Slash is Redefining What It Is to Be a Rock Artist
Slash – Author Charles Ken, Photo via Anne Erickson
Slash is known for being one of the greatest hard rock guitarists of all time. His guitar solos with Guns N’ Roses are legendary, and his riffs are instantly recognizable. That said, he’s really switching up and challenging what it means to be a rock artist.
For one, he appeared at the Oscars last weekend, performing the “Barbie” song alongside Wolfgang Van Halen. Years ago, it would be crazy to think of a superstar rock guitarist performing the “Barbie” anthem. But, it works for Slash, and he’s proving that you don’t have to fit into a cookie-cutter rock ‘n’ roll mold.
Here’s another way Slash it redefining what it means to be a rock artist: This summer, he’s kicking off a traveling blues festival called S.E.R.P.E.N.T. The tour will have Slash alongside a rotating range of modern blues and blues-adjacent performers, including Warren Haynes Band, Keb’ ‘Mo, Christone “Kingfish: Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson and Larkin Poe. That’s a totally unexpected and brilliant lineup.
S.E.R.P.E.N.T., by the way, stands for “Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance.” The tour will begin July 5 in Bonner, Montana, and run through an Aug. 17 date in Grand Prairie, Texas. The trek will hit a bunch of major cities, including Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Toronto, Boston, New York, Atlanta and Huntsville. A Live Nation ticket pre-sale for select dates is already underway. General ticket sales begin Friday (March 15) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Also, a portion of each ticket and VIP package sold will go towards a handful of charities picked by Slash: The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute, and War Child.
“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,” Slash said in a statement. “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.”
He added, “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.”
View the full list of Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour dates below. For more on Slash’s new album and tour, go here.
Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. 2024 Tour Dates:
07/05 – Bonner, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater *
07/06 – Airway Heights, WA @ Northern Quest Amphitheater *
07/08 – Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park *
07/10 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
07/12 – Lincoln, CA @ Thunder Valley Casino *
07/13 – Los Angeles, California @ Greek Theatre *
07/14 – Tucson, AZ @ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater *
07/17 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom **
07/19 – La Vista, NE @ The Astro Amphitheater #
07/21 – Terre Haute, Indiana @ The Mill #
07/22 – Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend #
07/24 – Interlochen, MI @ Interlochen Center for the Arts #
07/25 – Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center $
07/27 – Windsor, ON, Canada @ The Colosseum at Caesars $
07/28 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Budweiser Stage $
07/30 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater $
08/01 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion $
08/04 – New York, NY @ Pier 17 $
08/05 – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest +
08/07 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre +
08/08 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park ^
08/10 – Clearwater, FL @ The Sound at Coachman Park ^
08/11 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre +
08/13 – Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater +
08/14 – Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater +
08/16 – Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary ^^
08/17 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre ^^
* = Warren Haynes, Samantha Fish and Eric Gales
** = Keb’ Mo’, Samantha Fish and Jackie Venson
# = Keb’ Mo’, ZZ Ward and Jackie Venson
$ = Keb’ Mo’, ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
% = ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
^ = ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
+ = Larkin Poe, ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
^^ = Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
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