Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators at Terminal 5

Slash

Saul Hudson was born in 1965 in London, England. His mother left the family shortly after his birth to pursue her career as a costume designer, and so the boy initially was raised by his father and paternal grandparents in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. He was about five years old when he and his father rejoined his mother in Los Angeles, California. There he was given the nickname "Slash" by a family friend. At age 14, Slash put aside his BMX bicycle in favor of a guitar, and began playing in bands two years later. Eventually he joined Hollywood Rose, which evolved into Guns N' Roses. Guns N' Roses' debut 1987 album sold 18 million copies in the United States, making it the country's all-time best-selling debut album. Slash formed Snakepit in 1994 and officially left Guns N' Roses in 1996. Snakepit folded in 2002 and Slash became a founding member of the supergroup Velvet Revolver. Slash and his current band, billed as Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, is comprised of Slash, vocalist Myles Kennedy, bassist Todd Kerns and drummer Brent Fitz. The group's second album, World on Fire, was released on September 10, 2014.

At Terminal 5, Slash came on stage looking much like he did with Guns N' Roses, wearing his trademark sneakers, leather pants, sunglasses and top hat. Launching into "You're a Lie" from the band's 2012 debut album, the set quickly became more familiar with the second song, Guns N' Roses' "Nightrain," the first of seven Guns N' Roses songs in the two-hour 20-song set. Kennedy, who also leads heavy metal band Alter Bridge, sang well, and with the band, which included touring guitarist Frank Sidoris, worked the audience and performed a dynamic show. Midway through the set, Kerns sang two songs, "Dr. Alibi," originally sung by Lemmy Kilmister on Slash's 2010 solo album, and Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle." Ultimately, however, the spotlight was all about Slash's masterful guitar work. During "Rocket Queen," Slash played lead guitar for 15 uninterrupted minutes. The lights went dim after Velvet Revolver's "Slither," but Slash and company returned for a Jimi Hendrix-styled "Hey Joe" featuring The Voice contestant Kimberly Nichole, and ending with a high-octane performance of Guns N' Roses' "Paradise City," complete with confetti canons. With powerful vocals, dazzling guitar work and strong songs, this was as good as hard rock gets.

Visit Slash at www.slashonline.com.