Slash Cold-Called Chris Stapleton to Get Him to Sing on His Blues Album: 'One of the Best Ideas I've Had'

Slash will release his forthcoming album, 'Orgy of the Damned,' on May 17

slash CHRIS STAPLETON
Slash; Chris Stapleton. Photo:

 Kirkland/Disney via Getty

Slash wasn't going to take no for an answer when it came to Chris Stapleton singing on his album.

Speaking to Rolling Stone in an interview released Friday, April 12, the Guns 'N Roses rocker revealed that he knew he had to have the country star for his cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well."

“His singing cadence and that drawl that he has for this particular song, in my mind’s eye, it sounded perfect,” Slash, 58, told the outlet.

 “I had to get his number and cold-call him,” Slash added. “And he was really gracious about it and really bent over backwards to help me get it done.”

After they recorded the track, it came out exactly how Slash imagined it would. “I think it was one of the best ideas I’ve had in recent memory, was to have him sing that song," he said.

In 2016, Stapleton, 45, opened for the Nashville date of Guns 'N Roses' Not in This Lifetime reunion tour.

Slash's new album, Orgy of the Damned, is set for release on May 17 and features collaborations with Billy Gibbons, Iggy Pop, Demi Lovato, and more. Slash previously released single “Killing Floor” featuring vocals from AC/DC's Brian Johnson and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler.

Following the release of his album, the rocker will embark on his S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival Tour across North America with various musicians.

"The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour is a celebration of blues and rock ‘n’ roll music, and a celebration of unity and togetherness in these uncertain and divisive times," said Slash said a press release on his website.

According to the Grammy winner, S.E.R.P.E.N.T. stands for "Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance" and ties into the tour's charitable aspect, as its proceeds will partially benefit The Equal Justice InitiativeKnow Your Rights CampThe Greenlining Institute and War Child.

"S.E.R.P.E.N.T is a vehicle to help support and uplift people and communities suffering from the injustices of racism and equal rights violations, as well as to support children adversely affected by war and poverty across the world," continued Slash.

"So, we are contributing a portion of every ticket and VIP package sold from the tour to those ends. S.E.R.P.E.N.T. will also provide an environment where folks can get together for a day of great music and hang out and have a good time," his statement concluded.

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