Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators Announce World on Fire and Give Interview about the Album!
New Album (and Second with Current Line-Up) To Be Released September 16
Group Announce Headlining Summer 2014 Tour Dates Starting on July 10 in NY Alongside “Let Rock Rule” Tour With Aerosmith
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Slash and his bandmates Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators will release their new album World on Fire on September 16 via Slash’s own label Dik Hayd International distributed through Caroline. The group revealed the cover artwork for World on Fire designed by American contemporary artist Ron English today. Featuring the blazing title track as the first single ~ arriving for radio play Friday, June 13th ~ the disc marks SLASH’s third solo album and second one with his band featuring Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums) and Todd Kerns (bass).
Ozzy and Slash
For World on Fire, Slash and his band tapped Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Alter Bridge, Falling In Reverse, Incubus) to produce. Among the 17 songs is an instrumental ~ a powerful new turn for the band. World on Fire is the follow-up to 2012’s Apocalyptic Love which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and earned SLASH two No. 1 U.S. rock radio hits ~ his first-ever solo ~ with “You’re A Lie” and “Standing In The Sun.” Slash officially began recording as a solo artist with his self-titled 2010 debut album which featured a different vocalist on each track of his first album including Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie and Myles Kennedy among others.
Following are song titles for World on Fire:
“World on Fire”
“Shadow Life”
“Automatic Overdrive”
“Wicked Stone”
“30 Years to Life”
“Bent to Fly”
“Stone Blind”
“Too Far Gone”
“Beneath the Savage Sun”
“Withered Delilah”
“Battleground”
“Dirty Girl”
“Iris of the Storm”
“Avalon”
“The Dissident”
“Safari Inn”
“The Unholy”
Hangin’ outside the Clown Room
Slash and Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators have announced additional solo dates in between their summer tour with Aerosmith. The group will preview new songs for fans on the trek which kicks off Thursday, July 10 at Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, NY (see the full itinerary below). Special ticket packages include: amazing seats (Level 1 tickets), an exclusive autographed Slash lithograph, a Digital Download of the World On Fire, and a merchandise voucher worth $50, redeemable in the Slash Exclusive Online Store. For all packages, click here.
Check out the exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary “Slash’s Real To Reel” here. The innovative online series documents the entire in-studio recording process from the first day of recording to the last; the multi-segment fly-on-the wall series follows Slash and The Conspirators from pre-production at NRG Studios in Los Angeles to Studio Barbarossa in Florida, as they write, play, create and record World on Fire from start to finish.
And now, in their own words, Slash and Myles Kennedy on the new album!
Myles and Slash
World on Fire is the second album with for this line-up ~ How has the dynamic amongst the four of you evolved?
Photo by @jamesy_koutelis
SLASH: We had a natural chemistry from the very beginning. The longer we have been together the more it has blossomed. And because of all the touring and the different situations we have been thrown into as a band and as players, we have all subconsciously learned from that. It shows up when we’re writing and when we’re recording. It’s sort of an unsaid thing, but I can sense it. It’s a natural evolution for a bunch of musicians in a band together.
MYLES: Over the last four years we have definitely evolved into a band. Utilizing Todd’s vocal prowess and Brent’s ability as a multi-instrumentalist definitely highlights what the Conspirators are capable of. I feel like it adds to what Slash and I do as songwriters. Not to mention they are both a big part of the arrangement process. Todd even brought in a cool progression that we used for the verses in “Shadow Life” and he added a great intro to “The Dissident” which is really fun.
What are the biggest differences between the last album, Apocalyptic Love, and the new album, World on Fire?
SLASH: The biggest difference is that the band has also has naturally evolved with so much touring and all of these different things. There’s a difference in musicianship that shows on this record and the songwriting skills especially.
The other difference is the fact that we recorded both albums live, but we kept the first one (Apocalyptic Love) just live. That was it. There was no over-dubs or layering or any kind of studio techniques. With World On Fire, I wanted to do guitar harmonies and double up parts and just create sounds. It’s a little more produced record in that sense.
MYLES: We didn’t spend as much time fine-tuning arrangements as a unit during the Apocalyptic sessions. I think that’s part of the reason this record sounds as cohesive as it does. Slash spent a lot of time with Todd and Brent working on arrangements while I was on tour with Alter Bridge late last year. When I got off the road, I met up with them in LA so they could get a feel for how the songs felt with vocals.
Another difference is that Slash played all the guitars on World on Fire. During the Apocalyptic sessions I sang and played guitar which was fun, but it definitely cut into the amount of time I had to focus on lyrics, etc. Not playing guitar on World on Fire gave me additional time to fine-tune lyrics and melodies which improved the songs in the end. I’m very happy with how it turned out.
For the new album, you teamed up with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Alter Bridge, Falling In Reverse, Incubus). What was it that you knew he’d bring to the table?
Slash recording riffs with Michael “Elvis” Baskette
SLASH: Elvis is very conscious about guitar and guitar tones as well as drums, bass and vocals. For me, it is important to work with somebody who is very dialed-into guitar sounds. In this particular day and age it’s a rarity to find someone who really understands guitar sounds. Elvis is an extremely hard-worker. I consider myself a hard worker as well as Myles. He was somebody that, over the course of making the record, gave me an even more of an extra push in some moments. So he brought out the best in me as well as Myles and the drums and everything. He was a pleasure to work with.
MYLES: Elvis is brilliant. It’s the fifth record I have had the pleasure of recording with him. His ability to get the best out of a rock band is pretty special. He always seems to be aware of what the fans want to hear from an artist. He did a great job documenting Slash’s tone and sound. I remember the first time I heard the solo for “Battleground” ~I was blown away. Elvis captured the sonic hallmarks that made Slash’s playing resonate with me 25 years ago.
Elvis is hands-on with every element of the recording process. From the arrangements to the final mix, he is relentless at making sure that the record is everything it should be and more.
Did you guys experiment with any new sounds with the production?
Myles and Slash ~ Photo by Jaime Fernandez
SLASH: Yes and no. The whole record sounds new compared to the last album. Yes we did do a lot of tonal and EQ and guitars. I can’t say we were looking to break ground with new technology, because we did this to tape. But from a tonal and equalization point of view, we definitely broke a lot of new ground.
MYLES: That would be a question for Elvis or Slash, [but] I can definitely hear some new approaches that I haven’t heard on the last two records.
What makes “World on Fire” the perfect single choice?
SLASH: I think there’s a lot of singles on the record, but it’s a good kick-off song. It’s up-tempo, aggressive, it’s a fun song. I love the whole world on fire, larger-than-life kind of vibe that the title and lyrics have.
MYLES: It’s got a certain intensity and drive that made it a compelling choice for the lead-off track.
Are we all suffering from a world on fire in some way?
SLASH: To be literal about it, we have the global warming thing. But that’s not the catalyst for the title. “World on Fire” is more of a tongue-in-cheek, positive, fun thing ~ it has a lot of sexual connotations in the actual song itself. It’s a euphemism for going a little bit crazy and pulling out all the stops.
MYLES: “World on Fire” isn’t necessarily a profound statement about where we are as a planet. It’s about living life to the fullest….carpe diem. Some might perceive the track as carnal in nature, but the idea of seizing the moment and doing what makes you happy is the overall theme. Then again, it’s not up to me to dictate what a song will mean to everyone. All I can do is tell you what was going through my head as the lyrics were being written.
Slash, Myles and The Conspirators, and special guests during new album photoshoot session
Are there a couple of other songs that are currently highlights for you?
SLASH: When doing a record I hate to identify with any one particular song or two particular songs. It’s not like the record is written with one great song and the rest are filler. They all mean as much as the others. There are a few songs that are very different than what we did on the last record. There’s a song called “The Unholy” which was influenced by my work in film. There’s another song called “Thirty Years to Life” which is a little bit of a departure. There’s another song that sticks out in my mind called “The Dissident” that’s a little bit unpredictable compared to stuff that people would expect from us.
Slash, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
You’re touring with Aerosmith this summer for the “Let Rock Rule” tour. It feels like we need true rock more than ever in the current very pop-driven landscape. Thoughts?
SLASH: I am a Rock n’ Roll guy. The music business has become a pop-oriented sort of thing and all of the different music genres have become pop. I love the fact that I am doing Rock n’ Roll and have always done the same thing from a very heartfelt place. Aerosmith has represented that to me ever since I was kid. The two of us going out there and doing this big tour and holding that banner and doing it as sincerely as it can be done is something that I can be proud of.
MYLES: Though rock is not the force that it once was in America, it still has a loyal fan base that always seems to continue regardless of what popular culture deems as the “cool thing.” It’s great because you go to a rock show and you know folks aren’t there because they are following trends, they aren’t fair weather fans, they’re following their hearts and listening to music that they love. People have been saying rock is dead for years but the reality is that it just falls out of favor with pop culture from time to time. The rock fans are still out there and that’s why a tour like this is so important.
DATE CITY VENUE
* Wed 9-Jul Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Thu 10-Jul Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
Fri 11-Jul Ottawa, ON, Canada Ottawa Bluesfest (non-headlining)
Sun 13-Jul Kitchener, ON, Canada McLennan Park
Wed 16-Jul Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
* Sun 20-Jul Northfield, OH Hard Rock Live
Tue 22-Jul Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
Fri 25-Jul Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
* Sat 26-Jul N. Kansas City, MO Harrah’s N. Kansas City – Voodoo Lounge
Wed 30-Jul Inglewood, CA The Forum
* Fri 1-Aug Scottsdale, AZ Talking Stick Resort & Casino – Ballroom
Sat 2-Aug Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
Fri 8-Aug Stateline, NV Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena At Harvey’s
Wed 13-Aug Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion
* Fri 15-Aug Coquitlam, BC, Canada Hard Rock Casino – Vancouver
Sat 16-Aug George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre
Tue 19-Aug Denver, CO Pepsi Center
Fri 22-Aug Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Mon 25-Aug The Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Thu 28-Aug Atlanta, GA Phillips Arena
* Fri 29-Aug Hollywood, FL Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sun 31-Aug Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
Wed 3-Sep Newark, NJ Prudential Center
Sat 6-Sep Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Tue 9-Sep Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri 12-Sep Sydney, NS, Canada Open Hearth Park
* Indicates Headlining Shows
Photo courtesy of Adrien Cadet
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