Slash has joined the growing debate around the use of AI in music, making it clear that he has concerns about it.
As artificial intelligence technology has advanced over the past year, its use has become a contentious topic in the music world.
Last month, more than 200 artists, including Billie Eilish, Robert Smith, Stevie Wonder and Nicki Minaj, signed an open letter put together by the Artists Rights Alliance warning against the “predatory” use of AI in music, while lawmakers have suggested musicians and celebrities should be protected by law from AI deepfakes.
Slash has spoken out on the matter: “I'm not super excited about this new development,” the Guns N' Roses guitarist said. Battleground Podcast [via Louder]”But I know most people will use it a lot and it will be confusing and misleading.”
“Too many different things will look and sound the same. We can already see this starting to happen.”
He adds: “I'm a guy who loves going into the studio and recording bands live in analogue, so the idea of AI doesn't seem like a totally unrelated application to what I do.”
“And I'm interested to see who comes up with something that's really cool and unique and useful to me. But when it comes to music, I wouldn't be too excited about an AI recreating something or actually coming up with something original.”
Earlier this month, Slash revealed that Guns N' Roses are currently working on a new album and that he is “collaborating with them in that capacity”.
The hard rock legends haven't released a full-length album since 2008's much-delayed “Chinese Democracy,” which didn't feature Slash. Since he rejoined in 2016, they've released a handful of new songs, including “Absent,” “Hard School,” “Precious” and “The General,” but nothing has been confirmed about a follow-up album.
“Guns N' Roses are trying to make their own record,” he said. Daily Star (via Music NewsWhen asked why he didn't invite Axl Rose to appear on his solo album, he responded, “And I work with them in that capacity, but this is [solo album] No one else was involved.”
“It was just my own side business, I didn't want to involve any of my people.”
Earlier this month, Slash released the blues album Orgy Of The Damned on Gibson Records. The lead single is a cover of Howlin' Wolf's Killing Floor, featuring AC/DC's Brian Johnson and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler on harmonica.
