Slash Heads to Atlantic City House of Blues Celebrating Past and Present

For Slash, 2012 has been a year of celebrating the past and present. This year the renowned guitarist has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his former Guns N’ Roses bandmates, released his second solo album and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

While he said he is moved by the honors for his prior accomplishments, Slash is most excited about his new CD, “Apocalyptic Love.”

“All the awards are really cool, that someone appreciated the efforts you’ve made, but that has nothing to do with what music is all about,” Slash said by phone. “It’s about having some creative flow and enjoying what that’s about and pursuing it.”

“Apocalyptic Love” was released in May and hit No. 4 on the Billboard charts. Slash and his backing band, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, perform on Friday, Sept. 14, at the Atlantic City House of Blues.

Slash said he’s enjoyed the challenges and excitement of embarking on a solo career after spending much of the past 25 years as a member of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver.

“I want to see what I’m capable of on my own,” he said. “To make my own decisions and see what happens.

“It’s been a lot of fun. It’s an uphill battle, but I have a great band, a great wife and kids, and all kinds of support.”

Slash said he has hit his stride on “Apocalyptic Love,” thanks in large part to his songwriting chemistry with singer Myles Kennedy, who also fronts Florida rockers Alter Bridge. 

“He and I get along in a kind of way that it seems we’ve known each other for a long time,” Slash said of Kennedy. “We’re not larger than life personalities. We both work very privately and come up with ideas and then get together and it works great.”

Slash met Kennedy while recording his self-titled debut solo album in 2009. That disc featured guest vocalists on each track. Slash tapped Kennedy and the Conspirators – bassist Todd Kerns and drummer Brent Fitz – as his backing band for the subsequent tour.

“I had this awesome pick-up band and it turned out to be the genuine article,” Slash said. “At some point during the tour I thought it would be great to do a record with these guys.”

Earlier this year, Slash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N’ Roses. The April induction ceremony was enveloped in drama due to singer Axl Rose’s refusal to participate. Kennedy performed with Slash and other past Guns members at the event.

A Los Angeles native, Slash said receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in July was a more meaningful experience.

“Personally, it was totally about the fact that I grew up around Hollywood,” Slash said. “If anybody knew the activities that I got up to in Hollywood from when I was a kid until around the mid-90s with Guns N’ Roses, they would see the contrast between the celebrity aspect of Hollywood and the personal, gritty aspect of it.”

 Website: www.slashonline.com

IF YOU GO: Slash, with opening act Foxy Shazam, 8:50 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, Atlantic City House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk. Tickets are $37.50, $42.50 and $52.50. Call 609-236-2583 or visit www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/atlanticcity

ALSO PERFORMING: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street, New York City. Tickets are $38, $40, $50 and $65. Call 212-279-7740 or visit www.ticketmaster.com