Slash is coming up on the release of his star-studded debut blues album – the sixth solo album of his career – Orgy of the Damned. It is due out on May 17 via Gibson Records. The iconic guitarist has just released the latest track from the full-length, a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well,” featuring vocals from outlaw country star Chris Stapleton. Listen to the song and find out more below.
Stream “Oh Well” here: https://gibson.lnk.to/SlashOhWell
Pre-order Orgy of the Damned here: https://gibsonrecords.lnk.to/ootd
“So, this is the original Fleetwood Mac, which was founded by Peter Green, one of the greatest singer-songwriter-guitar players, he’s less known in the public, but very well known to us guitar players re the 60s British blues and he’s up there with Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Nick Taylor. He sort of had a misadventure with drugs and disappeared early in his career, but he had some great fucking songs and ‘Oh Well’ is one of my favorites. I remember hearing the song on the radio when I was probably 13, they used to play both the older version of Fleetwood Mac and the new version of the band with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham a lot. I always loved this song, and it’s a great guitar riff. I jammed it with the Blues Ball back in the ‘90s, and I’ve played it live here and there. I knew from the beginning I wanted to do the song on this record. It was also one of the songs that I was trying to figure out who would be the right vocalist for it, and one of the ideas I had was Chris Stapleton, who is one of the most brilliant singer songwriters today. He’s also got such a gritty and distinctive voice, so I called him up and he did an amazing job. I mean, his voice is so cool.” – Slash
A vibrant homage to the blues, Orgy of the Damned is a collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalizes blues classics with an organic stripped-down approach. By celebrating both well-known and largely undiscovered songs, Slash offers a nostalgic nod to the past while reinvigorating the songs with his inimitable guitar playing and the spirit of collaboration. For Orgy of the Damned, the acclaimed guitarist re-teamed with storied producer Mike Clink and enlisted the album’s diverse guest vocalists, which include Gary Clark Jr, Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Chris Robinson, and Beth Hart, in a similar way to his 2010 self-titled solo LP Slash. To round out his band in the studio and on the road, Slash reunited with two of his bandmates from his Blues Ball outfit in the 90s, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and brought on drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.
Watch the video for the first single off Orgy of the Damned, “Killing Floor” featuring Brian Johnson of AC/DC on vocals, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith on harmonica, here: https://youtu.be/QAxBEfKeOzw
Orgy of the Damned encompasses a broad range of styles within the blues genre, veering from an upbeat, rowdy take on Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads” to a plaintive, twanging rendition of T. Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday.” Some of the songs, like Steppenwolf’s “The Pusher,” Charlie Segar’s “Key to the Highway,” and Albert King’s “Born Under a Bad Sign,” had been performed by Slash’s Blues Ball, while others, like Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City,” were long-time favorites for Slash. “Hoochie Coochie Man,” written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters in 1954, showcases the in-the-moment nature and unrestrained energy of Orgy of the Damned, with Z.Z. Top’s Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on guitar and vocals. The group went into a rehearsal room in North Hollywood and began hashing out soulful, rollicking takes on the classic songs. Everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a collection of dynamic, energized songs that are immediate, raw, and distinctly familiar.
Orgy of the Damned tracklisting:
01 The Pusher – feat. Chris Robinson (vocal and harmonica) Written by Wayne Hoyt Axton
02 Crossroads – feat. Gary Clark Jr. (vocal, rhythm guitar, and solo) Written by Robert Leroy Johnson
03 Hoochie Coochie Man – feat. Billy F. Gibbons (vocal, rhythm guitar, and solo) Written by Willie Dixon
04 Oh Well – feat. Chris Stapleton (vocal) Written by Peter Alan Green
05 Key to the Highway – feat. Dorothy (vocal) Written by Charles Segar, William Broonzy
06 Awful Dream – feat. Iggy Pop (vocal) Written by Sam (Lightnin’) Hopkins, Clarence Lewis, C. Morgan Robinson
07 Born Under a Bad Sign – feat. Paul Rodgers (vocal) Written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones
08 Papa Was a Rolling Stone – feat. Demi Lovato (vocal) Written by Barrett Strong and Jesse Norman Whitfield
09 Killing Floor – feat. Brian Johnson (vocal) Written by Chester Burnett (Howlin’ Wolf) *Special guest Steven Tyler on harmonica.
10 Living for the City – feat. Tash Neal (vocal) Written by Stevie Wonder *Special guest background vocals: Jenna Bell and Jessie Payo.
11 Stormy Monday – feat. Beth Hart (vocal) Written by T-Bone Walker
12 Metal Chestnut – Written by Slash
In celebration of the forthcoming new record, Slash curated an all-star Blues lineup to join him on the newly announced S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival touring North America this summer, including Warren Haynes Band, Keb’ ‘Mo, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe. Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival, which stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance, will bring fans together to celebrate the spirit of the Blues and raise awareness and funds for multiple charities that uplift marginalized communities, support mental health initiatives, and share Slash’s restorative focus of elevating lives for the benefit of all. A portion of the proceeds from each VIP package and S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival ticket sold will directly benefit the following charities that Slash has selected The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute, War Child, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival has partnered with PLUS1.ORG to support these charitable endeavors.
Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival will kick off on July 5, for tickets and VIP packages, visit: www.SerpentFestival.com.
S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival 2024 North American Dates with Warren Haynes Band, Keb’ ‘Mo, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe:
* Warren Haynes Band, Samantha Fish, and Eric Gales
** Keb’ ‘Mo, Samantha Fish, and Jackie Venson
# Keb’ ‘Mo, ZZ Ward ,and Jackie Venson
$ Keb’ ‘Mo, ZZ Ward, and Robert Randolph
^ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
+ Larkin Poe, ZZ Ward, and Robert Randolph
^^Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, ZZ Ward, and Robert Randolph
More from Slash:
Slash, the GRAMMY®-winning, world-renowned rock guitarist who has played in Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, as well as his own groups Slash’s Snakepit and Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, has released five solo albums overall, and now six with the forthcoming Orgy of the Damned. After landing on the top of the charts with his first solo album, Slash (2010)-which featured Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Cornell, Fergie, Myles Kennedy, Iggy Pop, Beth Hart, and more on vocals-he formed the solo band Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators who’ve been touring worldwide and making music together non-stop for over a decade. Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators have released four albums, including 2022’s 4, which arrived via Gibson Records and debuted as the #1-selling hard rock album the week of release. Over the years, Slash has amassed album sales of over 100 million copies, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Guns N’ Roses in 2012. He rejoined Guns N’ Roses in 2016 for a historic and ongoing world tour and is currently in the midst of a global tour with his group Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators.
Follow Slash:
https://ootd.slashonline.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551094195801
https://twitter.com/Slash
https://www.instagram.com/slash/
https://youtube.com/@SlashOfficial
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Cqia9vrAbm7ANXbJGXsTE
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mhjqDvzWfWe1CGwByzx5vlc6v6ivFEMyo&si=0Fh8y4qFeXlQwfZ3
https://music.apple.com/us/album/orgy-of-the-damned/1728227005
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0CTD9BPTD