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SLASH is always busy with a band, doing interviews, guest appearances
and on and on. It's hard to keep track of what he's up to but here in
the Current Events section we try to keep an eye on him for you. If
you have any SLASH sightings to report, email the SLASH page right here.
Just click on the SLASH picture below:
Right now Velvet Revolver and SLASH have a lot going on. The calendar of events begins with
April 2004. Near the top is a list of months you can click on to see future
shows and events. You can see the month at a glance and then click on specific days to find out
more about what's happening with SLASH.Check this schedule often for
events in your area with SLASH and Velvet Revolver. Click the tour truck below to check
the schedule.
Keri Kelli, ex-SLASH's Snakepit sent us a note to say that the web site
www.kerikelli.com has been updated with new pictures
from the Skid Row UK run and a few more from Vince Neil. Adler's Appetite are working
on gathering more dates for a February-March 2006 European tour. The shows
will likely be in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Vienna, Holland, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
The web site will have the confirmed dates. Thanks, Keri!
Ray sent us a comment on the LA power outage today. It was caused by a worker who cut a
large cable. Ray pointed out that SLASH will have to go acoustic. We've just heard that
90% of the power has been restored, so VR goes on with their work.
The efforts to help the people in the New Orleans and surrounding areas go on. If you've
been watching this on TV, the pictures and stories are heart breaking. It seems that we
as regular people are going to have to help too. It's unclear why the governments are
bringing in help so late. Some have not had food or water for days; some are still stuck
in houses and on rooftops. Our town in Pittsburgh has offered housing for 300 families.
What can you do? The charities are rushing to the scene and they say they need money right
now. We wonder why the big corporations are not doing more with donations, but if money
is needed, we can all contribute something now. We call upon the millionaire recording
artists to give not thousands but millions now. They have all played New Orleans, and now
that city needs them. You can contribute to the Red Cross and Salvation Army and Catholic
Charities. NBC and MTV will have telethons to raise money. All the major networks are
working with them to produce a simulcast benefit show. In 2001 a similar telethon for
the Sept. terrorist attacks raised $100 million dollars. Watch for these coming up, and
contribute all you can to the relief efforts. Later, they say, they will need help in
other ways, but now they need money. Let's hope these concerts can draw big bucks from
everyone. Remember what you pay for a concert ticket and contribute at least that much.
Try to get to this show and show your support for the survivors. It may be one of the
last shows before the band goes to work on their new album. The NYC Grand Opening show
on 9/17 is not open to the public.
Dr. John issued a statement that "My heart's always gonna be in New Orleans. The music will
survive; the people will survive." Another famous New Orleans musician, Fats Domino, was
reported missing as he stayed in his home during the hurricane. Good news! Fats was
rescued by boat near his devastated home in the Ninth Ward neighborhood. As of now,
Fats' wife and other family members are still among the missing. DMB, Usher, Green Day
and Alicia Keys are among the artists performing at a relief concert.
We hadn't gotten used to the Hurricane Katrina devastation when Hurricane Rita came along.
This time, cities in Texas prepared earlier while New Orleans braced for yet another blast
from the weather. People opened their wallets to contribute to the cause and many volunteers
and the National Guard were pressed into service. Musicians are part of this, and SLASH is
busy, too. Last weekend Steve Lukather contributed to the charity concert for Katrina
victims at the Key Club. Some pictures have been put on the web along with a great review.
Before we send you there to Arend's site, we want to tell you that SLASH was the highlight
of the night starting with Z.Z. Top's "Tush". SLASH flew in just for this show and was
cheered when he walked onstage. SLASH was on for the remainder of the set. There are great
pictures and a review at stevelukather.net.
Proceeds benefited the Red Cross and Operation America. Thanks, Arend!
Tina sent us her report on the hurricane. She is planning to go to her parent's home. They
only live 20 miles away, but the situation is just too dangerous. She said that 3500 members
of the United Houma Nation who lived in the coastal areas around Bourg, Lafitte, Venice going
up to Houma. These people lost their homes and there is no land there anymore to put one
back on. Contributions to unitedhoumanation.org will reach them.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame sent a newsletter about New Orleans Relief where they expressed
deep sympathies for all the victims of the hurricanes. New Orleans has long been an American
center for sculpture and music. The Hall of Fame will donate $1 from every ticket purchased
September 24 and 25 to the MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund established by the Recording
Academy to assist musicians and other music industry people directly hit by the disaster.
You might want to get over there on those days, as visitors can enter to win a Gibson Les
Paul Custom Rock Hall Guitar, a collectible Rock Hall Epipone Guitar, a Sirius Satellite
Boombox with a one year subscription, a trip for two to see the Rolling Stones live in
Vegas, tickets for football games, memberships, etc. Limit one entry per admission.
As you know, Halloween is coming up. This is the time when anyone who dresses up as SLASH
can have his (or her) picture right on the SLASH page in the News section. So if you are
going as The Man to a party or just to trick or treat, get a pic and send it in. Email it
to webmaster@snakepit.org with your name (or handle) and which city, state or country you're
from. Thanks!
Vicki from West Virginia keeps up on the magazines for us, and she says it's been pretty
slim pickings now that the guys have headed back to the studio. She says the Korg Tuners
SLASH ad is still running, though. You can still see that one on the December issue of
GuitarWorld. They are also running the SLASH Celestion Partners in Tone ad
(black and white picture of SLASH playing his guitar with his signature and this
endorsement, "I've been using Celestion Vintage 30 speakers my whole career and can't
imagine using anything else.") Thanks, Vicki!
Matt Sorum issued a statement to the fans saying he was sorry he couldn't make it to
the last leg of the Ozzfest. He said it was very hard to sit on the sidelines. Just a
week before he'd been water skiing on Lake Havasu near the Colorado River when he took
a freak fall on the skies and was dragged. He didn't think anything was seriously
wrong but in the morning the hand was the size of a football. X-Rays showed the pinky
finger on his right hand was broken. After trying to heal naturally with a cast, it
wasn't healing properly. There was surgery needed, and a pin was inserted from his
pinky to his wrist. He has spent his free time with family and was on his way to go with
the band for the grand opening of the Hard Rock in NYC. On Friday, the band will receive
a double platinum award from RCA Records. Good news! Thanks to Matt for all the information
and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Brian sent us the word that SLASH, former Dio/Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain and ex-members of
Quiet Riot are scheduled to perform at the Key Club in West Hollywood this Sunday, September
25 for the Rock and Roll Relief Fund. The event is sponsored by City of West Hollywood and
Jaxx Restaurant. Expected performers are SLASH, members of INXS with special guest
Dave Navarro, members of the Black Eyed Peas and others. As far as we know, tickets are
still available for this benefit show.
Tomorrow night, September 17, is the grand opening of the Hard Rock in Times Square in NYC.
There have been some items for people to bid on. First was the passes to the show. They have
been sold. There is still the chance to bid on pieces of the guitars. There was
a huge guitar smash there in August, and you can bid on a piece. The current bid is at $85. To see more
information, go to Guitar Pieces.
The lot closes on September 26. The September 17 show is a private one.
The tallies of funds raised by the various Hurricane Katrina relief efforts have been released.
The first was the NBC telethon which pulled in $40 million. It was held on September 2. It was
the first one to air. This was the one where hip-hop star Kanye West gave an unscripted insult
to Bush. Friday's telethon raised $30 million and had Paul Simon, Garth Brooks, Dixie Chicks
and others. This was the one with six major networks and 22 million viewers. BET's SOS
telethon also aired that evening with Stevie Wonder, Omarion and others and pulled in
$11 million and continues to raise donations at their website. The September 6 show with
Velvet Revolver playing at the Hard Rock Live raised a quarter of a million dollars. The
September 12 Dave Matthews Band concert played at the Red Rocks Ampitheatre and they
raised $1.5 million. All these donations went to the American Red Cross who said they
were very grateful to all the fans for responding so generously and raising over $83
million dollars. It's not to late to contribute to web sites of the bands or directly to
the American Red Cross.
Tonight we have a couple of SLASH-related items for you to consider. First is for Hurrican
Katrina relief. It's a Velvet Revolver autographed Gibson guitar. It's white, signed by VR.
It's a limited edition American classics, one of only three of its kind and was made
specifically for the September 6th charity concert at Hard Rock Live in Orlando. Signers
were SLASH, Duff, Scott and Dave along with AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson who performed
with the band at the charity show. The guitar has the band's name and logo on the front of
the body beneath the bridge, pearloid inlays, gold hardware and the classic '59 rounded
mahogany back and ebony fingerboard. You can store it in the accompanying Les Paul hardshell
case. It has a hard reptile pattern on the case's outside and a plush interior with a
black shroud. Current winning bid when we checked was $10,000. The auction ends on Monday,
September 19. You have to Login to place bids. The Login is on the site which is at
VR Autographed Guitar.
Stuart sent us a note that several fans will be interested in. He says that UK fans will be interested
in the SLASH amp he has for sale. It's on ebay. Hardly a week goes by that someone doesn't
write looking for one of these, so now is the time to get it! The current bid is 600 pounds.
Look for it at SLASH Amp.
We had a short note from Keri Kelli, ex-guitarist in SLASH's Snakepit. He is now on tour with
the Skid Row band. He said they were back from the UK trip after a long travel day. The show
went off great, and the band is very well respected. The London show was on his birthday, and
he is sharing some with us here. Thanks, Keri!
We told you about the party that SLASH attended on August 20. This was held for the late
Pantera/Damageplan guitarist, Dimebag Darrell whose significant other, Rita Haney was also
there. Check out Dimebag information at www.vinnieanddime.com.
Another charity event SLASH was involved with was an appearance at the Hard Rock Orlando, FL
on Tuesday, September 6. Brian Johnson, AC/DC's frontman joined Velvet Revolver onstage
during their performance of Led Zep's "Rock and Roll". The appearance was in support of
the 2005 hurricanes, including Hurricane Katrina. VR was supposed to play Biloxi at the
Hard Rock on September 9, but the structure was destroyed. 100% of the show's take went
to support the victims of the hurricanes. See pictures at Hard Rock Live at
www.abacausa.com. If the link doesn't work, look under
SLASH for the pictures. The next scheduled concert for the
band is the grand opening of the new NYC Hard Rock in Times Square on September 17.Thanks
to Brian and Norm for all this information.
Eric told us on this past week's episode of Tommy Lee Goes to College, the show where the
Motley Crue drummer has enrolled in three courses, there was a SLASH mention. Tommy and his
college pals were sitting in Tommy's House of Lee (his own frat), when he decided to call
his friends. First he tried Naomi Campbell, then SLASH, then Snoop Dogg. None were answered.
The answering machines were televised. SLASH's was 60% blocked out because of the foul
language! Pretty funny! Thanks, Eric!
On Tuesday, September 6, Velvet Revolver will perform a benefit concert for victims of the
2005 hurricanes, including Hurricane Katrina. The venue will be the Hard Rock Live in
Orlando, Florida. VR was originally scheduled to play the Biloxi Hard Rock Hotel and
Casino on September 9. Now that structure is gone except for the big guitar outside.
Memorabilia had been lost including a scrap of paper that Buddy Holly was composing a
new tune on. 100% of ticket and bar sales from the show will be donated to help the people
of Biloxi and New Orleans through the American Red Cross. Staff has donated their time and
many partners are chipping in. Tickets are $45 through Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7 pm
and the show begins at 8 pm.
As you know, Velvet Revolver is traveling with the Ozzfest. Ozzy is suffering from a
respiratory infection and has been resting at the Hotel ZaZa in downtown Dallas. It's
been noted that SLASH spend much of one evening at the ZaZa restaurant Dragonfly with
tarot card reader Valentina. Folks present said SLASH spent more time telling her her
future than listening to his own. VR had joined the tour a few days earlier, but Scott
jumped in on the living well vibe and enjoyed caviar and trout at poolside at ZaZa.
Sounds like a good time is being had by all.
Recently there was an interview with drummer Mark Schulman, the guy who is taking Matt's
place in Velvet Revolver. When asked why he was chosen, he said Matt's hand had to be
re-broken. He knew Matt over the year and saw him playing with Foreigner and he knew Mark
could also sing backing vocals. VR went to Cher's show and he went to theirs and the offer
was made. The try-outs were pretty crazy, and all they could do was listen to Mark listen
as he drummed along to the CD. Matt was very strong in his recommendation, so they took
Mark on. He had to go in without rehearsals or soundchecks, but he says that all things
considered, they are going very well. The challenge with VR is that they don't play
what's on the album in a live performance. He watched videos of Brian Tichy and somehow
got it all together. He says VR plays about 10 times louder than Cher's band, and he has
to hit hard and heavy. SLASH and Duff were great, very kind. It's been a wild experience,
but you get thrown into the fire and do what you got to do. Very interesting!
Hoobastank opened for Velvet Revolver on a recent tour. Singer Doug Robb says that watching
ESPN and the tour brought the song "If I Were You..." out inspired by the NHL strike.
Also, being on tour with VR, you see these guys who have so much and don't appreciate it.
They seem to have forgotten where they actually came from. Then he said he would rephrase
that...four of the guys were the coolest ever, one of them is just in his own world. And
he says he'll leave it at that. Guess who?
Our 2006 Velvet Revolver calendar came today. It's really colorful. For each month, there is
a picture of a bandmember with smaller pics around it. All are live photos; some are little
sketches. Definitely worth the $12.99. You'll probably see these around. We got ours at
megacalenders.com. Another good thing in the mail was our replaced sculpture of SLASH.
It came damaged, and the company, Knucklebonz, took it back and sent a new one. It does seem
a little fragile so be careful with it. It comes from www.guitarheroes.com where they have
several different sculptures on sale now.
Christine is one of our readers who says that due to the hurricane, she has not been able
to get email too often. The area she is in looks like a war zone. The Hard Rock that VR
was to play on, the one in Biloxi, it's gone. Christine was stranded at work for 36 hours
which is further inland. The Big Easy is down for the count with people being plucked off
rooftops and the Super Dome leaking. People are being bussed off to Houston's dome. Christine
says Gulf Port and Biloxi are practically wiped off the map. She feels she is very lucky as
she and her family are together and the hurricane shifted before it hit her area. Christine
says prayers are welcome. She'll try to stay in touch. Our prayers go out to her.
With all she had on her mind, Christine managed to get us word that the Velvet Revolver
guitar tab book is out and on sale at Amazon.com. So for all of you who have written and
and asked for one, here it is. Click:
VR Tab Book.
Thanks, Christine for sending us your story and the news about the tab book.
While we do have some other news, our hearts are too broken to continue. Maybe as things
get better (as we hope they will), we will get back to our regular VR reporting. Just so
you don't miss them to much, Norm sent us an online article in "Metal Edge" which is an
interview with Scott. Thanks, Norm!
Click Scott Interview.