SLASH Sixth Solo Album "Orgy of The Damned" #1 Blues Album in U.S., U.K.

Details

Category: Theatre, Music

Published on Friday, 07 June 2024 15:58

Written by Janet Walker

SLASH the iconic, GRAMMY® Award-winning guitarist and songwriter is celebrating the release of his highly anticipated sixth solo album titled "Orgy of the Damned," has officially debuted as the #1 Blues Album in the U.S. and the U.K.

Available worldwide via Gibson Records HERE, "Orgy of the Damned" achieved Top 10 chart positions in 7 countries around the world including the U.S., U.K., Australia, Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland. The new album also hit #2 on the U.S. Rock Albums Chart.

Slash To Perform Three Days on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

SLASH stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! for three nights and performed songs off Orgy of the Damned with Cleto and Cletones and talked with host Jimmy Kimmel in addition to a multitude of show guests including Jennifer Lopez, Amy Poehler, Kevin Costner, Patton Oswalt, Tony Goldwyn, and Pamela Adlon. Check out each full show with interviews and performances on NIGHT 1, NIGHT 2 and NIGHT 3, and watch quick clips of SLASH performing on the show HERE.

Image credit: Gibson

Last week in Hollywood, SLASH, and his blues bandmates Teddy 'ZigZag' Andreadis (vocals/keyboards) and Tash Neal (vocals/guitar) performed a rare and stunning 8-song acoustic-only live performance to a sold out crowd of fans at Amoeba in Hollywood. Watch the recap clip HERE and see photos of the Amoeba instore below.

A vibrant homage to the blues, SLASH's star-studded blues album and sixth solo album of his career overall, Orgy of the Damned is a collection of 12 dynamic songs that revitalize the blues with a stripped-down approach. In the spirit of collaboration, on Orgy of the Damned, SLASH handpicked the album's diverse guest vocalists, which include Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Chris Robinson, and Beth Hart. The acclaimed guitarist reteamed with producer Mike Clink and reunited with two of his bandmates from his Blues Ball outfit in the 90s, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy 'ZigZag' Andreadis, and brought on drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal who round out his blues band in the studio and on the road.

Nashville: Country Superstar Miranda Lambert Partners with Epiphone Guitars; Sits for Q & A

For Orgy of the Damned, everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a 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, 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.

"Hoochie Coochie Man,"--written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters--showcases the album's the in-the-moment nature and unrestrained energy with Z.Z. Top's Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on guitar and vocals, Gary Clark Jr. joins in for a rowdy take on Robert Johnson's "Crossroads," and Beth Hart stuns on the twanging and soulful rendition of T. Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday." 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, like Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City," were long-time favorites for SLASH.

Read SLASH's full breakdown of all the songs and artist collaborations on Orgy of the Damned, HERE.

Above: Slash’s three-night stand on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, credit ABC/Randy Holmes. 

Launching this July 5 in Montana, SLASH has curated an all-star Blues lineup for the first-ever S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Blues Festival which stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N' Tolerance to bring fans together to celebrate the spirit of the Blues, and to perform with other Blues artists he admires who share his love of the genre. SLASH's S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival artists include Warren Haynes Band, Keb' 'Mo, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe. On all dates, SLASH will perform alongside his Blues band featuring bassist Johnny Griparic, keyboardist Teddy 'ZigZag' Andreadis, drummer Michael Jerome, and singer/guitarist Tash Neal. For all S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Blues Festival dates, visit: SerpentFestival.com.

The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival is designed with maximum social impact in mind and SLASH has chosen five nonprofit organizations to directly benefit from touring proceeds to help 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. For details on all S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival VIP packages, visit serpentfestival.com/vip.

Legendary Musician Peter Frampton Receives Annual Les Paul Spirit Award

Check out more early acclaim for SLASH's new album Orgy of the Damned:

"One of the album's great pleasures is hearing Slash put his own incendiary stamp on these chestnuts, rather than mimicking the solos from the original records, as so many musicians who play classic blues covers do. Sure, the signposts for each song are in place, but they're departure points, not boundary markers. If anything defines this album's character, it's the upbeat energy and sheer glee of making music that ripples through every track. And Slash's solos are vibrant and filled with grittier turns on the kind of bends and slides that would make Howlin' Wolf's venerated guitarist Hubert Sumlin beam. Many of the tunes on Orgy of the Damned came from an old Slash's Blues Ball set list or were favorites—like 'Born Under a Bad Sign'—Slash has been itching to cut for decades. That explains the songs, but Slash's guitar tones— portly, burnished, growling, full of just the right amount of low-mid punch, and guided by the hands of a master—are partly the result of his ear's latest passion." --PREMIER GUITAR cover story.

Left: Jimmy Kimmel and Slash. Credit ABC-Randy Holmes. 

"an all-star blues party, Orgy of the Damned is a celebration of the genre that has had a deeply influential impact on Slash's own style." --GUITAR WORLD

"[ORGY OF THE DAMNED is] a who's who of hard rock: Paul Rodgers, Steven Tyler, Billy Gibbons, Iggy Pop. There's also Demi Lovato, the rock-loving pop star who gives a powerhouse performance of the Temptations' 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone.' …[Papa] shows Slash working the talk box with his guitar and playing a wah-wah-wah solo (that's extra wah), plumbing new depths of soul in the song. But the clip also shows Lovato's intensity as she reads the lyrics about making sense of an absent father and finding her own meaning in words like, And when he died, all he left us was alone. Her voice even climbs to the same height as Slash's guitar for the final solo." --ROLLING STONE

"Chris Robinson sounds about 100 years old on a fabulously grizzled take on 'The Pusher', Billy Gibbons glides over 'Hoochie Coochie Man', and Brian Johnson does his best Tom Jones on 'Killing Floor'. And Chris Stapleton outsings them all on 'Oh Well.' As is only right and just, Slash is the star of his own show, and he's chosen material to showcase his guitar pyrotechnics." --CLASSIC ROCK

Flatland Cavalry Release Two New Versions of Fleetwood Mac’s "Landslide"

"A fascinating listen. While Hart brings her incredible vocal range to 'Stormy Monday,' Rodgers lays his smooth vocals over the jaunty rhythms of 'Born Under a Bad Sign,' and Slash serving as the connective tissue between each song, the album itself is able to explore different blues sounds and styles in accordance with how each of the chosen singers meshes with the material. Orgy of the Damned presents blues fans with an exciting way to hear new takes on favorite songs." --BLUES ROCK REVIEW

Image credit: Gibson.

"Orgy Of The Damned serves as an authentic bridge from his musical roots to his many hard rock endeavors. …most importantly to Slash, it goes back to what has always been at the heart of his playing: the blues." --GRAMMY MAGAZINE

"The legendary Slash has teamed up with Chris Stapleton for a killer Fleetwood Mac cover. Slash and Stapleton amp up the rock and roll early on in the song, giving it a modern refresh while still keeping the bones good. Stapleton pulls out his best raspy vocals on this track to sing the few lines of the song, but the single is really a showcase of their incredible talent on the guitar." --WHISKEY RIFF

"Orgy of the Damned leans into classic blues sounds for a vintage feel." --REVOLVER

"Slash has assembled a star-studded cast of the world's top musicians and a revolving door of talented singers – including Demi Lovato, Paul Rodgers and Chris Stapleton, delivering an album that's choc-full of serious guitar statements." --MUSIC RADAR

"A beautifully tailored love letter to the Blues that first inspired this singular artist to play his way to the stars."   --BLUES MATTERS, cover story

Billy Idol’s "Rebel Yell" 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Out Now

"Sonic perfection." --AMERICAN SONGWRITER

"Orgy of the Damned is a can't-miss collection of classic blues rock tracks with Slash's unmistakable imprint on all of them." --LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE

"[Slash and Iggy Pop on 'Awful Dream'] is just one of many magical music moments on Orgy of the Damned." --BILLBOARD

"Stapleton's voice, one of country music's most powerful, blends perfectly with Slash's dirty blues playing on the song ['Oh Well'], written by Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green and first released by the Mac in 1969." --ROLLING STONE

"Slash and [Iggy] Pop, who howls on the song's outro like a lost, mournful coyote, captured not only Hopkins' insouciance—a notable part of his musical character—but underscored every bit of the lyric's fatalist chiaroscuro, which includes references to the atom bomb, an ominous talking bird, and, ultimately, death. Orgy of the Damned, indeed. But for an album with that title, its dozen tracks plucked from the classic blues and R&B canon are a hell of a lot of fun. Slash and his compatriots—who also include Chris Stapleton, Billy Gibbons, Paul Rodgers, Gary Clark Jr., Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Steven Tyler, Beth Hart, and Demi Lovato--rock the juke joint down." --PREMIER GUITAR cover story

                                                               "Orgy of the Damned" cover artwork.

LISTEN

ORGY OF THE DAMNED (ALBUM)

"The Pusher" feat. Chris Robinson on vocals and harmonica.

Written by Wayne Hoyt Axton

"Crossroads" feat. Gary Clark Jr. on vocal, rhythm guitar, and solo.

Written by Robert Leroy Johnson

"Hoochie Coochie Man" feat. Billy F. Gibbons on vocals, rhythm guitar, and solo.

Written by Willie Dixon

"Oh Well" feat. Chris Stapleton on vocals.

Written by Peter Alan Green

"Key to the Highway" feat. Dorothy on vocals.

Written by Charles Segar, William Broonzy

"Awful Dream" feat. Iggy Pop on vocals.

Written by Sam (Lightnin') Hopkins, Clarence Lewis, C. Morgan Robinson

"Born Under a Bad Sign" feat. Paul Rodgers on vocals.

Written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones

"Papa Was a Rolling Stone" feat. Demi Lovato on vocals.

Written by Barrett Strong and Jesse Norman Whitfield

"Killing Floor" feat. Brian Johnson on vocals. Written by Chester Burnett (Howlin' Wolf)

*Special guest Steven Tyler on harmonica.

"Living for the City" feat. Tash Neal on vocals. Written by Stevie Wonder

*Special guest background vocals: Jenna Bell and Jessie Payo.

"Stormy Monday" feat. Beth Hart on vocals.

Written by T-Bone Walker

"Metal Chestnut" Written by Slash

Following are SLASH's S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival Summer 2024 North American Dates with Warren Haynes Band, Keb' 'Mo, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe:

Chastain Park +

* Warren Haynes Band, Samantha Fish, and Eric Gales

** Keb' 'Mo, Samantha Fish, and Jackie Venson

# Keb' 'Mo, ZZ Ward ,and Jackie Venson

$ Keb' 'Mo, ZZ Ward, and Robert Randolph

+ Larkin Poe, ZZ Ward, and Robert Randolph

^ ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph

^^Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, ZZ Ward, and Robert Randolph

Mexican Music Sensation Carin León Opens for The Rolling Stones

About SLASH:

SLASH, the GRAMMY®-winning, world-renowned rock guitarist who has played in Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, as well as his own groups Slash's Snakepit and Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, has released five solo albums overall, and now six with Orgy of the Damned. After landing on the top of the charts with his first solo album, Slash (2010)-which featured Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Cornell, Fergie, Myles Kennedy, Iggy Pop, Beth Hart, and more on vocals-he formed the solo band Slash Ft. Myles

Kennedy & the Conspirators who've been touring worldwide and making music together non-stop for over a decade. Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators have released four albums, including 2022's 4, which arrived via Gibson Records and debuted as the #1-selling hard rock album the week of release. Over the years, SLASH has amassed album sales of over 100 million copies, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Guns N' Roses in 2012 and was named #2 on TIME's "The 10 Greatest Electric Guitar Players" after Jimi Hendrix.

He rejoined Guns N' Roses in 2016 for a historic and ongoing world tour and just wrapped a global tour with his group Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators. SLASH officially released his sixth solo album titled Orgy of the Damned on May 17, 2024, via Gibson Records (Firebird Music distribution) HERE, and will kick off his S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival tour on July 5, 2024 in Montana, visit www.serpentfestival.com. For more information, visit: www.slashonline.com.

Janet Walker, Award-Winning Screenwriter, Director, Producer, and Publisher, Unveils Slate at EFM

Images Credit: Gibson Records.

Text: Gibson Records.

Creative Direction: Janet Walker.