SLASH: FIVE AWESOME GUITAR MOMENTS

Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com

The legendary axeman Slash has given us so much music over the years and whether it’s with Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver or any of his solo ventures, it has all been bound together by exemplary guitar playing that knows no bounds. While his career highlights are many, we’re paying tribute to the renowned axeman with five awesome guitar moments:

‘November Rain,’ Guns N’ Roses

Guns N’ Roses toned down their wild child image a bit after their monster debut album ‘Appetite for Destruction’ and explored some new musical realms on the ‘Use Your Illusion’ albums. ‘November Rain’ sounds almost alien to the high energy of ‘Appetite for Destruction,’ but maintains the GN’R feel. The song all culminates with Slash’s emotional solo that says things that no words can.

‘Slither,’ Velvet Revolver

The music world was buzzing in 2004 when Slash and two of his fellow ex-GN’R members joined forces with singer Scott Weiland. Velvet Revolver’s debut album was glowing red hot with anticipation and Slash did not disappoint. He gave fans something to cheer for with the single ‘Slither’ and the instant classic serpentine riff.

‘Hey Joe,’ with Steve Winwood, Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell

When Jimi Hendrix was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005, Slash teamed up with two former members of the Experience to pay tribute to the guitar god. Hendrix’s playing style has had an obvious influence on Slash and here he gave something back to one of his idols by covering ‘Hey Joe.’

‘Godfather Theme and Solo’ with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators

Lately, Slash has been tearing up the live circuit with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. The six-string madman is known to wow audiences with a break in the setlist to demonstrate his incredible soloing ability. Here, he works in the theme from ‘The Godfather’ before laying waste to his fretboard.

Guns N’ Roses, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’

If there’s one sure-fire way to get any room full of people absolutely pumped in a matter of seconds, its by playing ‘Welcome to the Jungle.’ The lead serves as an anthem to anything fun and is the sonic antithesis of boring. In a time where power ballads were starting to dominate, GN’R snuffed out any flicked Bics within a ten mile radius.

DAVE MUSTAINE TALKS MEGADETH’S THIN LIZZY COVER

Megadeth‘s new ‘Super Collider’ album found the band recording outside material for the first time since 1988. And they chose wisely, reaching into Thin Lizzy‘s vaults to cover the band’s classic ‘Cold Sweat.’

Frontman Dave Mustaine talked about recording ‘Cold Sweat’ during a recent interview with Classic Rock Magazine, taking pains to stress that his decision to tackle the song had nothing to do with trying to one-up his former bandmates in Metallica (who covered Thin Lizzy’s ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ on their ‘Garage Inc.’ LP). “There have been some smart alecks out there that say that we did it because we wanted to do a Thin Lizzy tune better than Metallica, but we’re not playing that game anymore,” Mustaine explained. “I did the song because we had wanted to do that song for a long time.”

What it came down to for Mustaine was his personal identification with this particular track. “There are a lot of great Thin Lizzy songs, but ‘Cold Sweat’ just called my name because I’m a street kid just like Phil Lynottwas,” Mustaine insisted. “We have a lot in common and, of course, we have several things that are different, but when I listen to those lyrics, I really identify with them. In my estimation, some of the best Thin Lizzy music ever written was the title track to ‘Thunder and Lightning’ and ‘Cold Sweat.’”

Adding that he hoped Lynott would be proud of Megadeth’s version of ‘Cold Sweat,’ Mustaine mused, “When you do a cover song there are three things you can do: You can suck, you can do it as good as the original or you can do it better. Our goal was to do it as good as the original, as we don’t think we could have made it better … I think our version is the closest to the original that has been done, though there are some other good versions.”

NEXT: 10 BEST THIN LIZZY SONGS

10 BEST THIN LIZZY SONGS

thinlizzy.org

Choosing the 10 Best Thin Lizzy songs is a difficult task. They had a distinct style all their own, featured great players throughout their career and were a powerhouse live act. Most importantly, in Phil Lynott, they had a first class songwriter. While always a near impossible task to pick a mere ten songs out of a vast catalog of any given artist, it's particularly so when said catalog is as great as Lizzy's! 'Suicide,' 'Waiting For An Alibi,' and 'Killer Without A Cause' are but a few songs that could have easily been invited to the party here, but alas, ten it is. So keeping that in mind, we give you our list of the 10 Best Thin Lizzy songs.

10

'Dancing In The Moonlight'

 

 

From: 'Bad Reputation' (1977)

"Dancing in the Moonlight' is not your typical Lizzy song. This track swings, grooves and heats to a boil as the guitar shares spotlight with a saxophone player. This beauty is actually quite far away from the hard rock terrain the boys were usually treading on. It's a pop song that pretty much defies classification. A top twenty hit in the UK, the song sadly failed to chart in the states.

Hear 'Dancing in the Moonlight'

 

 

9

'The Rocker'

 

 

From: 'Vagabonds of the Western World' (1973)

'The Rocker' is easily one of the best songs in Thin Lizzy's arsenal. Issued as a single, as well as showing up on their 1973 album 'Vagabonds of the Western World,' 'The Rocker' is...well...a rocker! Credited to the entire band lineup (Lynott, Downey and guitarist Eric Bell), it's a gritty, primal rock and roll song. No pretense, no frills, no apologies ... in the words of Chuck Berry, they simply 'let it rock!' A single edit of the song was issued, but again, outside of Ireland, failed to make a dent.

Hear 'The Rocker'

 

 

8

'Emerald'

 

 

From: 'Jailbreak' (1976)

'Emerald' closes the 'Jailbreak' album in perfect order. It's one of the band's heaviest and most menacing songs, as the intertwined guitars manage to wrap themselves around the listeners head. A real live tour de force, it's one of the best examples of Lizzy's pure musicianship, as the band seems to have free reign for the entire last half of the song. The guitars soar to the heavens above, and you, dear listener, get to go along for the ride.

Hear 'Emerald'

 

 

7

'Little Darling'

 

 

Single (1974)

'Little Darling' is a perfect little pop track that also manages to rock out. It's what rock and roll was, is and, with some exceptions, should be about -- a catchy song clocking in at just under three minutes and delivered with a visceral punch. Gary Moore's guitar work is all aces, while the horns add a certain vintage rock and roll feel to the whole thing. In a word, perfect!

Hear 'Little Darling'

 

 

6

'Do Anything You Want To'

 

 

From: 'Black Rose' (1979)

Not to be confused with the 1977 Eddie & The Hot Rods song of the same title, 'Do Anything You Want To Do' is certainly one of Thin Lizzy's best songs. This classic rocker from the band's 1979 'Black Rose' album features galloping drums and twin lead guitars -- all the trademarks of classic Thin Lizzy. Still, for some reason, it failed to make a commercial dent. (Anybody sensing a theme here?) Gary Moore returned to the fold to deliver some of his best work with the band. As the song fades out, Phil Lynott reminds us that "Elvis is dead...the king of rock and roll is dead." Maybe so, but Lynott still had some life left in him, and the entire 'Black Rose' album is proof of that.

Hear 'Do Anything You Want To'

 

 

5

'Don't Believe a Word'

 

 

From: 'Johnny the Fox' (1976)

'Don't Believe a Word' is hands down the highlight of the 'Johnny the Fox' album. As if releasing 'Jailbreak' wasn't enough for one year, the band found time to issue this follow-up toward the end of 1976. Compared to the mega success of 'Jailbreak,' 'Johnny The Fox' fell flat in sales and critical acclaim. Still, despite not having the cohesiveness of it's predecessor, it remains a very fine album, and 'Don't Believe A Word' definitely leads the way. A surging groove moves the song along with yet another raunchy, rocking riff at the song's core.

Hear 'Don't Believe a Word'

 

 

4

'Cowboy Song'

 

 

From: 'Jailbreak' (1976)

The 'Jailbreak' album produces another fine gem. Co-written with long time drummer Brian Downey, 'Cowboy Song' is the wild west brought to life Lizzy style. Yet another perfect example of their legendary twin guitar attack, the song was a concert staple for many years. Phil Lynott always had a way with riffs and melodies, and here we have both on display. The band dynamics push the song full steam ahead. A real prize of a song!

Hear 'Cowboy Song'

 

 

3

'Whiskey in the Jar'

 

 

From: 'Whiskey in the Jar' (1972)

'Whiskey In The Jar' was a traditional Irish folk song adapted by Lynott and crew. Dating back to somewhere in the first part of the 17th century, 'Whiskey' has been covered by many over the years from folk acts like the Seekers and Peter, Paul & Mary to Jerry Garcia and, most recently, Metallica. Thin Lizzy's version is, perhaps, the most famous and was a huge hit in Lynott's native Ireland where it rode atop the charts there for over three months in 1972.

Hear 'Whiskey in the Jar'

 

 

2

'Jailbreak'

 

 

From: 'Jailbreak' (1976)

The title cut from the band's breakthrough 1976 album, 'Jailbreak' is riff rock heaven and an easy pick for the 10 best Thin Lizzy songs. It's also one of precious few Lizzy tunes embraced by US radio over the years. The somewhat sinister sounding verse gives way to a triumphant chorus before the ultimate climax of the 'breakout' section. The dual guitars of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson blend perfectly while the rhythm section of Lynott and drummer Brian Downey make this 100% pure unadulterated rock and roll. Though it might be obvious to state, the entire 'Jailbreak' album is a total classic -- if you've never heard the whole thing please do so at once.

Hear 'Jailbreak'

 

 

1

'The Boys Are Back in Town'

 

 

From: 'Jailbreak' (1976)

What else could have been the number one Thin Lizzy song?! The track most readily identified with Lizzy, and still heard any given day on any classic rock radio station, 'The Boys Are Back in Town' was the calling card from their classic 'Jailbreak' album. Those twin lead guitars are prominently on display, surrounding a hook to die for that helped propel the single to just outside the US Top Ten (#12) and forever cemented their legacy. The song has taken on a life of its own over the ensuing decades, but is unfortunately the only song most of America knows by the band, which, of course, is a damn shame.

Hear 'The Boys Are Back in Town'

 

BLACK SABBATH KICK OFF 2013 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR IN HOUSTON

More than a year-and-a-half after Black Sabbath first announced their reunion, the blueprinters of heavy metal have finally begun their invasion of North America. Sabbath will be stateside until September, and the band started off the long-awaited tour in Houston, Texas last night (July 25).

On November 11, 2011 (11-11-11), Black Sabbath announced that the band’s original lineup, Ozzy Osbourne,Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, would embark on a world tour and begin writing a new album. Unfortunately, Black Sabbath ran into unforeseen issues before either event was able to begin. Drummer Bill Ward abandoned Sabbath’s plans after contract disputes were unable to be resolved and guitarist Tony Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma shortly after the 11-11-11 announcement.

Although Black Sabbath’s plans were stalled, the band’s first album in 35 years to feature Ozzy, Tony and Geezer, ’13,’ was released in June of this year and gave Black Sabbath their first No. 1 debut in the United States. With that success already cemented in the group’s history, Sabbath have finally hit the road in North America for a full-fledged tour.

Sabbath performed a set jam-packed with classics last night in Houston, unleashing songs such as ‘Iron Man,’ ‘War Pigs’ and ‘Paranoid.’ The act brought out some new ’13′ material as well, playing ‘God is Dead?,’ ‘End of the Beginning,’ ‘Methademic’ and ‘Age of Reason.’

Check out live footage of Black Sabbath’s Houston show both above and below, and see Sabbath’s full setlist below, as well.

Black Sabbath, ‘Black Sabbath’ (Live)

Black Sabbath July 25, 2013 Setlist:

‘War Pigs’
‘Into the Void’
‘Under the Sun’/Every Day Comes and Goes’
‘Snowblind’
‘Age of Reason’
‘Black Sabbath’
‘Behind the Wall of Sleep’
‘N.I.B.’
‘End of the Beginning’
‘Fairies Wear Boots’
‘Methademic’
‘Symptom of the Universe’
(Instrumental)
Drum Solo
‘Iron Man’
‘God Is Dead?’
‘Dirty Women’
‘Children of the Grave’

Encore:

‘Paranoid’ (‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ Intro)