Slash is no stranger to pairing music with the end of the world. A few of his solo albums are titled Apocalyptic Love, and “We’re All Gunna Die” is the upbeat title of one of his tracks with Iggy Pop. He knows very well that listening to rock music and, if nothing else, making the end of the world seem pretty cool is one of the best things we can do when we go out.
As such, he was rather quick to respond when asked what songs he would listen to if the world ended. Even though the songs’ structures and tones differ from one another, they are all firmly within the rock genre. That’s what comes to mind when you think of them—crashing through the fire at the end of the world—and you wouldn’t expect anything less from Slash.
He begins by quoting the Rolling Stones song “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking.” One of the most sexual bands on the planet makes sense to be on the list. Considering how many people would probably spend their final moments on Earth having sex or declaring their love to others. This lengthy track from the album Sticky Fingers features subtle Santana influences throughout. The spontaneous jam session at the end was entirely unplanned.
The unplanned aspect of this song made Mick Taylor, the Stones’ lead guitarist at the time, say it’s one of his favourites. It was not planned; it just happened by accident. As the song was coming to an end, I just wanted to keep playing. The tape continued to roll even though everyone was setting down their instruments, and it sounded fantastic. It was a one-take thing that just happened. It seems like a lot of people truly enjoy that section.
Continuing with the theme, Slash chooses Aerosmith, a band that has been accused of trying to imitate the Rolling Stones on multiple occasions. He states that he would specifically listen to their 1976 song “Nobody’s Fault.” In keeping with the end-of-the-world theme, Steven Tyler’s fear of earthquakes made headlines in the 1970s. It served as a minor inspiration for this song.
Slash also chooses Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” It can be difficult to choose a song that truly captures the band because of the wide range of genres and sounds that influence their work, but “Whole Lotta Love” is a solid contender. It demonstrates the hard rock sound of the group, Robert Plant’s vocal prowess, and their creative approach to creating atmosphere.
The list also includes Queen, but the song selection is rather odd. Choosing “Fat Bottomed Girls,” a lesser-known song, over the band’s greatest hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody” or “Don’t Stop Me Now,” Slash shows his preference. The abundance of guitars in this song makes it one of the band’s most expected works. Slash might choose a song featuring an unusual guitar.
At last, he selects “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses, one of his compositions. Although he acknowledges that it’s not their best song, he thinks the band’s tone makes it the best representation of them. “Not necessarily the best song that we ever did, but just a really good representation of what the bands about,” he explained. “Just because it was such a great, fun song.”
Slash’s apocalypse playlist
- The Rolling Stones – ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?’
- Aerosmith – ‘Nobody’s Fault’
- Queen – ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’
- Led Zeppelin – ‘Whole Lotta Love’
- Guns N’ Roses – ‘Paradise City’
