Slash's Blues Ball"I've never had predetermined goals for collaborating outside of my own group or project. I like the spontaneity of hooking with different artists by chance." (Slash)
In 1996 Slash put up this cover band together to play blues songs on stage. He reunite the band in 2024 to tour for his album Orgy Of The Damned.Band members
- Slash: lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1996-1998 & 2023-2024)
- Teddy Andreadis: vocals, keyboards, harmonica (1996-1998 & 2023-2024)
- Tash Neal: vocals, rhythm guitar (2023-2024)
- Johnny Griparic: bass, backing vocals (1996-1998 & 2023-2024)
- Michael Jerome: drums (2023-2024)
- Bobby Schneck: rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1996-1998)
- Alvino Bennet: drums (1996-1998)
- Dave McLarem: saxophone, backing vocals (1996-1998)
Michael Jerome, Johnny Griparic, Slash, Teddy Andreadis and Tash Neal in 2024History
1996-1998: Slash's Blues Ball part oneIn the autumn of 1995, Slash got back with Guns N' Roses, as the first Snakepit hiatus allowed him to put aside the tensions that opposed him to Axl. Nobody knows what really happened at that time but starting January 1st of 1996, Slash is no longer part of Gun's N Roses. His departure is not yet official when he is invited to play at the Sziget festival in Budapest: Slash accepts and puts up a Blues and Rock cover band.
Lead vocals are held by Teddy Andreadis, former stage harmonica and keyboardist of Gun N' Roses, and bass player Johnny Blackout is immediately hired. A rhythm guitar, a drummer and a saxophonist complete the line-up and they all fly to Budapest under the name of Slash's Blues Ball. More than 200,000 people attend the festival where artists such as Iggy Pop, Prodigy, Sonic Youth and The Stone Roses were also headlining. The Blues Ball takes the stage with twenty covers and splits once the mission is accomplished.
The 30th October of 1996 is a crucial milestone in Slash's professional career as Axl announces that Slash will no longer be involved in Guns N' Roses activities thus officializing the definitive split. As Slash doesn't like to remain inactive, he gets back on the road with the Blues Ball less than a month after. The band adds around ten covers to its repertoire to play four to five times a month in the U.S.A. until the summer of 1997, changing rhythm guitars and drummers from time to time. In June, Slash's Blues Ball gives two concerts in London for the Mad About Music festival. They play another seven gigs and will get on stage for the last time in November 16 during a tribute show for Jason Becker in Amsterdam.
2023-2024: Slash's Blues Ball part two
In 2023, Slash, who had wanted to record a blues album for a long time, reunited with two of his former Blues Ball bandmates, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and enlisted drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal. The group went into a rehearsal room in North Hollywood and began hashing out soulful, rollicking takes on classic songs. Some of the songs, like "The Pusher" (Steppenwolf), "Key To The Highway" (Charlie Segar) and "Born Under A Bad Sign" (Albert King) had been performed by Slash's Blues Ball on tour in the '90s.
After jamming together for a few weeks, the group recorded the instrumental tracks over a week in the spring of 2023 at East West Studios and Snakepit Studio in Los Angels which saw Slash reteaming with storied producer Mike Clink. Everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation. In the months that followed, Slash enlisted and recorded the album's diverse guest vocalists, who include Brian Johnson, Billy Gibbons, Dorothy Martin, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato or Beth Hart. The album, titled "Orgy Of The Damned", is released in May 2024 and is a collection of 12 blues covers.
Slash then brought S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival to tour across North America throughout summer 2024. S.E.R.P.E.N.T. is an anagram and stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N' Tolerance. Joining Slash and his bandmates at various stops on the tour were Warren Haynes Band, Keb' Mo', Larkin Poe, Christone Ingram, Samantha Fish, ZZ Ward, Robert Randolph, Eric Gales and Jackie Venson.
Played songs (1996-1998)
Neither Can I (Slash's Snakepit) / Always On The Run (Lenny Kravitz) / Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan) / Stone Free (Jimi Hendrix) / Red House (Jimi Hendrix) / Born Under A Bad Sign (William Bell) / Crossroads (Robert Johnson) / Nightprowler (AC/DC) / Oh Well (Fleetwood Mac) / Let It Roll (UFO) / Under My Wheels (Alice Cooper) / The Thrill Is Gone (B.B. King) / Key To The Highway (B.B. King) / Bad Luck (B.B. King) / Slowride (Foghat) / Superstitious (Stevie Wonder) / Funk #49 (James Gang) / The Pusher (Steppenwolf) / Magic Carpet Ride (Steppenwolf) / Travelin' Band (Creedence Clearwater Revival) / Hoochie Coochie Man (Willie Dixon) / Bring It On Home (Willie Dixon) / Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley) / Going Down (Don Nix) / Shake Your Money Maker (Elmor James) / Use Me (Bill Withers)Played songs (2024)
Awful Dream (Lightnin' Hopkins) / Big Legged Woman (Freddie King) / Born Under A Bad Sign (William Bell & Booker T. Jones) / Built For Comfort (Howlin' Wolf) / Cradle Rock (Rory Gallagher) / Crossroads (Robert Johnson) / Goin' Down (Don Nix) / Hoochie Coochie Man (Willie Dixon) / It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry (Bob Dylan) / Key To The Highway (Charles Segar & William Broonzy) / Killing Floor (Howlin' Wolf) / Metal Chestnut (Slash) / Oh Well (Fleetwood Mac) / Papa Was A Rolling Stone (Barrett Strong & Norman Whitfield) / Parchman Farm (Bukka White) / Shake Your Money Maker (Elmore James) / Stone Free (Jimi Hendrix) / Stormy Monday (T-Bone Walker) / The Hunter (Albert King) / The Pusher (Hoyt Axton)Live guests (1996-1998)
- Les Paul: guitar on "Let It Roll" and "Shake Your Money Maker" (New York 1996)
- Carole King: vocals on "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (New York 1996)
- Steve Lukather: guitar on "Hoochie Coochie Man" (Los Angeles 1998)
- Neal Schon: guitar on "Hoochie Coochie Man" (Los Angeles 1998)
- Ryan Roxie: guitar on "Night Prowler" (Los Angeles 1998)
- Ace Frehley: guitar on "Blues Jam" (Los Angeles 1998)
Live guests (2024)
- Warren Haynes: guitar on "Shake Your Money Maker", "Big Legged Woman" and "Going Down" (Bonner 2024 / Redmond 2024 / Tucson 2024)
- Myles Kennedy: vocals on "Crossroads" (Airway Heights 2024)
- Les Stroud: harmonica on "Hoochie Coochie Man", "The Pusher", "Born Under A Bad Sign" and "Big Legged Woman" (Bend 2024 / Lincoln 2024 / Los Angeles 2024)
- Eric Gales: guitar on "Stone Free" and "Going Down" (Bend 2024 / Lincoln 2024 / Los Angeles 2024 / Tucson 2024 / Cary 2024)
- Chris Robinson: vocals on "The Pusher" (Los Angeles 2024)
- Samantha Fish: vocals on "Key To The Highway" and "Going Down" (Tucson 2024)
- Keb Mo': guitar on "Born Under A Bad Sign" (Boston 2024)
- Dorothy Martin: vocals on ""Key To The Highway" (New York 2024)
- Robert Randolph: guitar on "Stone Free" (Clearwater 2024)
- The Lovell Sisters: guitar on "Crossroads" (Franklin 2024)
- Christone Ingram: guitar on "Big Legged Woman" (Grand Prairie 2024)
Opening acts (2024)
Christone Ingram / Eric Gales / Gracie Bowers / Jackie Venson / Keb Mo' / Larkin Poe / Robert Randolph / Samantha Fish / Warren Haynes / ZZ WardConcerts & shows
| Tour 1996-1998 | 43 concerts in 4 countries | |||
| Aug 14, 1996 | Budapest | Hungary | Sziget Festival |
| Nov 20, 1996 | San Diego | U.S.A. | Brick By Brick |
| Nov 21, 1996 | San Juan | U.S.A. | The Coach House |
| Nov 22, 1996 | Los Angeles | U.S.A. | House of Blues |
| Dec 5, 1996 | New York | U.S.A. | Tramps |
| Dec 6, 1996 | Boston | U.S.A. | Mama Kin's |
| Dec 7, 1996 | Philadelphia | U.S.A. | Electric Factory |
| Jan 29, 1997 | Palo Alto | U.S.A. | The Edge Nightclub |
| Jan 30, 1997 | San Francisco | U.S.A. | The Trocadero |
| Jan 31, 1997 | Santa Ana | U.S.A. | Galaxy Theatre |
| Feb 1, 1997 | Portland | U.S.A. | Roseland |
| Feb 2, 1997 | Seattle | U.S.A. | Fenix Underground |
| Feb 6, 1997 | Tempe | U.S.A. | Electric Ballroom |
| Feb 7, 1997 | Santa Ana | U.S.A. | Galaxy Theatre |
| Feb 8, 1997 | Ventura | U.S.A. | Ventura Theatre |
| Apr 4, 1997 | Baton Rouge | U.S.A. | Varsity Theatre |
| Apr 6, 1997 | Austin | U.S.A. | Back Room |
| Apr 8, 1997 | San Antonio | U.S.A. | White Rabbit |
| Apr 10, 1997 | New Orleans | U.S.A. | House of Blues |
| Apr 11, 1997 | Houston | U.S.A. | Area 51 |
| Apr 12, 1997 | Dallas | U.S.A. | Caravan of Dreams |
| Apr 14, 1997 | Phoenix | U.S.A. | Cajun House |
| Apr 15, 1997 | Las Vegas | U.S.A. | Hunt Ridge Club |
| Apr 19, 1997 | Las Vegas | U.S.A. | Pink E's |
| May 10, 1997 | Baltimore | U.S.A. | HarborView Center |
| May 23, 1997 | Los Angeles | U.S.A. | McInerny's |
| May 24, 1997 | Chicago | U.S.A. | House of Blues |
| May 28, 1997 | Boston | U.S.A. | Mama Kin's |
| Jun 6, 1997 | Seattle | U.S.A. | The Fenix Underground |
| Jun 20, 1997 | London | England | Docklands Arena |
| Jun 21, 1997 | London | England | Docklands Arena |
| Jul 1, 1997 | Clarkston | U.S.A. | Pine Knob Theatre |
| Jul 25, 1997 | Old Bridge | U.S.A. | Birch Hill |
| Jul 26, 1997 | Lincoln | U.S.A. | Loon Mountain |
| Aug 27, 1997 | Los Angeles | U.S.A. | Hollywood Colonade |
| Aug 31, 1997 | Denver | U.S.A. | Red Rocks Amphitheatre |
| Oct 5, 1997 | Los Angeles | U.S.A. | Hollywood Bike Jam 97 |
| Oct 31, 1997 | Phoenix | U.S.A. | Cajun House |
| Nov 4, 1997 | New Orleans | U.S.A. | House of Blues |
| Nov 16, 1997 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Paradiso |
| Dec 1, 1997 | Phoenix | U.S.A. | Cajun House |
| Jan 28, 1998 | Phoenix | U.S.A. | Cajun House |
| Jan 31, 1998 | Los Angeles | U.S.A. | The Roxy Theatre |
Tour 2024 | 25 concerts in 2 countries |
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| Jun 29, 2024 | Nashville | U.S.A. | Analog |
| Jun 30, 2024 | Nashville | U.S.A. | Analog |
| Jul 5, 2024 | Bonner | U.S.A. | KettleHouse Amphitheater |
| Jul 6, 2024 | Airway Heights | U.S.A. | Northern Quest Amphitheater |
| Jul 8, 2024 | Redmond | U.S.A. | Marymoor Park |
| Jul 10, 2024 | Bend | U.S.A. | Hayden Homes Amphitheater |
| Jul 12, 2024 | Lincoln | U.S.A. | Thunder Valley Casino |
| Jul 13, 2024 | Los Angeles | U.S.A. | Greek Theatre |
| Jul 14, 2024 | Tucson | U.S.A. | Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater |
| Jul 16, 2024 | Salt Lake City | U.S.A. | Red Butte Garden |
| Jul 17, 2024 | Denver | U.S.A. | Mission Ballroom |
| Jul 19, 2024 | La Vista | U.S.A. | Astro Amphitheater |
| Jul 28, 2024 | Toronto | Canada | Budweiser Stage |
| Jul 30, 2024 | Lewiston | U.S.A. | Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater |
| Aug 1, 2024 | Boston | U.S.A. | Leader Bank Pavilion |
| Aug 2, 2024 | Ledyard | U.S.A. | Foxwoods Casino |
| Aug 4, 2024 | New York | U.S.A. | Pier 17 |
| Aug 5, 2024 | Bethlehem | U.S.A. | Musikfest |
| Aug 7, 2024 | Cary | U.S.A. | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Aug 8, 2024 | Atlanta | U.S.A. | Cadence Bank Amphitheatre |
| Aug 10, 2024 | Clearwater | U.S.A. | The Sound |
| Aug 11, 2024 | St. Augustine | U.S.A. | St. Augustine Amphitheatre |
| Aug 13, 2024 | Huntsville | U.S.A. | The Orion Amphitheater |
| Aug 14, 2024 | Franklin | U.S.A. | FirstBank Amphitheater |
| Aug 17, 2024 | Grand Prairie | U.S.A. | Texas Trust Theatre |
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