The GRAMMY Museum was thrilled to welcome SLASH, the iconic, GRAMMY® Award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, guitarist, and songwriter to the Museum’s Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace for an evening discussing his album Orgy of the Damned, a star-studded, vibrant homage to the Blues. GRAMMY Hall of Fame Producer and longtime SLASH collaborator Mike Clink joined the conversation to discuss the creative process for the album, and an intimate acoustic performance followed.
Released in May 2024, SLASH’s critically acclaimed sixth solo album Orgy of the Damned—produced by Clink—is available worldwide on Gibson Records HERE. A first for SLASH, Orgy of the Damned spent 13 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart in the U.S. The new album also debuted as the #1 Blues Album in the U.S and the U.K., #2 on the U.S. Rock Albums Chart, as well as achieving Top 10 Chart positions in 7 countries around the world.
Hailed a beautifully tailored love letter to the Blues, on Orgy of the Damned SLASH revitalizes blues classics with the album’s handpicked diverse guest vocalists, which include Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Chris Stapleton, Iggy Pop, Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Robinson (Black Crowes), Dorothy, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Tash Neal, and Beth Hart. SLASH selected standard blues songs made famous by Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, and tracks from blues rock bands like Peter Green‘s Fleetwood Mac and Steppenwolf. He even strays from the blues for the Motown tracks from the Temptations and Stevie Wonder, showcasing the inherent blues underlying all great music from the 60s and 70s. The legendary guitarist reunited with two of his bandmates from his Blues Ball Band outfit in the 90s, Johnny Griparic (bass), and keyboardist Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis (keys) and brought on drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal who round out his blues band in the studio and on the road. With Orgy of the Damned, SLASH goes back to what has always been at the heart of his playing: the Blues.