(HoundsTV – Toronto) Guitar god Slash was a keynote guest during 2010 Canadian Music Week. He did a lot of press to talk up his upcoming solo record.

And we mean A LOT.

Jane Stevenson, of QMI Agency (or whatever new call letters media consolidation in Canada continues to dream up. I will only continue to think of her as the long-time music reporter “Jane Stevenson from the Toronto Sun“)

Stevenson sat down with Slash and asked him his feelings about Axl Rose’s forever-in-the-making and eventually released Guns N’ Roses record Chinese Democracy:

“I thought it was exactly what I thought it would sound like… It was very indicative of what I thought he would do. So it was absolutely no surprise. ’Cause we had sort of like the Guns N’ Roses sound, which was just a straight-ahead rock band, and along the way Axl started to get very sort of techno, or had a lot of techno influences. And when I say that I mean like synthesizers and a lot of digital influence. And of course we sort of kept an old-school approach, and I think besides everything else musically, we sort of went off in different directions. Axl’s is definitely very digital and very Pro-Tools and very synthesized — whatever sounds are augmented by outside sources.” – SLASH, on Guns N’ Roses Chinese Democracy record

I’m glad Jane asked Slash how he felt about Chinese Democracy. It’s the question I wanted to ask (and tried) and took some knocks from some feeling it wasn’t a fair question to ask Slash.

Roberts, a Toronto native has a long history of interviewing rock stars as he formally worked in music television in Canada during the eighties.

During the interview, Phillips shared memories with Slash of neighborhood restaurants they would frequent as she and Slash grew up in the same LA neighborhood.

It was during the last year’s Canadian Music Week that HoundsTV was first to break the story that Roberts and Phillips, after their respected first marriages ended, had hooked up and become a couple.

Phillips and Roberts are sharp and very experienced interviewers, with JD well versed in rock lore. During the Slash interview, They might have relied too much on Slash’s 2007 autobiography and rehashed stories out of the book. The only problem, Slash did all that on his book tour a few years ago so there was no real big surprises uncovered on the day.

Phillps seemed particularly interested in hearing Slash’s thoughts on Michael Jackson as the pair did work together and were friends. But when Phillips followed up for a third question about Jackson, the interview suddenly had the feel that the anchors was looking to score a good sound bite they could later use on CNN.

The anchor pair also went on too long, and when it came time for audience questions (promised by the hosts at beginning) they just wrapped up the keynote. Some groans in the crowd could be heard.

While Roberts and Phillips are not keeping their relationship a secret from the press anymore – HoundsTV couldn’t help but notice a lovely ring on the engagement finger of Ms. Phillips.

Will the pair have more good news to share soon?


photos courtesy shot7.com

Slash was met at Toronto’s Pearson airport by at least one professional autograph collector (and his helpers) who are on a mission to get a few guitars signed by the original Guns N’ Roses lineup. This particular collector was about the only one to get Axl to sign his guitars a few weeks ago when Guns N’ Roses rolled through Toronto on a Canadian tour.

Slash was more than happy to spend a few minutes and sign for the collectors that greeted his Toronto arrival. His handler politely asked everybody to line-up outside the terminal and Slash added his signature and skull & crossbones sketch to the guitars which already have Axl Rose’s autograph on it.

Next up, IZZY & DUFF. The professional collectors Gn’R journey continues…

MARCH 11th UPDATE: Mission complete on guitars. Slash signed Bryan’s last two guitars after his Canadian Music Week interview. Though, it was not without some difficulties.
photos courtesy shot7.com