You can now hear Slash’s previously unreleased collaboration with late LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington
You can now listen to the full demo version of an unreleased collaboration between GUNS N’ ROSES guitarist Slash and the late LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington on YouTube, courtesy of the GUNS N’ ROSES-centric podcast “Appetite For Distortion.” The track, titled “Crazy,” was originally intended for Slash‘s debut solo album. However, it ended up being recorded for the album under the title “Captain Alibi” with the late MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister providing vocals.
Music producer Big Chris Flores, who worked on Slash‘s album over a decade ago, recently shared the full “Crazy” demo. In early 2022, Flores revisited the studio, enlisting Matt Starr (MR. BIG) and Doug Pinnick (KING’S X) to play drums and bass, respectively, for the track. The song is set to be officially released in the near future, with proceeds benefiting 320 Changes Direction, a mental health awareness organization founded by Chester‘s widow, Talinda Bennington.
Slash discussed his Bennington collaboration in a 2018 interview with Variety. He recalled: “When I was doing my first solo record, I worked with a lot of different people, some of whom, for whatever reason, didn’t end up on the record. One was with Chester. We did a song and LINKIN PARK at the time didn’t allow it to happen, so I did it with Lemmy. The guy who engineered my demos sent it to me and I sent it to Chester‘s family.”
Slash added that the song could see the light of day eventually, saying: “His family has got it, so it would be totally up to them. It was really good. He was awesome. It would be fine with me if they wanted to [release] it. Musically, it’s basically the same as the Lemmy song, but the lyrics are really poignant.”
The guitarist’s 2010 self-titled project featured various guest vocalists on each track, including Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie, Chris Cornell, Kid Rock, Myles Kennedy, Iggy Pop, M. Shadows, and more.
Reflecting on the collaborative process at the time, Slash explained how he approached the diverse lineup of singers: “I compiled, you know, a bunch of songs with a definite idea as to who would sound good on what. Then I had to make a presentable demo, call up the artist and go, ‘I’ve got this song, I’m doing this record with all these different singers on it, and I would love for you to be on it and I have a song I think you would like,’ and then send it to them. And then I got positive feedback all the way along the line there.”
Slash released his fifth album, “4,” and fourth with his band SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS, in February 2022.