Meta Description: Discover Slash’s apocalypse playlist, featuring iconic rock tracks from The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Queen, Led Zeppelin, and Guns N’ Roses.
Slash is no stranger to combining the end of days with music. One of his solo albums is called Apocalyptic Love, while another track with Iggy Pop is cheerfully titled ‘We’re All Gonna Die’. He is very aware that if we are going to go out, one of the best things we could do is listen to rock music and, at the very least, make the end of the world seem pretty cool. As such, when asked about Slash’s apocalypse playlist, he was quick to offer answers. Though the tracks all vary in terms of their structure and tone, they all land strictly in the realm of rock. They evoke images of crashing through the fire at the end of the world, and you wouldn’t expect anything less from someone like Slash.
Slash’s Top Picks for the Apocalypse
Slash starts by mentioning ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’ by The Rolling Stones. Given that so many people would likely spend their last moments on Earth having sex or confessing their love to others, it makes sense to have one of the most sexual bands on the planet on the list. From the album Sticky Fingers, this long track has a Santana influence in the background, and the jam session at the end was completely unplanned.
Mick Taylor, who was the lead guitarist for the Stones at the time, said this track was one of his favorites because of the unplanned element. “[It] just happened by accident; that was never planned. Towards the end of the song, I just felt like carrying on playing. Everybody was putting their instruments down, but the tape was still rolling, and it sounded good… It just happened, and it was a one-take thing. A lot of people seem to really like that part.”
Staying on a similar theme, Slash picks a band that was frequently accused of trying to copy The Rolling Stones: Aerosmith. Specifically, he says he would listen to their 1976 track, ‘Nobody’s Fault’. Keeping on the theme of the end of the world, this song was slightly inspired by Steven Tyler’s fear of earthquakes, which were big news throughout the ‘70s.
Slash also picks ‘Whole Lotta Love’ by Led Zeppelin. Given the band’s massive array of styles and sounds that inspire their music, it can be tough to pick a tune that perfectly encapsulates them; however, ‘Whole Lotta Love’ is a pretty good shout. It shows the band’s hard rock style, Robert Plant’s vocal ability, and their experimental approach to building atmosphere.
Unexpected Choices on Slash’s Apocalypse Playlist
Queen also appears on the list; however, the song choice is quite surprising. Rather than picking one of the band’s biggest hits like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ or ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, Slash opts for the lesser-known ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’. However, this is one of the band’s most guitar-heavy numbers, so it’s not totally unpredictable that Slash might pick a track with an eccentric guitar.
Finally, he picks one of his creations, ‘Paradise City’ by Guns N’ Roses. He admits he doesn’t think it’s their best song, but because of the tone of it, he believes it’s the best reflection of the band. “Just because it was such a great, fun song,” he said, “Not necessarily the best song that we ever did, but just a really good representation of what the band’s about.”
Slash’s Apocalypse Playlist
- The Rolling Stones – ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?’
- Aerosmith – ‘Nobody’s Fault’
- Queen – ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’
- Led Zeppelin – ‘Whole Lotta Love’
- Guns N’ Roses – ‘Paradise City’
Slash’s apocalypse playlist showcases his love for rock music and his desire to make the end of the world seem a bit cooler. By including these iconic tracks, Slash ensures that even the apocalypse would have a memorable soundtrack.
