Slash Too Shy To Approach Singers

Slash was scared to call up stars and ask them to guest on his solo record.

The former Guns 'N' Roses guitarist is set to release his debut solo album - which features a range of singers including Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osbourne and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas - but said he was uncomfortable when it came to calling up people to ask if they'd appear.

He said: "The motivation was there but also it took all these years to collect enough credibility to call up a guy like drummer Steve Ferrone and say, 'Hey, would you come down and play on a track?' It was nerve wracking just to make the phone calls and see whether they would do it or not."

Slash also told how he knew the time was right to make a solo record after the singer from his band, Velvet Revolver, Scott Weiland, was fired because of disputes with other members.

He added: "It was a perfect time to do it because Velvet, at least with Scott, had run its course. I couldn't go through that process of auditioning singers and get that all back together to do another Velvet record. I really needed a break from the band vibe."

He also said this leant him a freedom to experiment musically, and try out styles he hasn't been able to at other points in his career.

Slash said: "I had this one idea that was this fast metal riff, and that's something I've always wanted to do. I'm a huge Megadeth and Metallica fan and I can't do it in Velvet and it definitely wasn't gonna happen in Guns 'N' Roses. I was like, 'Let's give it a shot and see what happens'."

'Slash' is released worldwide from April.