Slash Honoured To Have Brian Johnson and Steven Tyler On His Record - Noise11.com
Guns N Roses perform at the MCG in Melbourne on Tuesday 14 February 2017. Guns N Roses are touring Australia on their Not In This Lifetime tour. Photo Ros O'Gorman

Slash Guns N' Roses 2017. Photo Ros O'Gorman

Slash Honoured To Have Brian Johnson and Steven Tyler On His Record

by Music-News.com on May 10, 2024

in News

Slash says it was a “huge honour” having AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler play on his record.

Slash has enlisted a range of artists, also including Chris Stapleton, Iggy Pop, Chris Robinson and Gary Clark Jr., to perform on ‘Orgy Of The Damned’, a record of mostly blues tracks.

And he has revealed it was quite “spontaneous” getting Tyler to play harmonica on their cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s 60s’ classic ‘Killing Floor’, whilst singer Johnson was “really conscientious” about doing the song justice.

Slash told Swedish radio station Rokklassiker: “All I would do is pick the songs and then think who I would want to sing ’em. And Brian was the first guy I thought of [for ‘Killing Floor’].

“[H]e was really excited about it, because he was very much influenced [by] and covered Howlin’ Wolf in his younger years.

“So he got permission from the AC/DC guys to go ahead and do it, and I went and met with Brian in Florida [where Johnson lives], and he just did this great version of the song.”

On Tyler wanting to jump in on the action, he added: “I told him I was doing it, on the phone, and he … offered to play harmonica. I didn’t ask him. And he came down that day and put it on. It was great. You know, it was very spontaneous and … we had a good hang that day.”

The ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ hitmaker recently admitted it wasn’t easy to get people to feature on the record.

He told Classic Rock magazine: “Listen, when you’re cold-calling musicians, some of whom you don’t even know, it doesn’t matter who you are. It’s a hard gig.

“You’re trying to sell an idea.

“The two hardest ones to nail down were Chris Stapleton and Billy Gibbons. Billy’s all over the place. He’s always working and he’s always doing something. I told him I was doing a version of ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ and I knew from his tone of voice that he was sceptical.

“I mean, he knows me, but… Anyway, I had to coax him into it…

“I feel really honoured that he’s on the record.”

In fact, Tyler didn’t get back to him for a while.

Slash said: “He was incommunicado for a month. And then, when the record was done, I finally heard from him; ‘Oh man, I’ve been here and there. What’s happening?’

“And that’s why he came down to put the harmonica on ‘Killing Floor’.”

The record has been in the pipeline since 1996, when Slash had left Guns N’ Roses and was working on a side project, Slash’s Blues Ball.

music-news.com

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE11.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Related Posts

INXS by Philip Mortlock
Giles Martin Creates 2025 Remix of INXS Classic ‘Listen Like Thieves’

INXS have expanded their classic 1985 ‘Listen Like Thieves’ album and there is a brand new Giles Martin remix of the album. ‘Listen Like Thieves’ was the fifth INXS album.

3 days ago
Australian Music Vault -Ted Albert Award Kylie Minogue 2025 Photo by Jason Jason
Kylie Minogue Honored With Free Exhibition At Australian Music Vault

Just a week after accepting the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australia Music from APRA, Kylie Minogue artifacts have gone on display at the Australian Music Vault in Melbourne.

6 days ago
Michael Stipe R.E.M. photo supplied
R.E.M. Release Five Track Radio Free Europe 2025 EP

R.E.M. have released a special edition five track ‘Radio Free Europe’ EP to mark the 75th anniversary of the first broadcast Radio Free Europe, the American broadcaster out of New York into Europe to balance the propaganda of communism.

7 days ago
Kylie Minogue photo by Ros O'Gorman
Kylie Minogue Completes North American 2025 Tension Tour

Kylie Minogue felt "very emotional" as she finished her first ever US and Canada arena tour on Friday (02.05.25).

May 5, 2025
Mick Thomas Roving Commission
Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission Reveals Mainly Covers EP First Step in a Homeward Direction

On May 30 Mick Thomas will release First Step in a New Direction, the first EP of seven songs ahead of a new album later in the year.

May 2, 2025
Bono Surrender
Bono: Stories of Surrender To Premiere May 30 on Apple+

Apple+ will premiere ‘Bono: Stories of Surrender’ on 30 May 2025.

May 1, 2025
Metallica Load box set 2025
Metallica To Release 15 Disc ‘Load’ Box Set

Metallica have a massive 15 disc ‘Load’ reissue on the way. ‘Load’, released in 1996, was the sixth Metallica album.

April 30, 2025