Written for Myles Kennedy World by International Correspondent Cynthia Drew

On Thursday February 9, 2017, as a massive snow storm pounded its way into the New York City tri-state region, a venerable and very talented Rock&Roll band stormed into town as well, this time to the PlayStation Theatre in Times Square. Equally determined and passionate fans lined the frigid and snow blown sidewalk to see Alter Bridge’s premiere New York City stop on “The Last Hero” tour.  I had actually purchased my VIP Soundcheck and Meet&Greet package nearly a year earlier from Fret12, a boutique music firm founded by Alter Bridge’s incredibly talented and founding member Mark Tremonti, to cater to the Rock&Roll super fan. Yes there are many of us! I was alerted to this terrific opportunity on Twitter of course, by Alter Bridge’s amazing front man Myles Kennedy.

As a passionate Rock&Roll fan, in a renaissance period of my life, I am completely impressed by this band, one of a handful that factors greatly in my focused repertoire today! I first discovered Myles Kennedy when he performed with Slash and the Conspirators, warming up for Aerosmith in September 2014. A wildly talented lead singer with a multi octave vocal range, I asked, “Who is this guy?” And there it started. My research led me to Alter Bridge and I quickly realized that I had stumbled upon one of the most talented musicians on the Rock&Roll scene today! Beyond an impressive vocal range at 48 years of age, beyond the fact that he writes and performs with not one, but two chart topping Rock bands, this humble and extremely hard working musician will blow you away on the electric guitar! Slash and Mark Tremonti both acknowledge Myles’ tremendous technical contribution on this class Rock instrument. And if that’s not enough, we could talk all day about Myles’ sensitive and soulful songwriting ability! I was completely overcome with emotion the first time I listened to “Blackbird” and “Watch Over You”. In June 2015, I was named the Fan Of The Month by the Myles Kennedy World fansite, and in 2016 was invited to become their first International Correspondent. Thank you to my friend and MKW founder Jully Ponce and Manager Paula Bezerra, who hail from Curitiba, Brazil, for this incredible honor! You see, Rock&Roll passion transcends geographies and brings the world closer together!   I am so proud to write my first official “Myles Kennedy” post in this capacity.

I arrived to the PlayStation Theatre at 3PM as instructed, to a long line of dedicated “VIPers”, where new friendships formed quickly. Rumor has it that one fan from New Jersey delivered some specialty teas to Myles, who is very focused and diligent in preserving his stunning vocal ability. The energy was palpable despite the awful snowstorm conditions we all had to contend with. Once inside, we were escorted to the general admission pit for the soundcheck. If you’ve never seen a soundcheck for a band you love, and they offer this option, I highly recommend it! This demonstrates a band’s impressive level of ability to both deliver an intimate and personal connection with their fans, while also taking care of the very important business of ensuring a sound technical production. Music is about experiencing emotion and making a connection! Alter Bridge understands this and enjoys these smaller U.S. venues for that reason. Of course they are dedicated professionals to a broad global fan base, where they also connect with their fans when performing in monster size stadiums in Europe and beyond.

They got right down to business and immediately you could see the level of professionalism and raw talent. I was so happy to be there, standing this close to masterful musical talent and just taking it all in! The energy was cool and carefree, and of course not without some great humor filled moments. At one point they encountered a minor problem and Myles quips, “Did you turn off the ‘suck’ button?”, with that devilish grin that drives us all wild. To round out this lovely and very intimate sound check experience, we got a little taste from their new album “The Last Hero”, just released in October 2016, and a few lines from their one acoustic performance of the night, “Watch Over You”, a classic rock ballad from their second studio album Blackbird, released nearly ten years ago in October 2007.

In the land of Rock&Roll, there is a world of talent out there, and Alter Bridge fittingly sits in an elite tier. In their current configuration with frontman Myles Kennedy on Lead Vocals and Guitar, founder Mark Tremonti on Lead Guitar and Backup Vocals, Brian Marshall on the Bass Guitar, and Scott Phillips on Drums, Alter Bridge has been steadily pumping out masterful studio albums and world tours since the release of One Day Remains on August 10, 2004, an album certified RIAA Gold in the U.S., peaking at #5 on the U.S. Billboard 200, with worldwide sales reaching 750,000. Since then, their dedication to their craft and the music pure and simple, has not been lost on their fans and the global rock community. With a declared goal to make each new album better than its predecessor, with the bar subsequently raised each time I might add, this band is certainly a force to be reckoned with. In their latest effort, following the incredible success and critical acclaim of 2013 album release Fortress, the band converged on Mark Tremonti’s home in Orlando, Florida in early 2016 to work on “The Last Hero”, a 13 track masterpiece, diligently recorded and mastered over a span of just four months. It was produced and mixed by long time Alter Bridge partner Michael “Elvis” Baskette, who you should know, also produced “World On Fire”, electric guitar legend Slash’s 2014 album with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators; at Myles’s suggestion of course.

Alter Bridge once again has reached new creative highs with “The Last Hero”, with Mark performing on a seven string guitar for the first time! These guys are not interested in pushing out the same thing over and over again. Their talent and commitment demands a fierce and innovative approach to the music each time. I have to say I am really impressed by that! When I hear the word innovation, I typically think about some new app or mobile device, or something technology related. This unique group of very gifted musicians once again transcends our culture!

We were then escorted to the next installment of our big adventure, some up close and personal time with our rock idols, with the signing of posters and the beloved meet and greet photo! Not the shy type, I immediately introduced myself as the International Correspondent for Myles Kennedy World and that I would be blogging on the evening’s performance, and of course to thank them for filling my world with heart pounding music! This is where you see the final defining point that sets these guys apart. Humility. They were so appreciative to learn that a fan wanted to write about and promote this experience! I believe greatness comes from that place inside a person, where integrity and commitment to the cause is always front and center. You are quite welcome gentlemen!

At 9:13pm the band took the stage to thunderous applause, opening with “The Writing on the Wall”, the #2 track from “The Last Hero” album. A fitting opening that only Myles’ remarkable vocal ability can give great justice to, and give great meaning to, in confronting the very serious issues we face from climate change. Yes, astute Rockers using their celebrity to elevate an important global dialog. Thank you guys this is so important!

For the next 1 hour and 45 minutes, from my lovely rail position just left of center in the GA pit, we were treated to the majesty of one of the greatest vocal abilities in Rock&Roll today, the incomparable Myles Kennedy. Powerful melodic lyric flowing atop a rich blend of scintillating electric guitar riffs by the incredibly talented Mark Tremonti on lead guitar, in beautiful accord with Myles, once again pushing the limits of great musical synergy! A powerful bass guitar line delivered by the very cool and equally talented Brian Marshall, to add yet another dimension to their sound, all kept in perfect sync by the masterful Scott “Flip” Phillips on the drum kit.

Alter Bridge delivered a rich and wide palate of material to their fans that evening, spanning their five album, thirteen year history; eighteen epic rock anthems in total. From their critically acclaimed 2013 effort Fortress, they performed lead single “Addicted To Pain”. Lead guitarist Mark Tremonti then took his turn at the microphone delivering a powerful lead performance of “Waters Rising”.

From their second album “Blackbird” released in 2007, they performed the epic track “Rise Today” as the final song of the evening in their two song encore, a powerful and inspiring message! Of course we were also treated to the blockbuster hit “Watch Over You”, in an intimate and exquisite acoustic performance by Myles. Reaching a pinnacle of the night, they delivered the wildly popular ballad “Blackbird”, a very personal and emotional effort for this band, in memory of a friend who lost his life to addiction.

To celebrate the very powerful message of the title album of “The Last Hero” tour, following opening song “The Writing on the Wall”, they marched in with “My Champion”, followed by the awe inspiring and technically challenging title cut “The Last Hero”, in tribute to the heroes of the world who “push us to excel” whose “will, courage, and sacrifice can bring out the best in the world around them”. They opened the encore with lead track “Show Me a Leader”, yet another epic piece with an important political message, “Well they’re selling another messiah here tonight. But we’re all way too numb and divided to buy it…”

Yes an incredible musical night to fill the soul of the energetic Rock&Roll gymnast! Three words. Go see them! To my New York area friends, they just announced a return to the area May 2, 2017 to the iconic Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. This venue will sell out quickly so don’t wait. I already purchased my ticket! To my west coast friends, Alter Bridge will hit Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle February 19-22; to my New Zealand and Australian friends, March 31-April 8. Check out their website for tickets! Alter Bridge Tour

As I sign off, I leave you with this epic performance, an incredible impromptu and intimate moment between a rock legend and his fans. Perhaps I can make this request now to my “Hero” for Starland May 2, 2017.   Myles Kennedy spontaneous performance Hallelujah! Enjoy!

Setlist:

1. The Writing on the Wall
2. Come to Life
3. Farther Than The Sun
4. Addicted To Pain
5. Ghost of Days Gone By
6. Cry of Achilles
7. My Champion
8. Broken Wings
9. Ties That Bind
10. The Last Hero
11. Waters Rising
12. Watch Over You
13. Isolation
14. Blackbird
15. Open Your Eyes
16. Metalingus

Encore:

1. Show Me a Leader
2. Rise Today

Written for Myles Kennedy World by International Correspondent Cynthia Drew.

The email flew Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 10:16 in the morning here in New York. I read it around noon. The Subject line read, “Nightrian Pre-Sale: 2 Vegas Shows Announced”. I quickly scanned the body of the email, “April 8, 2016 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena…Pre-sale password to appear on Account Dashboard at 12:55pm, ticket sales begin 1pm…” It was about to happen! I was minutes away from securing the best seats in the house to a historic Rock & Roll event, the debut reunion stadium performance of one of the greatest bands in Rock & Roll history, an iconic band whose three original members, Axl Rose, Saul Hudson AKA Slash, and Duff McKagan, had not performed together since July 17, 1993 at the Estadio River Plate in Buenos Aries, Argentina. I started to cry, filled with such incredible emotion. Yes that’s what Guns N’ Roses means to me! I didn’t even notice the spelling typo in the email subject line… Nightrian. Hmm, perhaps a treasured fan artifact? Sitting on the edge of my chair, I became a proud Signature VIP ticketholder at 1:03pm, Section 3, Row D, Seat 10. Tickets to the general public went on sale 4 days later. They sold out before the day was over.

Guns N’ Roses had made their original comeback announcement to much fanfare on January 4, 2016 with the news that they will be headlining the Coachella Festival in Indio, California April 16 and 23, 2016. Tweets from @gunsnroses  @Slash  @DuffMcKagan and @axlrose, similar posts on Facebook and Instagram, and an email to fan club Nightrain members filled the hearts of legions of dedicated fans around the world that had been waiting for this moment for 20 years!

Of course there had been considerable speculation in the months leading up to this announcement, as reconciliation rumors swirled, original band members were increasingly in the spotlight, and changes to the current lineup began to emerge. In a May 7, 2015 interview with CBS, Slash revealed, “I gotta be careful what I say there. I mean, if everybody wanted to do it and do it for the right reasons, you know, I think the fans would love it. I think it might be fun at some point to try and do that, but…it just starts to get into a whole complex thing. But anyway, it’s really between the guys in the band.” Slash admitted that he and Axl Rose hadn’t spoken for “a long time,” but that most of their old tensions had eased. “We don’t have all those issues anymore,” he said. “There’s not a lot of controversy. It’s something that’s more perpetuated by the media than anything.”

On July 27, 2015, lead guitarist DJ Ashba announced he was leaving the latest Guns N’ Roses band member configuration. Soon after, guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal acknowledged his departure as well.

An August 2015  interview followed on Swedish TV Station Aftonbladet, where Slash revealed that becoming friends again with Axl Rose “..was probably way overdue..”

In December the band’s official website was updated with their classic logo. On December 24, the Guns N’ Roses Facebook page changed its profile picture to that of a screaming crowd. Then at the end of December, a mysterious trailer of a crowd going wild, to the tune of “Welcome to the Jungle”, was shown at screenings of the new ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ movie.

Guns N’ Roses reunion mania had now reached a fever pitch as we ushered in 2016, prompting lead singer Axl Rose to playfully tweet this denial on January 1. The much anticipated announcement came 3 days later to a completely enamored global Rock & Roll community!

Fast forward to Saturday evening February 13, 2016.   I’m at the London Hotel in Hollywood with Slash and 49 other very lucky fans for an Advanced Screening of “The Witch”.  There I meet one of GNR’s most dedicated fans, Margott Hinostroza, a true asset to the band and fans around the world. She alerted me to a specific Nightrain discussion thread and new Facebook Group attending the Las Vegas concerts. Terrific! I’m new to GNR’s fan club, “Nightrain” and very impressed by this band’s command of social media technology to engage their listener audience! Of course there is also a very active Guns N’ Roses community on Twitter, of which I am heavily engaged, and use as my primary source of band and band member information. As of this writing, I have 103.8k impressions in the past 28 days. 19 of my top 20 impressions are GNR related, with my top tweet earning 34,541 impressions and 816 engagements. What was it? I’ll get to that in a minute.

As we approached the April 8 and 9 concert dates, we moved to a new social media app called Celly, in order to chat and coordinate our Vegas activities. A meet up was set for Thursday evening April 7 at 10:30pm at the Center Bar at the New York, New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Great! My flight was scheduled to arrive at 8:40pm.

It was an incredible evening as this energetic and devoted group took over the Center Bar! Fans flew in from across the United States to destinations as far away as South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia! I met new friends from Florida to northern California, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and more! I had only intended to stay until 11pm for the group photo, as I was still on New York time and completely exhausted, but the energy was palpable and kept me going a while longer!

The next morning I was up early for breakfast, so excited for the night ahead! Late morning though, that excitement turned to raw emotion, as one of the guys on our Celly App shared that Axl had fractured his ankle during last night’s practice, this from a very reliable source. I was aware that Axl had fallen early in GNR’s surprise club performance a week early at the Troubadour in Hollywood. I had also heard he had twisted his ankle at the practice for that event. I was incredibly worried at this point, but still hopeful it was simply a rumor. To be clear, I was never worried that Axl wouldn’t deliver. I knew he would. I simply wanted each and every member of this incredible Rock & Roll band to have the experience of a lifetime, just like me!

Then our legendary and beloved singer brought us into the fold with this tweet, “This is what can happen when you do something you haven’t done in nearly over 23 years, “Internal Fixation”. I was thrilled at the optimistic tone of the tweet and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Rachel Triche’s message!  I wanted my singer to be on top of the world, like I was! Still though, it was sobering news. Having some personal experience with this, I can tell you there is tremendous swelling in the first 48 hours following a surgery like this, and you’re supposed to keep your foot above the level of your chest, otherwise it becomes miserable quickly. When I had my surgery, I was very “gymnastics” fit and decidedly younger, with fierce energy and optimism, and I can tell you those first couple of days were very difficult.

I immediately thought of this amazing group of fans I had met last night and the awesome group photo we had taken, thank you Margott Hinostroza! So yes, my number one tweet in the past 28 days, with 34,541 impressions and 816 engagements as of this writing reads “@axlrose @gunsnroses the rumors are true. WE LOVE YOU SEE U TONIGHT !!

Thankfully I still had time to settle myself down and rest up before heading over to the red flags stationed in the T-Mobile Plaza at 5:45pm, to claim my spot on the Signature VIP line. I had carefully crafted my outfit and was feeling incredibly fit and young in my newly crowned “Signature Guns N’ Roses” boots. I spoke to a few people, met a friend for an early dinner, then headed over to the Plaza.

As your level of Guns N’ Roses fan engagement increases, you quickly see the magnitude of this Band and the people who follow them. I’ve never seen anything like it! And I’ve been a Rock & Roll fan since the 1970’s. Obviously the members of Guns N’ Roses have extraordinary talent, but the level of intensity, integrity, and commitment to their craft is unparalleled. You can catch a glimpse of it here, in this provocative August 31, 1990 MTV Axl Rose interview on the Kurt Loder Famous Last Words series.

As Slash penned in his 2007 New York Times bestselling memoir ‘Slash’, “I’d done everything in my power from the day we got together to make Guns N’ Roses the best band in the world. I’d put my heart and soul into everything we did and I regret none of my contributions in the least. We did things other bands only dream of; in just a few years, we surpassed goals that took bands like the Stones decades to achieve. I don’t like to brag, but if you research it at all, you’ll see that what we did in the time frame we did it is something unsurpassed in the history of rock and roll.”

Yes we certainly do see that and no, Slash is not bragging. He is one of the most humble and down to earth rock super stars on the planet, consistently standing up for important causes, like the slaughter of innocent elephants to further the Ivory Trade, or performing live at a club on the Sunset Strip to raise much needed funds for a musician friend battling cancer.

We get another glimpse of the motivation and essence behind the genius of Guns N’ Roses in Duff McKagan’s 2011 New York Times bestselling memoir ‘It’s So Easy’, that kicked off with one of Duff’s signature “Rock & Roll Cool” Rock Book Show interview at the landmark BOOKENDS bookstore in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

The full picture becomes complete though, when you arrive at the T-Mobile Plaza opening night to the long listing queues of the multiple VIP level ticketholders. I entered the line next to two women who had each traveled all the way from New Zealand and Australia.

Clare Fairless, a forensic scientist, wife and mother of 2 small children, flew 15 hours from New Zealand to Los Angeles, then rented a car and drove 4 hours to Vegas. This is the 3^rd continent where she has seen Guns N’ Roses perform, and the first with this classic lineup. Tahnee King made a similar trek from Australia. There were many single warriors like us, couples, and even a family of four from Atlanta. Mom and dad brought their two teenage sons! One couple purchased Signature VIP tickets for both nights! Wow that’s dedication!

At 6:45pm we were promptly ushered into the T-Mobile Arena and the Signature VIP group was broken out into two groups. I was in group one and could hardly believe that shortly I would be up on the stage! But, as we know, schedules are always fluid. Suddenly, I realized the band was in the house and they were doing their sound check. I could hear them! The epic ballad “November Rain” was playing! Tears filled my eyes and a wave of emotion took over. It’s emotional still to write about it. We were told a “change in plans” and escorted to the top of the arena to the VIP Hyde Park lounge. What an absolutely incredible experience as we all watched the sound check from this club lounge high in the rafters. Axl sounded amazing! They all sounded amazing! What remarkable luck! Normally, you would never have access to the sound check. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door and Welcome To The Jungle followed. We all stood there mesmerized, our mouth’s agape. I’m not even sure the band knew we were there. I could clearly hear Axl giving instructions. Words can’t begin to describe what I was feeling!

Floating on cloud nine, we were escorted back down to stage level, each of us wearing a second red checkered bracelet, giving us access to the stage and backstage areas. Security was very tight.

We chatted in the general admission pit briefly, then were led up the stairs onto the stage for our individual photo at this historic Rock & Roll event! This is why I purchased the Signature VIP ticket. I will carry this memory with me for the rest of my life! Next was the backstage tour, where we learned about the incredible haul of equipment and staff necessary to put on a production of this magnitude, and of course in this unique situation, a complete last minute reconfiguration of the stage and nearby seating, to accommodate Axl’s injury. We then spotted Keyboardist Dizzy Reed coming out of the catering room! As we wrapped up this memorable tour, feeling quite emboldened in the moment, we negotiated for some band member swag. Yes! Memories of a lifetime! We were escorted out of the “secure zone” and some of us went back up to the VIP lounge for a while. At 10:45pm we made our way down to our seats. The vibe was pure Rock & Roll cool, and everyone was smiling and sharing stories.

Suddenly, the lights went out and the arena went wild! I could see Slash and Duff enter the stage. They stood on the side, in the dark, apparently waiting for Axl to come out. The audience was chanting, “Guns N’ Roses!” The Looney Tunes theme started to play. Brilliant! From the back of the stage, I begin to make out this large contraption. At first I thought it was a rack on which to hang all of the guitars, but no, they wouldn’t bring that out in front. Then I see Axl sitting atop this large platform on wheels. Okay! This is how they’re going to do it! Later in the performance we would learn that this was the “Throne” Foo Fighter’s David Grohl used last year when he broke his leg on tour. I did not see this during the sound check and wonder how and when David Grohl got this very large item from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, on a minute’s notice, in just one day. Of course David Grohl and the Foo Fighters are terrific! Axl and the GNR guys were very grateful for their efforts, evidenced by Axl’s repeated thank you messages during the concert and tweets to follow, Axl Rose tweet, Duff McKagan tweet.

The lights went on and Guns N’ Roses took the stage to a full standing ovation! It was 11:57PM and the crowd was electric! The energy could have propelled us to the moon! More tears flowing from pure unbridled emotional, as our legendary rockers opened with “It’s So Easy”, perhaps in tribute to their humble beginnings. Written by Duff McKagan and West Arkeen, this was GNR’s first single release on June 15, 1987 in the UK, and the staple concert opener for the Appetite for Destruction tour way back when.

The set continued with Mr. Brownstone, a controversial yet beloved anthem written about the degree of heroin addiction in the band and “..as the evils would say, too much of everything all the time..” It’s significant to acknowledge the degree of sobriety and tranquility we understand today, following well documented years of struggle and admitted “debauchery”. We’re glad you’re still in the game guys! Your extraordinary raw talent and commitment to your craft is historic and game changing. Welcome home!

Next the band dove right into the title track of Chinese Democracy, GNR’s latest album release in 2008; giving some of us Appetite and Illusion era fans food for thought on the latest band member configuration. They did not disappoint! Rhythm Guitarist Richard Fortus delivered a powerful and solid technical performance, with great presence and agility on stage. I loved the fierce tuck jump stomp, perfectly synchronized to the downbeat of the audience intro to “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”. Frank Ferrer was masterful on the drums knocking out a powerful and tight percussion set. Forever a fan of the keyboard section, I love that Guns N’ Roses added their first female member, the very talented Melissa Reese, who joined a guy that needs no introduction, Mr. Dizzy Reed. They added a unique and melodic texture that simply rounded out the mastery of collective talent on this stage. Yes, Guns N’ Roses continues to evolve their creative genius that only masterful musical legends offer to their fans.

It would be the 4^th number in the set though, that broke this historic night wide open. The epic hit that propelled this eclectic group of “full on committed Rock & Roll talent” from the debauchery of Hollywood alleys and “Hell House” to Rock super stardom the world over, “Do you know where you are ? You’re in the Jungle Baby!..”

Before the night was over, 2 hours and 28 minutes later, Guns N’ Roses would perform 20 epic masterpieces spanning the evolutionary history; from the early days of their meteoric rise to fame, catapulted on the debut best selling album in American music history, Appetite For Destruction in 1987, to GNR Lies, Use Your Illusion I and II, and Chinese Democracy in 2008. As this incredible night played out, fans were treated to the majesty of one of the greatest voices in Rock & Roll, the epic power and lofty highs of the four octave vocal range of a now 54 year old Axl Rose, delivered on top of a mighty “Throne”, some 24 hours after undergoing surgery to drill metal into a fractured 5^th metatarsal bone in his left foot. It was f*&%*n incredible !

The audience was treated to fierce fan favorites like “You Could Be Mine” from the ‘Use Your Illusion II’ album, that opens with Slash’s epic “WAH WAH WAH” on the electric guitar, to the brilliant and masterful lyrical prose of Axl Rose, “I’m a cold heart breaker fit to burn, and I’ll rip your heart in two. And I’ll leave you lying on the bed..” As the band powered through all the classics from the Appetite and Illusion albums, a powerful high point of the night that brought me to tears once again, arrived with the purely passionate and emotional performance of “This I Love” from ‘Chinese Democracy’. Axl Rose delivered a stunning range of emotion, scale and dynamics, an exquisite voice floating above an epic performance on the electric guitar, Slash’s first for this ballad, silhouetted in white shining light, in a classic, almost effortless pose of pure emotional abandon. Slash, who is one of the world’s greatest musicians on the electric guitar, brought his veteran and extraordinary skill to a whole new level in this debut reunion event. It was incredible to witness! The next pivotal moment came with the performance of “Coma” from ‘Use Your Illusion I’, affectionately referred to as “Slash’s baby”, an epic ballad of hope and inspiration, and the first time the band has performed this live since 1993.

Of course what makes this event historic is the reconciliation of three exceptionally talented musicians, who somehow found each other, and created something rare and beautiful, beyond anything they ever dreamed possible; an incredibly gifted and passionately driven lead singer, overflowing with emotion and commitment to the music pure and simple; a humble and quiet top hatted persona who pours every ounce of emotion into the electric guitar; and a Seattle born rocker with Punk Rock roots, determined to follow in the footsteps of his musical idols. Well ladies and gentlemen, this is the formula that delivered an epic and unforgettable moment in Rock & Roll history, the opening night of the Guns N’ Roses reunion concert, Friday night April 8, 2016, at the brand new T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas strip, a night fans have been dreaming about for 20 years!

I hope you get an opportunity to see this historic “#NotInYourLifetime” tour that kicks off Thursday, June 23 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan and wraps up Monday, August 22, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. Don’t wait. Tickets are going fast. Of course, if a venue is sold out, please reach out to a fan club member, a fiercely dedicated and loyal group of folks who will do everything they can to help you secure tickets. Count on it.

As I don’t wish to spoil the grandeur of what you will witness, I’d like to leave you with a simple and powerful reminder of the genius of this extraordinary band we love so dearly… that we remember from that fabled night, some 23 years ago, July 17, 1993 at the Estadio River Plate in Buenos Aries, Argentina, “..so never mind the darkness, we still can find a way, nothing lasts forever, even cold November Rain …”

I’d like to acknowledge some lovely people who contributed valuable support and energy in the writing of this post, and with whom I shared this incredible experience. Margott Hinostroza, Tina Cole, Nir Regev, Tahnee King, Claire Fairless, Margo Lombardi Sykes, Korine Dobbins, Barrel O Bourbon, our Vegas Celly group, Jennifer Weintraub Iverson, Robyn Bryson, David Paul, and Bea Seravello.

Written for Myles Kennedy World by International Correspondent Cynthia Drew 

On Saturday evening February 13, 2016, in the Press Junkets and Screening Room at the famed London Hotel in Hollywood, 50 very grateful fans and their guests were treated to an up close and personal evening with legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Slash, for an advanced screening of “The Witch”.  Thank you to A24 Films for creating this incredible evening for the fans and supporting Slash’s up and coming film company Slash Fiction Films. Congratulations on your 2016 Oscar Wins, Best Documentary to Asif Akadia for “Amy” and Best Actress to Brie Larson for “The Room”! 

This masterful horror flick has earned 2 Award nominations and 5 wins including The 2015 London Film Festival Sutherland Award for First Feature Competition, and The 2015 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Directing Award, both presented to Director Robert Eggers. The film, about a family in 1630s New England torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic and possession, drew in the viewers in hauntingly deliberate and cerebral fashion. The imagery of the haunting forest in the background and the interplay of an evolving threat hidden deep in this forest, and how it succeeded to break the barrier and safety of this family’s home was terrifying to watch! Lead actress and promising young actor Anya Taylor-Joy nailed this performance. She reeled in viewers in the opening scene and we never left! The Witch official trailer.

Slash, who we all know as the consummate musician on the electric guitar from Guns & Roses, Velvet Revolver, and Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, and whose incredible talent and emotion embodies many of Rock&Roll’s greatest riffs, continues to evolve his brand in a very thoughtful and creative fashion. A complete Horror Movie fan, Slash has now created a film company, Slash Fiction Films, with current project “The Hell Within” in development. Slash’s firm commitment to his craft and generous engagement with a devoted fan base, offers his fans very unique opportunities to get involved and support this latest mission. Would you consider investing $50 to participate in conference call updates with Slash on the progress of the movie?   Follow Slash Fiction Films here.

For all of us incredibly lucky and grateful fans, it was surely a Bucket List evening for the memory books! A die hard Slash fan and Twitter follower, I learned about the contest Thursday evening February 4th on my Slash Twitter feed. I entered immediately, which simply required me to follow Slash Fiction Films on Twitter, like on FB, and email my pertinent contact info. It was THAT simple! About noon Friday, I saw my name in the first 20 winners announced. I was stunned and thrilled, no pun intended! The following Saturday, I boarded a plane at JFK and traveled cross country for this incredible opportunity! I should note fans from Germany, Ohio, Michigan, and others from New York made the trek as well! Upon landing, I turned on my iPhone to fetch the confidential text message as to the location of the event. I was all set!

At the London hotel, we were first treated to popcorn and drinks in a little lounge, then entered the actual screening room where I chose a very comfortable seat in the middle of the second row. My first glimpse of this Rock&Roll legend came as he walked down the aisle from the back of the screening room and entered the lounge. Multiple people followed and some chatted with him briefly. He then came into the screening room to address all of us, as the movie was about to begin. He was both engaging and humble, and even admitted being nervous speaking to us. At the conclusion, we all lined up and each took our turn entering the lounge for a quick hello, a personal autograph, and a photo with this famous Rocker taken by a professional photographer. I just have to say, I find that to be incredibly generous! In the new digital age of music, as Artists have to find creative ways to monetize their gifts, I don’t think many would deliver such an up close and personal experience to so many, for the mere act of entering a contest. This simply speaks to Slash’s level of integrity and commitment! It’s very special and certainly an honor to interact with a person of such unique cloth! As we chatted in line, many of us made personal connections and plans around the Guns and Roses reunion concerts April 8 and 9 in Las Vegas. One gal is organizing a get together at the Hard Rock Café the evening of April 7. Brilliant, I’m in! I had already booked my flight and hotel, flying Thursday night April 7. I purchased the Signature VIP ticket for the debut performance Friday evening April 8 at 9:30PM! I will surely not be able to keep my feet on the ground until then!

As I entered the lounge, I immediately thanked Slash for this amazing experience and what an honor it was to meet him! I told him I couldn’t wait for the Vegas debut GNR reunion performance! Always humble and down to earth, he thanked me. As he autographed my poster, I told him that I also planned to bring a group when the GNR reunion tour comes to NY. He smiled and asked, “Am I going to New York?” I smiled back and said “We certainly hope so!” I then landed a lovely arm hug as the photographer took our picture. She even took the time to take a second photo as I apparently closed my eyes on the first try. I really appreciated that! It was first class all around! As I left, I looked Slash in the eye, and told him I hoped practice was going well and that he was having fun. He smiled and nodded, “Yes, it’s going well.” A larger than life Rock Star evening for the memory books, “Thank you Slash!”

Of course I can’t wait for the next album and tour with Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators! The exquisite combination of Slash’s fierce emotion on the electric guitar, combined with the dynamic and powerful vocal range of the one and only Mr. Myles Kennedy, is pure Rock&Roll joy! Add the veteran brilliance of Todd Dammit Kerns on Bass and Vocals, Mr. Brent Fitz on Drums, and the very talented emerging presence of Frank Sidoris on rhythm guitar, how could you not go wild for this performance?