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- Slash McKagan
- Rep: 11
Re: DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs'
Casper of Silver Tiger Media recently conducted an interview with former GUNS N' ROSES and current SIXX: A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.
Speaking about he approaches soloing, Ashba said: "I've always looked at guitar playing as an extension of the story telling. Basically, it's where the vocalist hands you the song, and it's your job, your duty, to write the perfect solo for that song. I've never looked at guitar solos as, 'Okay, it's my turn to show off.' That's the worst mistake I think guitar players make. I take the song from the singer and I try to take the audience on a journey and bring them right back and hand it back off to the singer. And that's how I look at it when I write solos: I try to write the perfect solo for that song."
He continued: "I'm from the mindstate where I'm all about melody — I want people to walk away singing the solos. And that would mean more to me than, 'Wow, he's really fast on guitar.' That doesn't mean anything to me. You can play a million miles an hour and it's gonna go over everybody's head in the audience. But you hit one note with everything in your heart, and you're gonna turn every head in the room, and I've always believed that."
Ashba also talked about the differences between playing material that he had a hand in writing and performing songs that were composed by someone else. He said: "I'm not a schooled player. In fact, I played in GUNS N' ROSES for seven years, [and it was a challenge playing other] people's songs. I do my best, but I have such a distinct style, and it's hard for me to actually play other people's songs; I actually have to work at it, whereas SIXX: A.M. is my style. It's what [come out of me naturally]; I don't even have to think about what I'm playing, it's just… I feel it. And I can't explain it. Along the way, many people have wanted me to teach 'em how to play guitar, and I can't teach you, because I'm not a teacher."
Ashba, who joined GUNS N' ROSES in March 2009 following the departure of Robin Finck, issued a statement in July 2015 saying that he was leaving the band. His statement read in part: "It is with a very heavy heart and yet great pride that I announce that I've decided to close this chapter of my life and encapsulate the wonderful times that I've shared with GUNS N' ROSES into fond memories. I have reached a point in my life where I feel its time to dedicate myself to my band SIXX: A.M., my adoring wife and family, and to the many new adventures that the future holds for me."
Ashba said earlier in his statement that working with GUNS N' ROSES was "the most incredible journey I could have possibly imagined."
The first volume of SIXX: A.M.'s upcoming double album, "Prayers For The Damned", will drop April 29 via Eleven Seven Music.
Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ex-gun … d2PK4bl.99
- FlashFlood
- Rep: 55
Re: DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs'
Not hard to cash the check though.
- Smoking Guns
- Rep: 330
Re: DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs'
It is hard to play covers when you aren't used to doing that. Slash struggles too at times.... Cover band guitar players, some of them, are AMAZING players and can nail many, many solos, but can't write anything. Some original players are fantastic, like John Mayer, he is a great blues player. But I saw him try to play Van Halen once and it was pretty horrible.
Re: DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs'
Whaaaa? Slash is great cover player. Some of my favorite Slash moments are his covers.
The only time DJ sounded good was covering the guys in GNR, and he still fucked it up when he tried to do it in "his" style. His style is generic, Steve Stevens shit metal. I have not heard any DJ solo material that I've liked.
- Smoking Guns
- Rep: 330
Re: DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs'
DJ was the best Slash clone Axl ever had. Whatever else he was, he played those solos to a T. DJ is the only one who ever played You Could Be Mine correctly after Slash.
No he did not. Haha. He often dumbed them down and Bumble did the more difficult runs.
ID, Slash is awesome on some covers but on Van Halen or Ozzy he has struggle before because he doesn't tap and those guys do. Think of his Crazy Train or Ain't Talkin Bout love covers... He gets much of the song right but then can't nail some parts. In Guns though, all his covers were Ace. But he mainly played 70's era shit, which kicked ass.
- Smoking Guns
- Rep: 330
Re: DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs'
Bumble couldn't even do Nightrain. DJ is no master, but he played them like they should.
Pollux lately we agree on everything, but I can't say DJ played Slash well. I just cannot. He had good moments. But he had some bad ones too. He WAS more accurate than Robin, I will give you that.
Re: DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs'
I can't say DJ played Slash well. I just cannot. He had good moments. But he had some bad ones too. He WAS more accurate than Robin, I will give you that.
love this post. Manages to sum up & crap on both DJ & Finck perfectly.
Re: DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs'
polluxlm wrote:Bumble couldn't even do Nightrain. DJ is no master, but he played them like they should.
Pollux lately we agree on everything, but I can't say DJ played Slash well. I just cannot. He had good moments. But he had some bad ones too. He WAS more accurate than Robin, I will give you that.
Don't get me wrong, we all agree DJ sucks. As a poser he makes a good copycat though. BH didn't even try, did his own thing. Finch was similar, only he didn't sound as good doing it. Bumble is hit and miss. Good on something like SCOM, terrible on Nightrain.
