SLASH To Let 20 Unsigned Bands Open For Him

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Slash has teamed up with Guitar Center to give 20 unsigned bands the chance to open for the legendary guitarist on an upcoming tour. As part of Guitar Center's "On Stage" program, each of the groups will be personally selected by Slash to perform at a stop on the trek closest to their hometown. One of the acts will be selected at the end of the tour as the grand prize winner, which entitles them to take home $10,000 in guitars from Gibson and Epiphone, a $5,000 shopping spree at Guitar Center and more.

Slash told The Pulse Of Radio that with the traditional music industry in decline, young bands need to expose their music any way they can. "Right now, for kids starting a band and all that, it's like the Wild West out there," he said. "There's no set path. There's a lot of great opportunities, there's a lot of different avenues that are available to you now that weren't available back in the day, but they're all hit or miss. You know, you've just got to take your chances."

All 20 bands will receive tour support prize packs that includes gear from Ernie Ball, Zoom, Dunlop, Monster Cable, Pro-Mark, and Converse.

The cities in which groups will be chosen to play include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, New York, Phoenix and others.

Bands looking to get on the tour can submit their music for consideration at the official "On Stage" web site, with June 30 the deadline for entries.

Slash will release his second solo album, titled "Apocalyptic Love", on May 22. The new disc was recorded with the members of his touring band, which features ALTER BRIDGE singer Myles Kennedy.

The guitarist, who was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last month as a member of GUNS N' ROSES, kicked off a tour to promote the new CD on Thursday night (May 3) in Baltimore. He plays Friday night (May 4) in Virginia Beach.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn