Slash in Malaysia: He came, he played, he rocked

[ 19-02-2015 ]
Slash and The Conspirators gave a solid two-hour performance of great head-banging rock music at their recent concert in Malaysia. Photo: UTUSAN MELAYU
Slash and The Conspirators gave a solid two-hour performance of great head-banging rock music at their recent concert in Malaysia. Photo: UTUSAN MELAYU


Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only Slash.

WHAT makes Slash, Slash? Is it the top hat? That signature mop of unruly long hair? His status as a former Guns N’ Roses guitarist? His classic guitar riffs and solos?

To answer that question, you have to watch him live. There are few live music moments that are more stunning than watching the legendary guitarist perform one of his guitar solos – with his head thrown back, caressing his guitar almost lovingly while his fingers dance across the strings, coaxing out sounds you never imagined a guitar could produce.

When they were here in 2010, Slash and the band – that would later become known as The Conspirators (comprising Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy, rhythm guitarist Brent Fitz, and bassist Todd Kerns) – put on one of the most memorable rock concerts in Malaysia at the time.

This time around, having toured together for five years and releasing two albums together, the “Slash World On Fire Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators Live In Malaysia 2015” concert at the Sunway Lagoon Surf Beach last Saturday felt tighter and much more polished than the previous one.


Master of his craft: Watching Slash play one of his guitar solos was simply mesmerising. Photo: Utusan Melayu
Master of his craft: Watching Slash play one of his guitar solos was simply mesmerising. Photo: Utusan Melayu

Opening with You’re A Lie (from 2012’s Apocalyptic Love) followed by Guns N’ Roses classic Night Train, the high octane one-two punch set the tone for a solid two hours of great head-banging rock music. Kennedy was on top vocal form throughout the show, whether it was on the band’s own original songs or while covering Velvet Revolver and Guns N’ Roses classics. 

In a recent interview, Slash had mentioned that their new album World On Fire is a good, old fashioned rock album and the songs they played off it were proof of it. 

Wicked Stone, however, stood out thanks to Slash’s wickedly long guitar solo at the end of it. It was the first of several mighty extended solos he played that night, one of which lasted almost 10 minutes, but still made you wish it could go on forever. 

The man is a true master of his craft, and watching him play was simply mesmerising. 

Heck, I never knew the instrument was capable of so many different sounds!

So electric was the sight of Slash in full flight that even when the unmistakeable opening riffs of Sweet Child O’ Mine came on, and the concert switched to full-on karaoke mode, all our eyes remained fix on that top hat, that mop of hair, and those fingers dancing across manically across those guitar strings.

THAT, my friends, is what makes Slash, Slash.





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