Slash and Mike Clink recently saw a sold out crowd at the LA GRAMMY Museum®, for the event, Bending The Blues: Inside The Making Of the Album Orgy Of The Damned. They joined moderator Scott Goldman for a deep dive into their music history and the inspirations behind creating Slash’s new blues album, Orgy of the Damned. Keep reading to find out more.
Watch the full interview clip of Slash and Mike Clink from Bending The Blues: Inside The Making Of the Album Orgy Of The Damned live at the GRAMMY Museum: https://watch.grammymuseum.org/an-evening-with-slash-mike-clink/videos/an-evening-with-slash-mike-clink
Buy Orgy of the Damned here: https://gibsonrecords.lnk.to/ootd
The audience on the Ray Charles Terrace at the GRAMMY Museum enjoyed an intimate seven-song acoustic performance by Slash and his band amongst the stunning backdrop of the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. Watch as Slash and his band perform two songs off the Orgy of the Damned album, “Crossroads” (https://watch.grammymuseum.org/an-evening-with-slash-mike-clink/videos/slash-crossroads), and “Oh Well” (https://watch.grammymuseum.org/an-evening-with-slash-mike-clink/videos/slash-oh-well).
On Orgy of the Damned, Slash goes back to what has always been at the heart of his playing: the blues. Released on May 17 2024, Slash’s critically acclaimed sixth solo album, Orgy of the Damned, was produced by Mike Clink and is available everywhere worldwide on Gibson Records. A first for Slash, Orgy of the Damned spent 13 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart in the U.S. The new album also debuted as the #1 Blues Album in the U.S and the U.K., #2 on the U.S. Rock Albums Chart, as well as achieving Top 10 Chart positions in 7 countries around the world.
A vibrant homage to the blues, Slash’s star-studded blues album–and the sixth solo album of his career overall–Orgy of the Damned is a collection of 12 songs that revitalize the blues. Slash handpicked the album’s diverse guest vocalists, which include Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Chris Stapleton, Iggy Pop, Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top), Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), Dorothy, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Tash Neal, and Beth Hart. The legendary guitarist reteamed with producer Mike Clink, and formed Slash’s Blues Ball Band in the studio and on the road.
While recording Orgy of the Damned, everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a striking collection of energized songs that are vital and raw. Highlights include “Oh Well” with outlaw country star Chris Stapleton’s gritty vocals on the beloved early Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac tune, (listen here: https://youtu.be/goEYzRtnX00) and the Howlin’ Wolf-penned first single “Killing Floor” an electrifying collaboration with Brian Johnson of AC/DC on vocals, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith on harmonica (listen here: https://youtu.be/QAxBEfKeOzw) “Hoochie Coochie Man,”–written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters–showcases the album’s powerful in-the-moment nature with Z.Z. Top’s Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on vocals and guitar. Gary Clark Jr. joins in for a rowdy take on Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads,” while Beth Hart stuns on the twanging and soulful rendition of T. Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday,” and Iggy Pop’s vocals soothe the soul on a unique version of “Awful Dream” by Lightnin’ Hopkins. 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, including like Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” with powerful vocals from Tash Neal, were long-time favorites for Slash.
Read Slash’s full breakdown of every song and artist collaborations on Orgy of the Damned, here: https://app.box.com/s/lizuojhpio01x1keacilkwumcqt4u5oz For a deep dive into the making of the new album, watch Gibson TV’s new music documentary The Making of Slash’s Orgy of the Damned, Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 4, are all streaming now, here: https://youtu.be/36uy-W68zew
Follow Slash:
https://ootd.slashonline.com/
https://www.facebook.com/slash
https://x.com/Slash
https://www.instagram.com/slash/
https://youtube.com/@slashofficial
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Cqia9vrAbm7ANXbJGXsTE