Slash has hinted that a new Guns N’ Roses album might be on the way, saying it is “coming because everybody is thinking about it”.
The band have not released a full-length album since 2008’s much-delayed ‘Chinese Democracy’, while the last LP that either Slash or bassist Duff McKagan appeared on was the 1993 covers album ‘The Spaghetti Incident?’
Since Slash and McKagan rejoined the band in 2016, they have released a handful of new tracks, including ‘Absurd’, ‘Hard Skool’, ‘Precious’ and ‘The General’, but there has been no confirmation of a further album.
Now, in a new interview with Guitar World, the guitarist has suggested that a new record may well be on the way, although he is hesitant to commit to a time frame.
“There’s so much material at this point – it’s a matter of having the discipline to sit down and fucking get into it,” he said. “But the thing with Guns is, in my experience, you can never plan ahead. You can never sit down and go, ‘We’re going to take this time, and we’re going to do this.’ Every time we’ve done that, it falls apart.”
Speaking about how the band operate, he continued: “It just spontaneously happens through some sort of inspiration that triggers it. And the next thing you know, it’s off and running.”
“So it’s coming. I know it’s coming because everybody is thinking about it,” he added. “It’ll just happen when it happens.”
Slash has previously hinted that a new album is in the works. Last year, while promoting his solo album ‘Orgy Of The Damned’, he said: “Guns N’ Roses are trying to make their own record. And I’m working with them in that capacity, but this [solo album] didn’t involve anyone else.”
Guns N’ Roses are currently touring South America, after completing a European and Middle Eastern tour earlier this year. They also played at Black Sabbath’s ‘Back To The Beginning’ farewell show in July, with Axl Rose meeting Ozzy Osbourne for the first time at the event.
NME caught the band’s Glastonbury headline performance in 2023, calling it “one of their strongest sets in recent years” in a three-star review.
“To any G’N’R fan, the Glasto set undoubtedly marks one of the strongest sets that the rock veterans have given in recent years — completely devoid of sound issues, Axl Rose’s vocals in pretty good form, Slash at the top of his game and, probably the second biggest shock of the night, the band beginning the performance bang on time.”
In March, Frank Ferrer, the band’s drummer since 2006, left the band, and later expressed his “disappointment” at the decision.
