AUDIOJUNKIE: Slash's six string blues orgy
At A Glance
- These days, it's easy to call this anxiety or depression of some kind. But those of a certain temperament sometimes call it just having the blues.
Are you the type of person who gets lonesome every now and then? Do you get a forlorn, heavy feeling inside your chest for reasons that you can’t just pinpoint? Or perhaps you know exactly what’s weighing you down and can’t help but feel bad about it. These days, it’s easy to call this anxiety or depression of some kind. But those of a certain temperament sometimes call it just having the blues.
And when it hits, screw the meds, we reach for a cold beer or two and pair it with a good ol’ rockin’ blues record. And thank the stars, there are still those who play the blues. In particular, guitarist Slash (a.k.a. Saul Hudson) just recently released “Orgy Of The Damned.”
“Orgy Of The Damned” is a special project from the Guns N’ Roses lead guitarist in a way that is outside of his usual Slash’s Snakepit outfit and his more recent associations with frequent collaborator Myles Kennedy. This time out, the guitarist is putting the spotlight on blues classics that every rocker, blues aficionado, and plain guitar head all love to hear and play.
And not just taking his pick of these classics, Slash also has some of the biggest vocalists in rock to sing on these tracks. Starting with The Black Crowes vocalist Chris Robinson, who opens the album with a slow and sticky-sounding sashay of the Hoyt Axton blues song “The Pusher,” Robinson is the perfect vocalist for Slash’s guitar-centric rock excursions, and it’s a wonder that their pairing only happened now.
And that’s just the start. Next up is Gary Clark, Jr., who sings on the Robert Johnson classic “Crossroads Blues.” Slash and Clark go a slightly different route than Eric Clapton did with Cream when the latter immortalized “Crossroads” with a definite take back in the late 60’s. Still, Clark and Slash did a good job with their bluesy revision.
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top appears with a slippin’ and slidin' take on Willie Dixon’s “Hoochie Coochie Man.” Elsewhere, we see Slash rocking with country-rock singer Chris Stapleton on rowdy “Oh Well.” As an aside, check out Christ Stapleton singing on the 2023 Super Bowl to take tips on how to properly do a take of the “Star Spangled Banner” and also, to erase Ingrid Andress’ recent botched version.
Slash has Demi Lovato cutting a solid “Papa Was A Rolling Stone.” Demi proves that Miley Cyrus isn’t the only one who can parlay fame as an actress into rock n’ roll. Punk legend Iggy Pop sings the blues on “Awful Dream.” Originally by Lightnin’ Hopkins, Slash shared that the version here was raw, live, and devoid of overdubs and that he and Iggy cut it in the studio.
Blues classics abound on Slash’s “Orgy Of The Damned,” and these include “Key To The Highway” featuring the band Dorothy with namesake singer Dorothy Martin on vox. Paul Rodgers sings the Albert King classic “Born Under A Bad Sign.” In contrast, Brian Johnson of AC-DC, who sings differently from his usual shriek, sings full-bodied and deep on the Howlin’ Wolf gem “Killing Floor” with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler on the harmonica.
Rounding out the record are new-generation blues rock and soul singer Tash Neal on “Living For The City,” featuring a furious guitar solo by Slash, and the T-Bone Walker original “Stormy Monday” with rock soul singer and multi-instrumentalist Beth Hart. Slash concludes with the instrumental “Metal Chestnut” for some loud singin’ guitar because sometimes that’s what’s needed to kick the blues away.