Chosen by Monk
My latest selection features of of the most recognizable figures in rock ‘n’ roll, as well as not one but two legendary frontmen. In relation to the former, I’m talking, of course, about the man born Saul Hudson, who has returned to his roots and his love of the blues for his upcoming sixth solo album, ‘Orgy Of The Damned’. And for the lead single he has enlisted the help of an old friend, AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson, who gives a quite frankly revelatory performance on this lead single, a reworking of the 1964 Howlin’s Wolf classic ‘Killing Floor’… and not content with stopping there, Aerosmith demigod Steven Tyler also came along for the ride, laying down some real sweet harmonic vibes…
Slash said of the song:
[It] is one of my favorite Howlin’ Wolf songs, but also one of the iconic blues riffs that turned me on as a young guitar player. I’ve always wanted to cover it in some capacity and this record was the perfect vehicle. But playing it with this band, and with Brian Johnson singing, it was an achievement I would never have imagined back then. Let alone Steven Tyler providing the harp.
Brian Johnson also spoke of his involvement in the project:
When Slash asked me to sing on ‘Killing Floor,’ I said yes immediately. It was one of the first songs I learned in my very first band, and when he played me the backing track it was a no-brainer, and Steven’s harmonica is so bloody hot. I had a ball with Slash in the studio, and I think we did this great old song justice. Rock on.
For ‘Orgy Of The Damned’, Slash has returned to the format of his self-titled solo debut of 2010, with a selection of guest singers lending their talents, this time to a hand-picked selection of blues songs, both familiar and unfamiliar. Other contributors include Gary Clark Jr on ‘Crossroad Blues’, Billy F. Gibbons on ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’, country star Chris Stapleton on ‘Oh Well’, alt-rocker Dorothy Martin on ‘Key To The Highway’, Iggy Pop on ‘Awful Dream’, Paul Rodgers on ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’, Demi Lovato on ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’, Tash Neal on ‘Living For The City’, Chris Robinson on ‘The Pusher’ and Beth Hart on ‘Stormy Monday’.
- ‘Orgy Of The Damned‘ will be released on 17 May via Gibson Records.