Slash has kicked off his first-ever nationwide S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival blues tour, featuring Warren Haynes Band, Keb’ ‘Mo, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe. Slash and his Blues Ball Band also perform on all S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Blues Festival dates, among other special guest vocalists. Find more details in the article below.
Get tickets here: https://www.serpentfestival.com/
Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival is celebrating the release of his acclaimed sixth solo album titled Orgy of the Damned, available worldwide now via Gibson Records here: https://gibsonrecords.lnk.to/ootd A first for Slash, Orgy of the Damned has now spent six weeks at #1 on the 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., and #2 on the U.S. Rock Albums Chart, as well as achieving Top 10 Chart positions in 7 countries around the world.
Slash and his Blues Ball Band – Johnny Griparic (bass), Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis (keys/vocals), Michael Jerome (drums), and Tash Neal (vocals/guitars) – stopped by the Gibson Garage Nashville for a pre festival gig. Watch/share as the group performs “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” live from the Gibson Garage Nashville here: https://youtu.be/ubC4SUhCoa4
The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival, which stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance is designed by Slash with maximum social impact in mind. Slash has chosen five nonprofit organizations to benefit from touring proceeds that will lift marginalized communities and support mental health initiatives that share his restorative focus of elevating lives for the benefit of all. Through PLUS1.ORG, the S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival will donate a portion of the proceeds from every VIP package, as well as every ticket sold, directly to NAMI the National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute, and War Child.
The goal of the Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival is to bring music fans together in these divisive times to celebrate the spirit of the Blues, and for Slash and his band to collaborate and perform with other Blues artists he admires who share his love of the genre. For details on all S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival VIP packages, visit https://www.serpentfestival.com/vip
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