We were super stoked when Jason Momoa Game of Thrones stopped in at our Santa Monica location recently for some shopping. Hell Yeah! He also scored some King Baby Eyewear to sport at his upcoming nuptials! Thanks for the visit Matt! A ll of us at King Baby are excited to announce that our new line is officially on the King Baby Website. Each individual piece is hand crafted right here at our Santa Monica studio. We use rare and worldy materials ranging from fossilized Ivory, Jet Petrified wood , ancient Byzantine crosses and hand carved Brazilian quartz making each piece unique and in limited supply.

Check out the collection today at Kingbabystudio. Our handmade pieces are such a personal touch for the ones you love. Each piece takes on a different persona for the person who wears it, bringing a very unique quality to our works of art. We are inspired by many different materials, including pearls , silver, gold, diamonds, and CZ. We incorporate the most beautiful parts of each to personalize our work for you and the people you love. To read more about his new band and the new album pick up a copy of Guitar Magazine.

Also, be sure to check out www. As you have probably heard, Mr. When we got the call to supply Mr. Cruise with some KICK ASS jewelry to make his transistion believable we scrached our heads as many of you have done, wondering if we could really pull this off and better yet if HE could pull this off. Check out the spread below and tell us what you think. By now many have been sold again, so they could be anywhere in the world.

Question from Jordan: What goes through your head right before you walk on stage in front of thousands of people? I am full of nervous energy. Question from Ray: What was the first gig you ever played where you got paid Do you remember any of the songs?

When SLASH was recovering from pneumonia, he decided that answering some more fan questions was a good way to stay in touch with fans. These are printed in the Current Events section then archived here. Does it make a difference in your guitar playing when you work with a different singer, or do you just come up with the riffs and have him sing over them without your altering them?

Why is there no publicity of Snakepit? Is that a personal thing? I know that publicity depends on management and the record company, but here in Europe I've talked to some friends about it, and they all have bought the album. They think Rod is fantastic, and they are waiting to see the band rockin'. Thankx J. But I will remind them for sure. We have heard similar complaints from other countries.

Come on, Koch Records! Levi, if you would send your mailing address to webmaster snakepit. Next time, a fan asks about playing for singers with different styles. We'll move them when we finish this first set of five. This question comes from Clint Roberts. Clint, if you're out there, please send your mailing address to webmaster snakepit.

It's not too late to send questions in! Clint asks, "I have always wondered out of all the songs you have written, past and present, which one or ones are you most proud of?

SLASH replies, "I'm really proud of almost everything that I have recorded, in some way, shape or form - whether I wrote or made a guest appearance - if it is cool enough to immortalize the song, you have to be proud of it. The first question is made up of 3 questions that had to do with beginning guitarists.

Do you recommend playing by ear or trying to learn all the scales and other beginner's techniques? How do you learn to improvise? What advice would you give to young aspiring musicians with regard to the business side of the music industry? SLASH replies: The only real advice I can give to a beginning guitarist is pick up on everything: reading, writing, learning from records.

Watching other guitarists play live is also a good way to learn. Whatever catches your ear and everything in between Establish an idea of what you would like to hear yourself playing, and follow that concept.

Try to learn bits and pieces of music you like amidst compositions that you don't necessarily like in their whole form. In short, be yourself. Do everything you can to establish that while digesting everything else around you. You know, right at the right kind of time. Connan in France asks, "There are thousands of people who have learned to play the guitar thanks to you and who now dream of playing a song with you.

Do you remember and how did you feel when you first played with Joe Perry? Were you totally flipped out and were you proud of yourself? Do you realize today that a lot of young but good guitarists would like to jam with you? Do you realize their dream sometimes? We played "Train Kept-A-Rollin' ". It was hard for me to believe that I was jamming with the same guy and Steven Tyler, Brad, Tom and Joey that I'd been listening to on record and in concert for years.

Aerosmith has always been one of my favorite bands. The feeling was incomparable! To answer the other half of your question, I don't think I've played with anyone who is as big a fan of mine as I am of Joe Perry yet. But it's cool to know that there are lots of fans out there who might like to jam with me!

I was wondering if you could give me a brief history on this guitar. I've heard from one source that it's a '59, and from another that it's a ' I've heard that it used to belong to Duane Allman and Joe Perry.

I've also heard that you plan on giving this guitar back to Joe Perry. Are any of these rumors true? Apparently it had been stolen from Joe Perry and sold a few times before someone called me and asked if I was interested in buying it. Once I found out it was the real thing, I bought it. Anyway, I kept it for a long time; but I knew that Joe really loved that guitar probably as much as I did. So I gave it to him for his birthday earlier this year. This next question comes from a frustrated fan, J.

Levi, in Spain. Next time: a question from a frustrated fan. You know right at the right kind of time. Please get in touch with webmaster snakepit. He asks, "Would you ever do an album like Carlos Santana did with guest singers on each song and you playing your Les Paul on each song? But it would have to be the right move at the right time. Let's take an interesting question from Daniel. Billy Sweeney asked this question, "Which of your songs do you consider to be the hardest to play?

That song is tricky and fast. Plus, it is the first song in the set which makes it twice as foreboding". Here's a brief question from the webmaster.

Did you know Joey? Would you comment on his contribution to music"? We hung out a few times, and he was always quiet and cool. What matters is how much fun you're having at the moment. Playing, touring, the music, the fans, etc. I think the solos on it were just incredible.

I didn't have anything to do with "Sentimental Movie". Axl and West Arkeen plus maybe Izzy recorded that one night when we were all hanging out at "Hell House".

That's a house we all used to squat at. I can't remember if I put a solo on it or not. But, no, Snakepit will never play that song. I don't even remember how it went it was so long ago. This one is from Daniel who asks, "How does it feel being such a large icon of rock"? It that is true, I feel pretty humble". Todd was thinking along those same lines, and here is his question.

It sounds like Axl singing, but the guitar doesn't sound like your style. I don't think it is the 'new' GNR, so could you tell me what's the deal with this song?

Thanks, man, you rock! I don't know who wrote that, but it is definitely old". I've noticed that you have a cool fast riff that you sometimes play in different solos. You played it in the guitar solo in Paris 93 in the beginning of the solo and in the solo in "Double Talkin' Jive" in Tokyo the times I've heard it anyway.

I have tried to find out how you play it but no luck so far. You must have thousands of riffs like this; but if you know which one I'm talking about, could you give me a hint? I am sure I probably play it a lot without realizing it, but then again, that's usually improv. Would it be wise to have one custom made at enormous cost? Or would I be better off having it re-strung"? So my best advice is, if you are left handed, and it has a single cutaway, don't re-string it. For a left hander, it would be a little awkward, but if it's not then use it as is.

Whatever you do, find what is more comfortable for you". This question is from Janet who asks, "When you are creating your fabulous music, which comes first - the lyrics, the melody or the instrumentals? Sometimes just music and melodies, sometimes lyrically, sometimes by mistake.

The end result is, more often than not, collaborative. Also, do you ever use your delay effect on any live solos? Also, I have a Boss delay for solos as well. Plus I switch between two Marshall heads, one for dirty and one for clean".

Paulo Jose asks, "How do I know if I'm better suited to be a lead or a rhythm guitar player"? But if an individual wants only to play rhythm, that's personal choice and maybe only learn rhythm.

But if an individual wants to play lead, it comes in handy to learn rhythm as well". This one comes from Antti in Finland who asks, "I just wanted to know, what is your favorite species of snakes?

But it would have to be the right people at the right time. So we'll see what happens". This one is also from Nick in Buffalo.

Do you practice every day? How long do you play for each day, and what do you usually do when you practice? Do you work on theoretical stuff such as scales and chords, or do you more or less just write new stuff and work out songs? Do you practice with a metronome?

Slash replies, "I don't really have a practice schedule at home. I just try to play as much as possible. I play more than I practice. I work on riffs and licks, song ideas or whatever interesting solo exercises come up with. It is usually different every day. I have a metronome, but I hardly use it. This question is from Simone in Italy, and several others submitted a similar one. Simone asks, "Hi there. Sometimes it makes the tension on the string and drum heads a little bit looser.

Mostly bands tune down to sound heavier. The lower the lowest note within reason , the heavier, e. Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Metallica". Craig asks, "Besides other musicians is there anyone else that you looked up to during your childhood? Anyone that made an impression that perhaps helped you with your music abilities even though they didn't play any musical instruments?

SLASH replies, "Great movie directors who used great music for their films was and is a huge influence on me. This SLASH question is from Diana who asks, "One of the most memorable moments in rock videos was when you left the church in "November Rain" and played your brilliant guitar solo. I understand the actual photography was done from a helicopter. The results were spectacular, with many cuts of you from amazing angles.

What are your recollections from the making of that remarkable scene"? SLASH replies, "Diana, the most memorable moments during the shooting of "The Church" scene were the helicopter "dive bombing" toward me at full speed almost knocking me off my feet.

But the hard part was doing it take after take after take from all different angles. The propeller blades were so close I figured one more pass and "November Rain" would have been my last video. Thankfully, "no harm, no foul"! What I mean is: the one that sounds good, feels good, looks good, etc. Sometimes the right guitar can take a long time to find. Sometimes it's easy, but it's magic when it happens. Most important - be patient!

And have you ever thought of doing vocals on one song? Because I've heard you sing and I think you have a great voice. Because they are insanely passionate about their music! I don't have the personality for it. The guitar sound travels through the amp, then into the voicebox, then through a rubber tube into my mouth and is picked up by a vocal microphone, then the sound comes out direct via the PA. The question comes from Santiago in Argentina. It also happens that when I put the gain of my Marshall Valvestate VS 30R all the way up and put the volume at 4 or 5 of course the guitar is also at the max , it starts to make an increasing horrible and annoying feedback.

This feedback is like the sound when you point a voice mic at the speaker. I was wondering if you had any problems playing in your first years due to an instrument and if someone can improve his playing no matter what instrument he's got. Also, a hollow body always resonates with a high pitch feedback at such a gain level because it is hollow. The guitar resonates much more than a solid body. Also, the pickups could be wound single coil which causes high frequency as well.

You have to be patient and try different combinations of volume and amp distance, etc. Difficult but not impossible. I have a Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge, but when I play stuff you wrote, I always keep it in the neck position. I assume for some solos you would switch to the bridge pickup, e.

Brownstone, for some more treble? Always experiment! I particularly like the orchestration. Did you have the horn and sax parts in mind when you wrote the song or add them in later? Who did the arrangements? They really make the song". Ray, I wrote the music for "Ain't Life Grand" on guitar and bass first. Then I had the idea for the horns afterward.

When we recorded it, I had Jack Douglas Producer bring in some great session guys to play the horn bits. The arrangements came naturally in my head, and the session guys interpreted Jack's and my direction and wrote them down and played them great". How many instruments can you play?

Was the banjo hard to learn? Can you play drums"? I cheated with the banjo and tuned it like a guitar to make it sound like I really knew what I was doing in one take".

The question comes from Simrin who asks, "SLASH, your guitar is tuned half a step down from "standard settings", in other words, it's tuned to sound 1 fret lower. How does this affect the bass and rhythm guitarists? Do they also have to tune their guitars down half a step so the music fits well, or do they just tune to the standard settings as normal? Wouldn't it be hard for the others if your guitar is tuned down half a step?

That's really the whole reason, but for rock and roll it sounds a little fatter, heavier. Sometimes it is work depending on the situation, but still, to be appreciated is worth the effort. What do you feel when you see the happiness in their eyes because they are meeting you? It's the people's positive reaction that makes everything magical. Do they act different? That is why touring is so much fun! If so, what came of that? Can you please tell me which side you play?

The lead guitar in stereo left, middle, right comes out the right headphone. I'm from Los Angeles and am currently playing lead in a metal band playing local venues, Whisky, Coconut Teaser, etc. My question is, I am currently in a disagreement with the band.

I want to incorporate a more melodic sound and get out of the rut of playing the same licks over an E5 for a hundred measures, but each time I venture out of the typical 'shred' I get called on it.

I am learning all these cool things in theory class and no one else gets it. What should I do? Don't listen to what everybody else says. Please tell me what guitar effect you used in this song. Thank you very much for your help.

The next question is from Greg who asks, "Other than your own albums, would you ever produce someone else's work? Have you ever been asked to do so? If I'm in England, I'm usually playing and touring". Tatiana in Brazil. She asks, "A friend of mine told me once that you and Richie Sambora have played together once, is that true!!?

It would have had to have been a long time ago. Have you ever played a Fender? What do you think of Fenders? I use Fenders in the studio on occasion. I think Fenders are looking and sounding hot, but I feel the most at home with a Les Paul. I know he used to have an 'old' Corvette, like a '' Does he still have it?