Slash joins forces with AC/DC's Brian Johnson on 'Killing Floor' single
Lifted from his blues covers album 'Orgy of the Damned'
Last updated 8th Mar 2024
Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash has joined forces with AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson on a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s 1964 song ‘Killing Floor.’
Also featuring a harmonica solo from Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, ‘Killing Floor’ is the first song from Slash’s 12-track album ‘Orgy of the Damned,' which features 11 blues covers and one Slash original.
Released on Friday 17th May 2024 via Gibson Records, ‘Orgy of the Damned’ also boasts guest spots from ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Iggy Pop, Gary Clark Jr., Beth Hart, The Black Crowes’ ‘Chris Robinson, Chris Stapleton and Tash Neal.
The songs covered highlight classics by blues heavyweights including Muddy waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Steppen Wolf, Stevie Wonder and more.
Watch Slash and Brian Johnson’s ‘Killing Floor’ video:
Slash says: “‘Killing Floor’ is one of my favorite Howlin’ Wolf songs, but also one of the iconic blues riffs that turned me on as a young guitar player. I've always wanted to cover it in some capacity and this record was the perfect vehicle. But playing it with this band, and with Brian Johnson singing, it was an achievement I would never have imagined back then. Let alone Steven Tyler providing the harp.”
Brian Johnson adds: "When Slash asked me to sing on ‘Killing Floor,’ I said yes immediately. It was one of the first songs I learned in my very first band, and when he played me the backing track it was a no-brainer, and Steven's harmonica is so bloody hot. I had a ball with Slash in the studio, and I think we did this great old song justice. Rock on.”
A description of ‘Orgy of the Damned’ reads: ‘A great cover takes something old and makes it new again. This is the philosophy behind Slash’s new album, Orgy Of The Damned, a collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalised blues classics with a stripped down, instinctive approach.
‘Working in a similar way to his 2010 self-titles solo LP Slash, which featured multiple guest vocalists, the acclaimed guitarist teamed up with numerous musicians and singers to create a singular expression that pays homage to the blues. By celebrating both well-known and largely undiscovered songs, Slash offers a nostalgic nod to the past while reinvigorating the songs with his inimitable guitar playing and the spirit of collaboration.’
Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators kick off their UK & Ireland arena tour in Dublin later this month before playing shows in Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow and London.
Slash’s ‘Orgy of the Damned’ track-listing:
The Pusher feat. Chris Robinson
Crossroads feat. Gary Clark Jr.
Hoochie Coochie Man feat. Billy F Gibbons
Oh Well feat. Chris Stapleton
Key To The Highway feat. Dorothy
Awful Dream feat. Iggy Pop
Born Under A Bad Sign feat. Paul Rodgers
Papa Was A Rolling Stone feat. Demi Lovato
Killing Floor feat. Brian Johnson
Living For The City feat. Tash Neal
Stormy Monday feat. Beth Hart
Metal Chestnut
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Alex Lifeson’s real name: Alexandar Živojinović
'Lifeson' is a semi-literal English translation of the Yugoslavian surname Živojinović, which means 'son of life'
Ginger Baker's real name: Peter Edward Baker
John 5’s real name: John William Lowery
Yngwie Malmsteen’s real name: Lars Johann Yngwie Lannerback
Rudy Sarzo’s real name: Rodolfo Maximiliano Sarzo Lavieille Grande Ruiz Payret y Chaumont
Eric Carr's real name: Paul Charles Caravello
Vinnie Vincent’s real name: Vincent John Cusano
Tina Turner’s real name: Anna Mae Bullock
King Diamond’s real name: Kim Bendix Petersen
Joey Tempest's real name: Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson
Michael Monroe’s real name: Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm
Mikkey Dee’s real name: Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou
Jonathan Cain’s real name: Jonathan Leonard Friga
Nikki Sixx's real name: Frank Ferrano
Steven Adler’s real name: Michael Coletti
Axl Rose's real name: William Bruce Rose
Bon Scott's real name: Ronald Belford Scott
Fish’s real name: Derek William Dick
Eddie Vedder's real name: Edward Louis Severson III
Peter Criss’ real name: George Peter John Criscuola
Freddie Mercury's real name: Farrokh Bulsara
Flea's real name: Michael Peter Balzary
Perry Farrell's real name: Perry Bernstein
Geddy Lee’s real name: Gary Lee Weinrib
Mick Mars' real name: Robert Deal
Tré Cool's real name: Frank Edwin Wright III
Courtney Love's real name: Courtney Michelle Harrison
Pat Smear's real name: Georg Albert Ruthenberg
Gene Simmons' real name: Chaim Klein Witz
Spike’s real name: Jonathan Gray
Iggy Pop's real name: James Newell Osterberg, JR.
Alice Cooper's real name: Vincent Damon Furnier
Slash's real name: Saul Hudson
Mike Dirnt's real name: Michael Ryan Pritchard
Ronnie James Dio's real name: Ronald James Padavona
Brody Dalle's real name: Bree Joanna Alice Robinson
Skin's real name: Deborah Anne Dyer
Nicky Wire's real name: Nicholas Jones
Amy Lee's real name: Amy Lynn Hartzler
Bill Wyman's real name: William Perks
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Paul Stanley's real name: Stanley Eisen
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Duff McKagan's real name: Michael McKagan
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John Paul Jones' real name: John Baldwin
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Joe Strummer's real name: John Graham Mellor
Marc Bolan's real name: Mark Feld
The Edge's real name: David Howell Evans
Meat Loaf's real name: Marvin Lee Aday
Steven Tyler's real name: Steven Victor Tallarico
Ozzy Osbourne's real name: John Michael Osbourne
Jon Bon Jovi's real name: John Francis Bongiovi
Joey Belladonna’s real name: Joseph Bellardini
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