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Slash Steals The Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl Halftime Show

Posted 2/7/11 7:30 am EST by in Music


Sunday night's (February 6) broadcast of Super Bowl XLV had just about everything you could ask for, including a tight game (the Green Bay Packers jumped out to an early lead, then slipped as the Pittsburgh Steelers battled back before the Pack finally shut it down and won 31-25), a handful of memorable commercials (including an extra-long Chrysler spot starring Eminem and the long-awaited on-screen collaboration between Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne) and plenty of top-shelf musical moments, lead by the sparkly, over-the-top halftime show put on by the Black Eyed Peas.

But even though the Peas trotted out some of their biggest hits (including the current smash "The Time (Dirty Bit)" and modern classics like "Let's Get It Started" and "Where Is the Love?"), the 12-minute set was stolen by none other than guitarist Slash. The former Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver axe man was lifted onto the stage from below (wearing an extra-shiny version of his trademark hat) and broke right into the riff from Guns' classic track "Sweet Child o' Mine." Fergie joined him on his platform, and the pair ripped through the song with an extra-loud stamp.

This isn't the first time that Slash and Fergie have collaborated, as the Black Eyed Peas' singer was one of the voices the guitarist tapped for his 2010 self-titled solo album (which also featured vocal contributions from the likes of Chris Cornell, Kid Rock, Dave Grohl and Iggy Pop). In fact, the song "Beautiful Dangerous" is one of the strongest efforts from Slash, featuring the be-hatted one's signature heavy blues licks and a sexy, dangerous vocal turn from Fergie.

What did you think of Slash's appearance during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLV? Let us know in the comments!

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Happy Birthday, Slash!

Posted 7/23/10 4:30 pm EST by in Music


On this day in 1965, Saul Hudson was born in Hampstead, England. Later, he came to the United States and became world-famous as one of the greatest guitar players to ever live, and he did it under one of the most killer stage names in the history of rock: Slash.

No matter how he celebrates his birthday, he can stand by the fact that not only does he have a handful of releases in his back pocket that are unequivocal classics (Guns N' Roses debut Appetite for Destruction could easily be considered one of the best rock albums of all time, mostly thanks to his muscular riffs and adroit solos), but he's also still making great music. Earlier this year, he dropped his first solo album, a collection of awesome, stadium-sized rock tunes featuring a revolving cast of guest vocalists (everybody from Ozzy Osbourne to Chris Cornell to Kid Rock to Fergie lent their pipes).

But while Slash has remained on the cutting edge of rock for nearly three decades, one of his birthday wishes is undoubtedly some kickass riffs from other people. When Slash stopped by the MTV News office last month, he named off a handful of groups who have impressed him recently (including epic Australian monsters Karnivool), but when asked if he thought we were in the middle of a good era for rock, he was frustrated and frank. "It's a lousy era for rock," he said. "Are you kidding?"

Slash added that he did think that the music industry was cyclical, and that it was only a matter of time before somebody managed to figure out something unifying and galvanizing. In the meantime, he'll continue doing exactly what he has been doing for years: Turning the volume on his amp way, way up and cranking out some of the most classic riffs in history.

What would you get Slash for his birthday? Let us know in the comments!

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Rihanna Wears The Chic Pop Star Accessory: The Guitar

Posted 5/26/10 11:00 am EST by in Music


Rihanna's explosive video for "Rock Star 101" features a bevy of excellent costumes, some striking references to a handful of other videos and a killer scene where Rihanna cross-dresses as guitar god Slash (who provided the six string action on the track). It also gave Rihanna the opportunity to wear the latest accessory that all the pop superstars seem to be breaking out in videos and in live settings: A guitar.

Though she isn't actually playing the instrument (and by all accounts doesn't play), she still looks super-cool with it strapped around her body. A sweet-looking guitar lands some immediate rock star cool to whoever is holding it, even if there's no sound coming out. It isn't just that the instruments themselves look pretty sweet (though they certainly do). It's the association you get with true badasses who have wielded them in the past. Ultra-cool dudes and ladies like Jimmy Page, Joan Jett, Elvis Presley, Eddie Van Halen, Kurt Cobain and, yes, Slash himself. It makes playing the thing beside the point (though Madonna certainly gave it a go during her "Sticky & Sweet" world tour — and even wore a top hat to add another Slash association).

Some pop stars who borrow the image are legitimate players (Miley Cyrus can play and writes most of her material on an acoustic guitar, while Justin Bieber plays when he unplugs during his live shows), but just as many simply use it as borrowed cool. Even Jay-Z — by all accounts the coolest dude on the planet — recognized the power of the ax when he strapped one on during his headlining set at the Glastonbury Festival in 2009. (In perhaps the coolest aspect of the above photo, it was also meant as a shot against former Oasis mastermind Noel Gallagher, who had criticized Jigga's role as the headliner of England's biggest festival.)

(Check out more photos of your favorite pop stars with guitars, including Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber and Pink!)

Which pop star should wear a guitar next? Let us know in the comments!

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'Lost' Explained By Paramore, David Guetta, 3OH!3 And Slash!

Posted 5/21/10 3:45 pm EST by in Music


The series finale of "Lost" airs this Sunday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC. The two and a half hour episode will wrap up six season's worth of puzzles, clues, twists, turns, births, deaths, captures, time jumps and at least one special guest appearance from Bai Ling (perhaps the biggest mystery "Lost" has ever presented). Even the most diehard "Lost" fans have accepted the fact that many of the questions the show has asked won't actually be answered (there simply isn't time), and there will probably be many story threads that will be left out in the open.

But we started to wonder: Once the show ends, will there be a coherent story that we can tell again later? Is it possible — or even worth it — to try to sum the show up? We quickly realized that those questions were way too complicated for us, which is why we reached out to some of our famous friends, like Hayley Williams of Paramore, David Guetta, the members of 3OH!3, Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor, the men from Rooney and legendary guitarist and top hat enthusiast Slash.

What did we learn? Watching people trying to explain "Lost" is wildly entertaining (and depending on how you think this final season has been going, it might even be more rewarding than actually watching the show). Everybody took a different tactic: Williams tried to sum up the themes of the show, while Taylor got caught up in the very specific "WTF?" moments from the show (including the revelation that Locke can walk). Guetta just seemed frustrated that things didn't happen, and Slash took a zen approach to his summary (even though he's never seen the show).

Check out the compilation below. It's probably not going to be any more revelatory than anything else, but at least you can watch 3OH3's Nathaniel Motte confuse the show with "Friends."

Can you explain "Lost"? Try your best in the comments!

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Spotted: Slash Goes Classic Down Under

Posted 4/27/10 2:35 pm EST by in Music


Every day a multitude of stars wander through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with our intrepid correspondents. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

Considering what a big ego Axl Rose has, it's somewhat amazing that former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash managed to get any sort of recognition during the classic band's heyday. But that's a testament to the man born Saul Hudson's charisma and skill as a songwriter and performer. Slash has cemented himself as one of the greatest six-string players in history. Remarkably, he has managed to do it over the course of 25 years and in several different projects, including Guns, Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit and as a solo artist on his recently-released self-titled album. His cultural caché bought him guest spots from luminaries like Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Cornell, Lemmy Kilmister, Kid Rock and Iggy Pop, and now he is helping to launch a new network in the international MTV family. He's in Melbourne, Australia to help launch MTV Classic, a new offshoot of MTV Australia. Earlier this morning, he met with host Ian "Molly" Meldrum, Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy and Rose Tattoo frontman Gary "Angry" Anderson for the kickoff festivities.

Slash certainly caused less commotion in Australia than Justin Bieber did yesterday, which earned him a spot on yesterday's "Spotted" lineup. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features over 400 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Diddy!

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Slash's Label Leads The List Of Silly Vanity Imprint Names

Posted 4/14/10 11:10 am EST by in Music


After years of toiling in some wildly successful rock bands (most notably Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver), Slash has finally made his way into the center of the spotlight with his first true solo album. It just debuted in third place on the Billboard album chart, moving over 60,000 copies in its first week on the strength of the behatted guitarist's non-stop promotion and the single "By the Sword" (a team-up with Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale.

Slash is actually a tremendous collection of hard rock songs that center around the axe man's signature chunky, swirling riffs. His backing band features all of the original members of Guns N' Roses (Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler — only Axl Rose is absent). In Santana style, each track has a guest vocalist, some of which work really well (Stockdale, Ian Astbury, Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl) while others stumble a bit (Fergie, Myles Kennedy). On balance, it's an excellent album, and it feels good to have that classic Slash sound back.

But there is one thing that stands out about the record: It has been released on Slash's own imprint. The label's title? Dik Hayd Records. Like the top entry on yesterday's list of ridiculous band names, "Dik Hayd" combines a juvenile joke and bad grammar for a truly silly stew. In fact, it immediately rockets to the top of the list of silliest vanity label names. It sits about the rest of these.

Elementree Records
Founded by Korn in 1997, Elementree Record (another wacky for no reason spelling choice) provided a home for the likes of Orgy, Deadsy and Videodrone. When Jonathan Davis' crew exited Epic Records (also the home of Elementree), the label folded up, but it lives on in the minds of fans of horrorcore rapper Marz.

Decaydance Records
What is with rock stars and wacky puns? Pete Wetz's imprint may provide the world with music by Panic! at the Disco, the Academy Is... and Cobra Starship, but it's hard to pronounce and is guilty of violating the Funky Spelling Rule (which I just invented yesterday).
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Train, Slash, Kelis Rule This Week's 'Late Night Lineup'

Posted 4/5/10 10:00 am EST by in Television


After being dominated for weeks by movie stars, the talk shows are all about music this week. There are some excellent excuses to stay up way past your bed time in the coming days, as there will be some electrifying performances from some of the best artists working. Sadly, David Letterman will be left out in the cold, as "The Late Show" only airs twice (on Tuesday, April 6 and Wednesday, April 7). That seems like an excellent excuse to tune in to "The Tonight Show," as Jay Leno welcomes Slash and Andrew Stockdale (performing the new single "By the Sword" from Slash's new solo album) on Tuesday, Corinne Bailey Rae on Wednesday and Train (whose "Hey Soul Sister" continues a dominant climb up the charts) on Thursday (April 8). Leno will also chat with the likes of David Boreanaz, Demi Moore and David Duchovny.

Not to be outdone, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will welcome the likes of She & Him on Monday (April 5), Kelis on Tuesday and the reunited PiL on Wednesday. Kimmel will also have a sit-down with Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who doesn't give a lot of interviews but is typically entertaining.

Of course, Jimmy Fallon has an incredible list of musical guests this week, including Dr. Dog on Tuesday and Suzanne Vega on Wednesday. Even Carson Daly is getting in on the action, as "Last Call" features visits with Angels & Airwaves (Wednesday) and Never Shout Never (Friday, April 9). And if late night is too late for you, Ellen DeGeneres has got you covered. She has Nick Jonas and the Administration on Monday and Citizen Cope on Tuesday.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing on talk shows this week? Let us know in the comments!

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Slash, Joan Jett, Richie Sambora Celebrate The Life Of Les Paul

Posted 8/20/09 5:56 pm EST by in Music


Yesterday in New York City, a small group of friends and admirers got together in New York City to pay their respects to late guitar legend Les Paul. Paul — who invented and lent his name to the Gibson model axe that may be one of the most identifiable instruments in the world — passed away last Thursday at the age of 94. Another service is planned for tomorrow in Paul's hometown of Waukesha, Wisconsin. The attendees at yesterday's service included Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, Joan Jett, Tony Bennett and Slash. In the wake of Paul's death, Slash said, "[He] was a shining example of how full one's life can be. He was so vibrant and full of positive energy. I'm honored and humbled to have known and played with him over the years. He was an exceptionally brilliant man." Like Sambora, Slash was not only an admirer of the legendary guitarist but also a friend.

Jett also had somber and appreciative words for Paul's memory. "He was a genius inventor, musical innovator and a wonderful person. Without the advances he pioneered, the recording sciences and the electric guitar would have been left years behind. I will miss him so much," she said. In addition to the burial tomorrow in Waukesha, Paul's memory will also be celebrated at the Discovery World museum in Milwaukee. Their "Les Paul's House of Sound" exhibit tells the story of Paul's life, explains his many musical innovations and features a number of his instruments on display.

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Les Paul Brought Together Madonna, Slash, Katy Perry And Buckethead

Posted 8/13/09 3:32 pm EST by in Music


It's impossible to overestimate the impact guitarist and inventor Les Paul, who died today at the age of 94, had on rock music. His signature guitar design became so ubiquitous that it's easy to take it for granted. Many of the greatest guitarists in rock history have jammed on a Les Paul: Jimmy Page pounded out "Black Dog" on an LP, Slash used one to write "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City" and it's the axe of choice for Neil Young, Pete Townshend and Ben Harper. And when pop stars want to strap on an instrument and look like a badass, they turn to the Les Paul (observe the guitar break that Madonna has built into her concerts and the six-string hanging around the neck of Katy Perry).

(Click here for more photos of stars with Les Pauls, including Katy Perry, Slash and more!

The list goes on: Coldplay's Johnny Buckland favors Les Pauls in concert and the Gibson-distributed design is the only axe used by Buckethead. Paul's influence clearly ran both deep and wide, and it's evident in just how many different types of musicians embraced his design as both a great-sounding instrument and as an emblem of infallible cool.

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Chinese Democracy Leaker Bummed By Slash

Posted 7/15/09 4:10 pm EST by in Music


Last year, Kevin "Skwerl" Cogill came across a few tracks from Guns N' Roses decade-in-development album Chinese Democracy. He posted them on the music site he helps write and design. The post was quickly scrubbed, but the damage had been done: Cogill had angered the wrong people, and a few months later he found himself being shaken awake by the FBI so he could be arrested for piracy.

Yesterday, his legal woes finally ended, as he was sentenced to a year of probation (including two months of modified house arrest). Throughout the fiasco (and the subsequent release of Chinese Democracy), Axl Rose never weighed in on Cogill, but amazingly, Slash (who does not play on the album and by all accounts does not get along with Rose) did voice his opinion. That bothered Cogill. "An old friend of mine conducted the interview with him last year in which he called me a thief and wished that I 'rot in jail.' I found that surprisingly crass, considering the guy has made no bones about shoplifting cassette tapes with the same rationale as today's downloaders," he said. "But then he took it even further, stealing things he didn't even need, just because he could. For example, the top hat. So if he wants to see me in jail, I'll see him in the cafeteria."

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