Slash has been talking to MTV about his new band which, while not called Guns n Roses (the name still used by Axl Rose), features much of the original band - Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum. The search continues for a singer.
"This is all very ironic timing, because it's been six or seven years since we all quit Guns," Slash admitted, "and we just started doing this in the last six months, and all of a sudden, Axl's got his Guns out right now, so it's almost comical."
Slash, McKagan and Sorum - who played lead guitar, bass and drums for GN'R, respectively - first played together again at a benefit for the family of drummer Randy Castillo last spring. "We played this gig and it was just insane. It was just really powerful, and Steven Tyler got up with us, and it was just an amazing night. And so we all talked about it, the chemistry, and how that was the first time we had all played together, really played together, since Guns broke up. And so we started writing songs."
Subsequently the original three G'n'R men have teamed up with David Kushner and Izzy Stradlin to form a proper band and pen some songs. Now all they need is a singer. Slash reckons he's heard about 500 singers, and now says he has a short list of 6 or 7. "This is fucking poor man's 'American Idol'. I'll know it when I hear it. Right off the bat, I'll know. We're just trying to find a really great fucking rock and roll singer, and it's really hard to find anybody that you'd consider genuine, and it's also somebody who's got to fit in with us."
Slash added that female voices were being considered - and when MTV suggested Courtney Love he replied: "It's funny, we were joking about that yesterday but I just don't see her being into it, all things considered. But you know what? We haven't exhausted that idea, let's put it that way."
But nothing is fixed and the band are still welcoming demos - singers can send tapes to Slash, 13636 Ventura Blvd., Suite 434, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.