How Slash Recorded His New Solo Album

Here's a really cool video that Slash just posted on his Facebook page that explains how they went about recording his new solo album with Kyles Kennedy (Alterbridge) and The Conspirators.

Interview with guitarist Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge

One of the greatest guitarists of our time, yet he’s only just getting started. Being part of two extremely successful bands by the time he is at the young age of thirty-seven, Mark Tremonti has accomplished things with his guitar that most musicians only dream of. The Alterbridge shredder has a passion for being the best, and enjoying every bit of life that is thrown at him. If you ask me, anyone who can be good with pinball machines is a master of a whole different kind. Hard Rock Reviews' Aaron Manogue talked to the ex-Creed, current Alterbridge guitarist to talk about his custom PRS Tremonti guitar, his passion for the bumpers and a possible Creed reunion next year.

Photo by: Ashley Maile 

Aaron Manogue: How did you get your start with music and what was the first guitar that you ever had?
Mark Tremonti: I started at eleven years old when a buddy of mine decided to upgrade his guitar and get rid of his old guitar. It was an imitation Les Paul, a Tara, and I bought it for ten bucks and then about a year later I sold it for a hundred bucks. I think I did pretty good on that deal.

Manogue: I was going to say, that’s pretty good business at an early age!
Tremonti: Hell yeah! I just started to try and figure it out on my own and copy what other people were doing.

Manogue: You’ talked before about how heavy metal bands were kind of a big influence on you growing up. Who was the most influential guitar player or band on you?
Tremonti: Well, it was kind of a combination of Metallica and Black Flag at the time. I remember as a kid, just picking up the guitar, those were my favorite bands. It was a combination of kind of that metal rhythm stuff but also that kind of lose punk, aggressive stuff. That type of guitar just had a lot of emotion to it.

Interview with Rob Fenn, Creator of "On the Road...Where Music Lives"

We can all remember the days when our favorite band was releasing their latest album, and we’d rush to the local record store as soon as it opened that day. The feeling when you finally saw the cover art of the album sitting on the store shelf, what the packaging was like, everything. The sad part about these great memories most of us have, is that with the emergence digital music distribution, most of the younger generation will never, ever experience this. iTunes makes it possible for people to have the music the very minute it’s released. No cover art (except usually for a downloadable one), no anticipation of opening the packaging, no experience. This is the idea that music photographer, ex-radio host, web designer (we might as well just call him a music connoisseur) Rob Fenn was acting on when he started “On the Road…Where the Music Lives”

“The project came about when my daughter’s idea of a record store was iTunes. I was like, NO! I explained to her how cool it was to hang out at the store and check out new music. As I was telling her this, I realized that I don't do that anymore, either. So as part of her allowance she gets to by one album a week from a record store. Even though I am not a big fan of her musical taste, other than she is a huge In This Moment fan, we are on the same music page with that and it has been so cool to hang out with my kid and flip through music at the record stores all over. We hit them all from Best Buy and FYE to the Heavy Metal Shop in Salt Lake City, UT."

Happy Birthday Mr. Les Paul

Lester "Les Paul" Polsfuss | 1915-2009

Born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin, he was a man that transcended and revolutionized music as we know it today. He was a pioneer in the invention of the solid-body guitar, called "The Log", by attaching the standard neck, strings and wings of an Epiphone to a 4x4 and adding a pickup. This style of guitar is what has made the hard rock and metal that we all love and cherish today possible.

Not only was he an inventor, but he was an accomplished performer as well. Along with his wife Mary Ford in the 1950's, they sold millions of records with their innovative techniques and sound. In 1947 he signed with Capitol Records and became a pioneer in multi-track recording with his "New Sound." His licks, trills, chording sequences, frettind techniques inspired generations of guitar players, including some of today's most legendary shredders.

"My main guitar is a Les Paul. A lot of great guitar players played a Les Paul, so I identified with the sound of it. It's an extension of what I'm trying to communicate as a musician."

- Slash of Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver

Alterbridge Guitarist Mark Tremonti to Release "Thrash" Metal Album

Yes, you read that right. Alterbridge/Creed lead guitarist and one of today's most respected guitarist Mark Tremonti will soon be putting out a thrash metal album. He spoke with 'Robb's Metalworks' in San Antonio and spoke about his recent time away from Alter Bridge.

"I just had three months off while Myles was touring with Slash, so I figured it was a good time to get some music put together. I collaborated with Eric Freidman (Submersed/Creed) and Garret Whitlock (Eye Empire)."

It seems Tremonti has a side for the heavy that didn't quite fit with his usual band Alter Bridge, and if you ask me, this is just gold waiting to be dug up.

"All this stuff that I wanted to see the light of day that never really got used for Alter Bridge and Creed is what I'm putting on the record. There's a lot of speed metal and thrash stuff in there; riffs that I had sitting around; that I'm putting on this record. So it's definitely a heavier-sounding album."

As of now, there are no details as to when, where and how the album will be released.

Corey Taylor Records with Velvet Revolver

There have been rumors circulating for the past few months about possibilities that Corey Taylor would take over as the new lead singer for the super-group Velvet Revolver. After another fall out with ex-vocalist Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots), VR has been searching to replace the exuberant lead man. Weiland's outlandish on and off stage behavior involving drug abuse put the axe to the relationship between him and many of his bandmates resulting in the band letting him go. Since rumors have been circulating, Corey Taylor hasn't confirmed nor denied the truth or possibility of him taking over the lead role for the band and Slash told the Charlotte Observer back in February;

"There was truth to the rumour that we were looking at Corey – but then I left for tour. So there’s nothing being done at the moment. No decision has been made."

Then today, bassist Duff McKagan confirmed that Taylor has recorded songs with the Slipknot/Stone Sour singer. McKagan also went on to say that this doesn't make Taylor the official vocalist just yet.

"We recorded a bunch of songs with I think he's fucking great – he's the best voice of a new generation and I'd be proud to do anything with him." 

"The truth is, I can't see Velvet Revolver happening until fall. Slash is touring, I'm just starting to tour-we'll just have to see. I don't have an answer."

Velvet Revolver Auditioning Vocalists This Week

The ongoing search by Velvet Revolver for a new lead man seems to be drawing closer to an end.  This came after former vocalist Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) left the band due to "increasingly erratic onstage behavior and personal problems" forced the badn to move on, according to the band's official statemtn. According to Slash's official Twitter page the band is auditioning vocalists this very week.

"FYI, VR is auditioning singers this week. Promises to be very interesting lii|: )"

Should we expect to hear new Velvet Revolver anytime soon?  That remains to be seen. And the waiting continues...

Velvet Revolver: Live in Houston DVD