This year marks the 5th anniversary of that one time I almost killed Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Slash.
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators were playing an ‘MMR concert event at North Seventh, formally known as the Electric Factory (now known as Franklin Music Hall). They were touring in support of their new album Living The Dream with Nick Perri & The Underground Thieves opening the show.
How I Got To Meet Him
I was slated to host the show, and during the discussions of my stage introduction, they asked if I wanted to meet Slash before the show. Hell-to-the-YEAH I did! So, I showed up to North Seventh hours before doors were set to open. I met with Slash’s tour manager. She asked me to wait in a dark, tiny closet of a room backstage while she went to check on Slash. Now, mind you, I was the only radio host on this entire tour given such access to him. Not sure why or how…
Slash’s tour manager escorted me back to his dressing room. The first thing I noticed was that the lights were awfully low in there. It made it a bit hard to see. As I walked into the dressing room, there was a couch to my right. What I didn’t see was the guitar on a stand on the floor right next to the couch. My head up as I locked eyes with Slash, I accidentally kicked over the guitar on the stand, knocking it to the floor. Strike one.
After apologizing profusely, Slash smiled and said, “It’s cool man.” We were chatting about a show he did with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators that I witnessed live in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 2012. Halestorm opened and Lzzy Hale performed “Out ta Get Me” with Slash, Myles and the Conspirators.
I gifted Slash a bag full of ‘MMR t-shirts, which he was pumped about. Afterwards, he asked if I wanted to take a picture with him, and of course, I did! I handed the tour manager my cell phone and walked over to Slash to get the shot.
The Stumble
I kicked and knocked over his guitar AGAIN! This time, I tripped over the guitar, and it caused me to fall INTO and ONTO Slash! Strike two AND three!
He caught me as I stumbled into him, almost falling onto the couch and almost crushing him in the process. I felt like the biggest buffoon at that point. The Slash & Myles show in Philly, let alone the rest of the tour, could have been in serious jeopardy had I done something more serious to him.
Then came the picture. One of my all-time favorite pictures ever! Me and one of my earliest childhood musical heroes, Slash!
The craziest part about this whole story is that the whole encounter lasted less than 5 minutes! Yes, all that chaos in less than 5 minutes. The outcome being this amazing picture of Guitar God Slash and I that I will cherish forever.
Slash celebrates his 58th birthday this Sunday, July 23rd. He also just announced that he is working on a new ‘Blues-Oriented’ solo album. It’s set for a 2024 release and features a bunch of different singers. It’s similar to his self-titled first solo record, which was released in 2010.
There are rumors that Guns N’ Roses will release a new song to the masses anytime now. GnR is set to perform live at Hershey Park Stadium on Friday August 11th, 2023, with Chrissie Hynde & The Pretenders tapped to open up the show. Get your tickets here.
Happy Birthday Slash! Sorry I almost crushed you to death!
Slash and I posing for a picture after I almost crushed him to death seconds prior. Can’t even tell, right?!