When you’ve reached the pinnacle of rock ’n’ roll superstardom while remaining one of the most iconic and recognizable guitarists in the world for more than 35 years, what do you do for a fun little break? For Slash (born Saul Hudson), the answer is: Spend a few weeks throwing together a blues cover album with some old friends and then recruit some of the music world’s biggest vocalists from the last 60 years to sing on it. That’s how “Orgy of the Damned” came about when he had a little time between tours last year. With 11 classic blues covers (each featuring a different vocalist) and an original instrumental closer, it likely competes with his self-titled solo debut as the most star-studded album Slash has ever put together.
Featuring everyone from veteran rock legends like Billy Gibbons, Iggy Pop, Brian Johnson and Steven Tyler to current musical superstars such as Gary Clark Jr. and Chris Stapleton performing on songs written by artists like T-Bone Walker, Stevie Wonder and Howlin’ Wolf, “Orgy of the Damned” has more name recognition than most major albums with years of planning around them — even if it was mostly just an impromptu jam session. “The idea to do this record had been sitting in the back of my head for years, and then all of a sudden I felt an urgency to do it right then and there,” Slash recalls, noodling on a Les Paul in the desk chair of his private studio in Encino.
“We booked a little rehearsal room in North Hollywood for two .