Slash ready for festival gig in Norway with Jason Bonham, guests

"I'm looking forward to the gig," Slash tweeted two days ago, referring to his headlining set today, June 30, at the Quart Festival in Norway. "It[']s been almost a year since I played a whole show," the former Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist noted, adding to his earlier comment, "Maybe it will help make up for the cancelled VR gig a while back."

Slash tweeted on Friday when rehearsals were to begin, adding one day later, "We've got a great set for Norway, but we're not playing any songs from my new cd." He has been in the studio this month, putting the finishing touches on a solo disc that will reportedly see guest vocal appearances from Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas and Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath.

Both of those singers are to appear during the Slash and Friends set today. Slash has revealed the members of his Quart Festival band lineup: drummer Jason Bonham, bassist Chris Chaney from Jane's Addiction, guitarist John 5 of Marilyn Manson's band, singer-guitarist Franky Perez and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis. Guitarist Ron Wood, whose former bands include the Faces and the Rolling Stones, is also a confirmed guest.

As for what this lineup will be playing, Classic Rock magazine recently found him detailing a set of "mostly covers":

"Anything from 'Whole Lotta Love' to 'Use Me' to Fleetwood Mac’s 'Oh Well' or 'The Thrill Is Gone' – depends on who’s singing. I did 'Sweet Child o’ Mine' with Fergie – she’s got a great f---ing rock ’n’ roll voice, that girl. It’s a casual thing but at the same time now that you're talking about it it'll sound more serious than it is …"

Slash mentioned "Whole Lotta Love." Here's a version he played live last December with Chester Bennington on vocals.



A Saturday press release from the Quart Festival also provides further clues as to a possible set list. It repeats the claim of "Sweet Child o' Mine," so that one's probably in the bag. It adds "Crazy Train," which logic tells us would have Osbourne on vocals. Also hinted for an appearance during the set is "Black Dog."

As for Bonham, today's gig with Slash comes in the midst of some onstage activity reuniting him with his first professional band, Airrace. Their first reunion show took place June 19 in Milton Keynes, England, with further appearances set for July 4 and 5.