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Last time I was in India, I was given a beautiful sitar: Slash

Slash — the legendary guitarist (formerly of Guns N’ Roses) — loves reptiles; ushered in the era of sex, drugs and rock and roll; and also has an affinity for Indian music. His background is as diverse and musically thick (with riffs and melodies) as his trademark shoulder-length hair. The 50-year-old maestro is on an India tour with his band (Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators) and is scheduled to play two back-to-back gigs on November 7 in Mumbai and on November 14 in Bengaluru. A day before his Mumbai concert, to be held at the Reliance Jio Gardens, he had a candid chat with this correspondent. Excerpts

How did you and Myles Kennedy click Any secret to the strong partnership

As you all know, I met him when I was making my first solo record (Slash, released in 2010 featuring various other singers). That was the first time I heard him sing. The tracks he did were Starlight and Back From Cali. I thought he was just amazing, so I started to work with him. We had a good chemistry from the onset and then started touring, hit the studio. It’s a relationship that worked.

Tell us a bit about your take on Indian music Any specific musician you are fond of

I listened to a lot of Indian music. I heard a ton of Ravi Shankar growing up, and then there are some other artists I’ve heard over the years. Nothing specific has come to my attention in the rock world as of lately, so it’ll be interesting to see what’s going on here while we’re over there I always heard great stories about India since I was a kid. I have always been excited to come here. India has great literature and culture.

Did Ravi Shankar catch your ears due to The Beatles

The whole 60s movement had a lot of Indian music influence and I was raised in the middle of that. Of course, I remember him for The Beatles. It made me aware of the musicians and the very sound of it. I can’t tell you much about the musicians and as to who is better than whom, I am talking about the overall feel of it. The last time I was here, I was given a beautiful sitar. I practise that often and I still have it. I have an affinity for that kind of sound.

Where do you plan to go in India during this tour

Well, I love Indian food in general. I plan to eat a lot of it. Apart from that, the idea is to just go around everywhere with whatever little time we have. I do not have a specific list of different things that I have to do, but we will take it as it comes, the idea is to improvise. I went to a couple of temples this morning.

What is your view on Electronic Dance Music/Electronica and the artistes You’ve also worked with few — is that the new Slash who keeps evolving with time

I’ve actually experimented with recording and performing with different DJs over the years. It’s interesting and I like some artists more than others, but at the same time it’s a bit too rigid and sterile for me since it’s all programmed.

Which is that one song that satisfied you the most as a musician

There are too many to mention. If I named one, I would be doing a million others disservice.

How difficult is it to create a signature sound, your own sound

I think it comes from struggling, to get better at what I do as an individual, so it’s not necessarily trying to create my own sound. It’s trying to improve my own sound.

Your old bandmate, Gilby Clarke (who recently played in Mumbai), said bands those days were blunt, rebels and real rock stars. The bands, in the current era, are politically correct. Your take

Oh yes, he was here. He texted me before he went to the airport. Politically correct. Hmm. [laughs] What turned me on that time for rock and roll is different, it is true. At present, it is safe and predictable but I am not judging it. Rock and roll is not as prevalent now compared to the times when I came up. Right now, it is a good time to say things about politics. It is a different period. But who knows what’s going to happen in 10 years Isn’t it

Rapid fire with Slash:

If there was a Slash biopic, who’d you want as the actor/director I am not really into that idea. I do not have anybody in mind. I wouldn’t. I really wouldn’t. Why the (signature) sunglasses I am in and out of sunlight, photographs or bright light. Reunion with Indus Creed, 1996 moment: Oh! So that was the year then. Yes, correct. Are they going to open for us, really Cool. I didn’t even know they were playing but that’s awesome. I had a great time back then, everyone treated me well. It was a great experience and I had come alone. Set list: We don’t have any [laughs]. We do a general mix. We do some Guns N’ Roses, Snakepit stuff as well as World On Fire. We’ve been on the road for more than a year, we have a basic framework, so we will see. On working with Ozzy Osbourne: By the way, I played with him the other day at New Orleans for Halloween. Ozzy and I have been friends for a long time or else, I would not have had the balls to call him up and sing for me. On reuniting with Aerosmith for a tour: Aerosmith was a turning point for GNR back in 1988. We had toured with them. It was interesting to see them all these years later at a time when there are no real rock bands left. After hanging out with them, I felt these guys are the real rock stars. The greatest rock star: Steven Tyler. I never paid attention before because we were friends, but seeing him on stage, I felt he is one. On possessing pythons: I don’t have the pythons anymore. I did it for a long time till my first son was born. After that, I thought it wasn’t a good idea to have those heavy, massive snakes in the house.

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