Slash: The Live Albums That Changed His Life

"It was great to go back and play stuff from my entire catalog. I've had live albums out before, but this is my first one with the solo band. What you hear on the album was a set list I threw together that morning. My band is a blessing for me. It might have my name up on the marquee, but I still treat this stuff very democratically," Slash tells Noisecreep about 'Made in Stoke: 24/7/11,' his first live solo album.

The 21-song CD features Slash and his stellar band performing songs from his solo albums, plus gems from Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, and Velvet Revolver.

"I'll ask my band if they want to play such and such, and they usually say yes. Even if they don't know the song, they'll learn it in sound check and do it that night. That's how good they are," Slash says of his solo band which features vocalist Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge), rhythm guitarist Bobby Schenck, bassist Todd Kerns, and drummer Brent Fitz.

'Made in Stoke: 24/7/11' captures the infamous top-hatted guitar god and his band firing on all cylinders. It's a disc very much in the spirit of the great live albums of the '70s. "Live records were so important to me when I was a kid in the '70s. I think all of the bands that I loved when I was a kid ended up releasing live records during that time period. It was really sad to see live records sort of go by the wayside throughout the years.

"I remember playing 'If You Want Blood You've Got It' by AC/DC day and night. 'Cheap Trick at Budokan' was another huge record for me. Led Zeppelin's 'The Song Remains the Same' was a pretty good one. The Who's 'Live at Leeds' is a classic. UFO's 'Strangers in the Night' was a record that I played the hell out of when I was younger. Oh, I can't forget 'Double Live Gonzo!' from Ted Nugent!"

When pressed for his favorite live album, Slash doesn't hesitate with his answer. "That's easy... it would have to be 'Live Bootleg' by Aerosmith. It's one of the rawest and nastiest records I've ever heard."

Noisecreep asked the veteran guitarist why he was so attracted to the live album format. "For me, the best versions of any of those band's classic songs are on those live records. There's something really special about the spontaneity and rawness of the playing. The live recordings weren't as safe and tame as they were a lot of times on the studio versions of the songs. That's the key to a great live album. I hope people feel that way about 'Made in Stoke' [laughs]. I know we tried."

Slash's 'Made in Stoke: 24/7/11' is available now from Eagle Rock Entertainment.

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