Don’t expect Slash to take the mic despite all of his amazing skills. For good reason, he has avoided taking the lead during his career on stage. Besides, with so many impressive guitar solos to his credit, he spends half of his performance talking with his fingertips. Once he dug out his old licks for the solo album, a round-robin of singers awaited him. Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas gave one of the best rock performances.
It seemed like Slash needed a record like this to clear his head, especially since Velvet Revolver had broken up a few years earlier. Why not turn the tables and invite everyone to come to him? The singers famously proved to be difficult to work with in his last two major bands.
Even though the track listing omitted a few noteworthy artists. Overall, the album sounds like it was recorded in the early 2010s. Everyone from Chris Cornell to Ozzy Osbourne to Iggy Pop performs on the album. Thus, how did we end up with Fergie with all those names?
For all those who listened to the album when it was first released, Fergie was primarily known as the singer of every Black Eyed Peas song. She did have a nice enough voice when she played off of herself. I am, but you do realize that doesn’t exactly fit the rock model?
Not true. According to Slash, Fergie needed to be included in a song like “Beautiful Dangerous.” He knew this when he first looked through potential musicians for the project. Slash first heard her voice while working the touring circuit, when she interrupted a set to sing a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog.” This was in contrast to the different digital schlock that the Peas were going through.
Slash stated that he felt it was inevitable that she would eventually appear on the record after seeing her perform a few shows. “I heard her do ‘Barracuda’, the old Heart song, and I was like, f—in’ wow!” She ended up singing “Barracuda” and “Sweet Child o’ Mine” during a couple of shows I did with her. She is among the best rock ‘n’ roll vocalists I have ever heard, regardless of gender.
She starts singing right away, and you can feel that attitude as well. The pre-chorus of the song sounds a lot like the raspier parts of Guns N’ Roses songs when Axl Rose gets angry. It showcases her rock chops. The lyrics, by no means, aim to be deep.
The 2010s may have benefited from a touring Fergie and Slash album. Myles Kennedy emerged unintentionally victorious from the group. He appeared on songs like “Back From Cali” and “Starlight.” Later, he went on to become a full-time member of Slash’s solo band, balancing this with his commitments to Alter Bridge. Fergie could fill in admirably if Slash plays solo or if Rose has a sore throat.
