SLASH Addresses Rumors

Over the weekend, Slash took part in PokerStars.net's North American Poker Tour celebrity charity tournament in Vegas and at the event, the VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist cleared up some of the rumors for VH1 Radio Networks' Dave Basner. First, he addressed reports that he plans to do a rock album with BLACK EYED PEAS singer Fergie's (a.k.a. Stacy Ann Ferguson),who sings on a track on his upcoming solo album.

"You know what?! I mentioned that she wants to do a rock album at one point," he said. "That's all it was, I don't know when she's gonna do it or anything like that, but we talked about working together on it when she does it. But when I say that, I mean in that in the vaguest way. If she does it, I would love to do it with her, yeah."

And as for those reports that Axl Rose wouldn't let fans with anything related to Slash on their clothes into GUNS N' ROSES shows? Slash doesn't even pay attention to items like that.

"Yeah, I never really… I never entertained that as necessarily being truthful," he said. "A lot of stuff happens and people love to talk so I just took it as rumor and left it at that."

Although Slash is gearing up for the release of his first official solo album, he says that VELVET REVOLVER is still together and has not given up on looking for a new lead singer. He told RollingStone.com, "I think (bassist) Duff (McKagan) is doing something with JANE'S ADDICTION right now so we're all sort of all over the place doing whatever until we can all regroup. We did listen to a lot of singers, but there hasn't been anybody that's going to be the guy so far.

VELVET REVOLVER has been hunting for a singer since April 2008, when the band decided to dismiss Scott Weiland due to his erratic behavior. Although the group reportedly auditioned several vocalists, the only one confirmed by name was former SPACEHOG frontman Royston Langdon.

Slash told The Pulse of Radio a while back that finding the right person had not been easy. "It's just a tough gig, because we're looking for something that isn't what you'd consider readily available these days, which is a rock singer with heart, that has a certain amount of intensity that's genuine, that's not fabricated," he said. "And this business is the way it is right now, so it's like finding a needle in a haystack."

Slash has also said that the band's next vocalist isn't likely to be as famous as Weiland, who is now back with his original group, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS.

Meanwhile, Slash will release his self-titled solo album in April. The project features a different guest vocalist on every track, including Dave Grohl, Chris Cornell, Fergie, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and others.

Recent reports have indicated that Duff McKagan is joining JANE'S ADDICTION as a bassist and songwriter following the departure of original bassist Eric Avery.

VELVET REVOLVER's last album, "Libertad", came out in early 2007.