TODD KERNS: SLASH Is 'One Of The Kindest People I Know'

Jim Barber of The Belleville Intelligencer recently conducted an interview with Todd Kerns, the bassist and backup vocalist in Slash's band as well as a member of SIN CITY SINNERS.

On how excited he still gets before some gigs:

Todd: "[Slash] always laughs because I am like, 'Wow, there's Rick Nielsen from CHEAP TRICK here,' and he has known the guy for a thousand years. His reality is so much different than ours. But that sort of stuff never gets old. I am always very excited by it. Not only is this what I do, but music is also my passion. I love rock and roll music. It's what I grew up on, and it's still the forefront of my interests and the forefront of my thrills, really."

On how far Slash is removed from being a wild and crazy, egomanical rock diva:

Todd: "We're talking about a guy who is in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, who has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and has those millions of albums sold, and has worked with everyone from Fergie, to Michael Jackson and QUEEN ... it really doesn't get much bigger in a lot of ways. For all those things, he could be a total monster and a totally awful person, although we would all still put up with it because of all those accomplishments. But he is not. He is one of the kindest people I know. And I am always afraid of saying things like that for fear that it somehow blows an image of him, like he wants to come off as a little darker or a little heavier. He is a serious man, and he is incredibly focused and incredibly driven at a time in his life and career when he really doesn't need to ne. He could be one of those guys that just phones it in. In a lot of ways, I think he is playing better than he ever did. And I think it's a case of him still trying to dig deep and carving out new things and new challenges for himself."

On how much he and drummer Brent Fritz are seen as part of Slash's band, and not simply hired guns:

Todd: "Even when we did the 'Live At Stoke' live CD and DVD, I didn't anticipate it being anything more than a photo of Slash and probably Myles on the cover and inside, because it was always billed as Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and I knew that walking in. Slash is an icon and Myles is a multi-platinum selling artist and has accomplished a great deal on his own. I always knew my place and I am okay with my place. And then all of a sudden they put out this live album and our photos are in it and we're listed as part of the band."

Read the entire interview from The Belleville Intelligencer.