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival shows. Following the conclusion of the iconic GRAMMY-winning artist’s brief trek this summer, he has announced that the U.S. tour raised more than $125,000 for five nonprofit organizations handpicked by Slash that benefit mental health, and socio-economic equality and justice nonprofits, uplifting the lives of underserved Americans.

The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival, which stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance was created by Slash with maximum social impact in mind. SLASH chose five nonprofit organizations to benefit from touring proceeds lifting marginalized communities and supporting mental health initiatives.

The S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival is proud to donate the full $125,0000 raised equally across National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in honor of Lucy-Bleu Knight, The Greenlining Institute, War Child, The Equal Justice Initiative, and Know Your Rights Camp. Plus1.org helped the S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival organize and distribute all of the proceeds.

For the inaugural S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival, Slash handpicked the all-star Blues lineup with Warren Haynes Band, Keb’ ‘Mo, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe. Slash and his Blues Ball Band--Johnny Griparic (bass), Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis (keys/vocals), Michael Jerome (drums), and Tash Neal (vocals/guitars)--also performed on all S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Blues Festival dates.

“The goal of the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival is to bring music fans together in these divisive times to celebrate the spirit of the Blues with other artists who share a love of the Blues like I do and to raise awareness and funds for a handful of charities that I have supported over the years,” says Slash. “Thank you to Warren Haynes Band, Keb’ ‘Mo, Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe who performed with us this year.”

Raised over the course of 23 shows in the U.S., the donated proceeds benefitted the following nonprofits:

“This donation will help NAMI continue to meet the mental health needs of our nation, advocate for systems level change, and serve youth and young adults on their mental health and wellness journeys,” says Jessica Edwards, Chief Development Officer at NAMI. “Thank you for joining NAMI in this important work to create a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.”

“The Greenlining Institute appreciates the support of the SERPENT festival and musicians like Slash that participate in giving back,” says Debra Gore-Mann, President and CEO of The Greenlining Institute. “At Greenlining, we work towards a future where communities of color can build wealth, live in healthy places filled with economic opportunity, and are ready to meet the challenges posed by climate change. We partner with communities of color to understand the barriers they face and establish equity-driven policy solutions that will fundamentally transform our systems to create a just and equitable future for all. Contributions from the SERPENT Festival will ensure we can continue to drive this essential work at a time when communities of color continue to face deeply rooted inequities and uncertainty in our rapidly changing world.”

"We are immensely grateful to Slash for his generous support,” says Dr. Samantha Nutt, Founder and President of War Child USA and War Child Canada. “For over twenty-five years, War Child has delivered long-term solutions to help war-affected children recover from the devastating impacts of conflict. The funds raised from the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival will support locally led programs that provide education, uphold children’s rights, and enhance food security and economic development, helping children and families recover and rebuild their communities."

“The funds will support Know Your Rights Camp's mission to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders,” says Kerem Ozguz, Senior Director at Know Your Rights Camp.

“With such important work ahead, we are energized by this support, which will greatly aid our efforts to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, challenge racial and economic injustice, and protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society,” says Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director at the Equal Justice Initiative.

The inaugural S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival also celebrated the release of the iconic guitarist and songwriter’s sixth solo album Orgy of the Damned.

On Orgy of the Damned, Slash goes back to what has always been at the heart of his playing: the Blues. Released on May 17 2024, Slash’s critically acclaimed sixth solo album, Orgy of the Damned--was produced by Grammy Hall of Fame Producer Mike Clink and is available everywhere worldwide on Gibson Records HERE. A first for Slash, Orgy of the Damned spent 13 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart in the U.S. The new album also debuted as the #1 Blues Album in the U.S and the U.K., #2 on the U.S. Rock Albums Chart, as well as achieving Top 10 Chart positions in 7 countries around the world.

Hailed “a beautifully tailored love letter to the Blues” (Blues Matters) on Orgy of the Damned Slash revitalizes blues classics with the album’s handpicked diverse guest vocalists, which include Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Chris Stapleton, Iggy Pop, Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), Dorothy, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Tash Neal, and Beth Hart. Slash selected standard blues songs made famous by Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, and tracks from blues rock bands like Peter Green‘s Fleetwood Mac and Steppenwolf. He even strays from the blues for Motown tracks from Stevie Wonder, as well as The Temptations--featuring powerful vocals from Demi Lovato on “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” HERE--showcasing the inherent blues underlying all great music from the 60s and 70s. The legendary guitarist reunited with two of his bandmates from his Blues Ball Band outfit in the 90s, Johnny Griparic (bass), and Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis (keys), and brought on drummer Michael Jerome, and singer/guitarist Tash Neal who round out his blues band in the studio and on the road.

While recording Orgy of the Damned, everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a striking collection of energized songs that are vital and raw. Highlights include “Oh Well” with outlaw country star Chris Stapleton’s gritty vocals on the beloved early Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac tune, listen HERE, and the Howlin’ Wolf-penned first single “Killing Floor” an electrifying collaboration with Brian Johnson of AC/DC on vocals, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith on harmonica, listen HERE. “Hoochie Coochie Man,”–written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters–showcases the album’s powerful in-the-moment nature with Z.Z. Top’s Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on vocals and guitar. Gary Clark Jr. joins in for a rowdy take on Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads,” while Beth Hart stuns on the twanging and soulful rendition of T. Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday,” and Iggy Pop’s vocals soothe the soul on a unique version of “Awful Dream” by Lightnin’ Hopkins. Some of the songs, like Steppenwolf’s “The Pusher,” Charlie Segar’s “Key to the Highway,” and Albert King’s “Born Under a Bad Sign,” had been performed by Slash’s Blues Ball, while others, including like Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” with powerful vocals from Tash Neal, were long-time favorites for Slash.

Read Slash’s full breakdown of every song and artist collaborations on Orgy of the Damned, HERE.

For a deep dive into the making of the new album, watch Gibson TV’s music documentary “The Making of Slash’s ‘Orgy of the Damned,’” Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 4, are all streaming now, HERE.

Check out press acclaim for SLASH’s new album Orgy of the Damned and the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival:

“From the opening riffs of the Bukka White cover ‘Parchman Farm Blues,’ to the never-ending groove of Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Killing Floor’–the latter of which was covered flawlessly on the new disc by AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson, with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler chipping in on harmonica — Slash served the crowd a healthy dose of Blues101 with fervent fire.”

–BOSTON GLOBE

“The inaugural S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival show featured supercharged Blues turned up to 11 as Slash’s guitar captivated the crowd, the evening closed with Warren Haynes returning to the stage for an encore performance of ‘Shake Your Money Maker’ with Slash. It was an unforgettable night featuring four and a half hours of live music.”

– BLUES ROCK REVIEW

“A beautifully tailored love letter to the Blues that first inspired this singular artist to play his way to the stars.”

–BLUES MATTERS

“Slash and [Iggy] Pop, who howls on the song’s outro like a lost, mournful coyote, captured not only Hopkins’ insouciance—a notable part of his musical character—but underscored every bit of the lyric’s fatalist chiaroscuro, which includes references to the atom bomb, an ominous talking bird, and, ultimately, death. Orgy of the Damned, indeed. But for an album with that title, its dozen tracks plucked from the classic blues and R&B canon are a hell of a lot of fun. Slash and his compatriots—who also include Chris Stapleton, Billy Gibbons, Paul Rodgers, Gary Clark Jr., Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Steven Tyler, Beth Hart, and Demi Lovato–rock the juke joint down.”

–PREMIER GUITAR

“an all-star blues party, Orgy of the Damned is a celebration of the genre that has had a deeply influential impact on Slash’s own style.”

–GUITAR WORLD

“Sonic perfection.”

–AMERICAN SONGWRITER

“[Slash and Iggy Pop on ’Awful Dream’] is just one of many magical music moments on Orgy of the Damned.”

–BILLBOARD

“Orgy of the Damned is a who’s who of hard rock: Paul Rodgers, Steven Tyler, Billy Gibbons, Iggy Pop. There’s also Demi Lovato, the rock-loving pop star who gives a powerhouse performance of the Temptations’ ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone.’ …[Papa] shows Slash working the talk box with his guitar and playing a wah-wah-wah solo (that’s extra wah), plumbing new depths of soul in the song. But the clip also shows Lovato’s intensity as she reads the lyrics about making sense of an absent father and finding her own meaning in words like, And when he died, all he left us was alone. Her voice even climbs to the same height as Slash’s guitar for the final solo.”

–ROLLING STONE

“Chris Robinson sounds about 100 years old on a fabulously grizzled take on ‘The Pusher’, Billy Gibbons glides over ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’, and Brian Johnson does his best Tom Jones on ‘Killing Floor’. And Chris Stapleton outsings them all on ‘Oh Well.’ As is only right and just, Slash is the star of his own show, and he’s chosen material to showcase his guitar pyrotechnics.”

–CLASSIC ROCK