Slash Reveals Spring Dates

The guitarist puts on his travelin’ shoes in May, playing a series of dates ranging from Maryland to New Mexico.

Photo: John Davisson

Veteran’s Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Fla.

Slash will have some new music to play along with classics from his vast GNR/Snakepit/Velvet Revolver past. His new, still untitled solo album featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators drops May 22.

Coming up a bit sooner, Slash will join Stevie Wonder, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Chris Cornell, Lenny Kravitz, LL Cool J, Common, Snoop Dogg, Former President Bill Clinton and others to celebrate boxing great Mohammad Ali’s 70th birthday at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena Feb. 18. Called the “Power Of Love Gala,” the event’s goal is to raise awareness for several diseases including Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. Ali has been battling Parkinson’s since 1984.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. ABC will broadcast the show Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. EST. Click here for ticket info.

The tour begins in Baltimore at Rams Head Live May 3 with stops in Biloxi, Miss., at the Hard Rock Live May 10; Minneapolis at The Brick May 14; Grand Rapids, Mich., at Orbit Room May 17 and Camden, N.J., at Susquehanna Bank Center May 20. Last stop on the routing is Albuquerque, N.M., at Route 66 Casino May 26.

Slash will also hit a few festivals along the way – Carolina Rebellion in Rockingham, N.C., at the Rockingham Speedway May 5; Rock On The Range in Columbus, Ohio, at Crew May 19 and Rocklahoma in Pryor, Okla., May 25.

Photo: Joseph Dowling / CarsAndConcerts.com

American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Although Slash has played with some of rock’s biggest bands, in 2011 the guitarist told Pollstar about a time when he auditioned for a group.

“I auditioned for Poison way back in the day,” Slash said. “When Matt (Smith) left the band, he suggested I audition. I was fooling around then, trying to figure out what I would do next. Poison was never my cup of tea, but at the same time, being sort of an opportunist, I thought maybe I should check it out. Another step on the rung, you know?

“Anyway, I went down there and it was an interesting kind of affair. I played the shit out of the stuff, but I wouldn’t conform to the fashion standards. And C.C. [DeVille] came in when I was walking out one day, and I said, “That’s the guy for that band.”

A fan presale begins Feb. 15 and general onsales launch Feb. 17. Visit SlashOnLine.com for more information.

And be sure to check out last year’s Pollstar interview with Slash. Just click here.