Slash, Duff McKagan Appear on New Charity Single
Slash and Duff McKagan are featured on a new charity single with Gibson Guitars CEO Cesar Gueikian.
The single is titled “I Can Breathe,” and it’s released under the name Gibson Band, which is described as “a revolving collective of musicians who join together to make music and raise funds and awareness for worthy causes.” The single’s artwork was created by System of a Down singer Serj Tankian. Meanwhile, vocals on “I Can Breathe” are provided by McKagan.
All proceeds from “I Can Breathe” will be donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the largest grassroots organization dedicated to mental health efforts in the United States.
Gueikian said in a statement about the track, “I am grateful for the collaboration from Slash, Duff, and from my friend Serj Tankian’s participation with cover artwork. I’m thrilled we are donating all proceeds from the song to a great and relevant cause.”
New Music From Guns N’ Roses?
Naturally, Slash and McKagan being involved with this charity single makes us think of potential new music from Guns N’ Roses. In October, McKagan shared in an interview, “There’s definitely a desire and a plan for new music. Yeah, for sure.” Of course, a timeline on said music is currently unknown, as is any future tour dates. Their last performance was in November 2023, but McKagan noted his body needed the rest, and that he needs to “listen to my body these days.”
In June, Slash told Loudwire Nights, “I’m going into the studio with the Conspirators, getting a new record done and then after that, 2025 is all about Guns N’ Roses.”
Slash didn’t detail much and only said, “We’re trying to get some things going with that.” However, he noted a small tour next summer is potentially in the works.”
Back in May, Slash told the Daily Star, “Guns N’ Roses are trying to make their own record, and I’m working with them in that capacity.” Guns N’ Roses have been pretty tight-lipped over new music. The last notable comment came from Slash in October 2022. The guitarist said, in part, “I want to go in and cut a whole brand new record at some point. Probably sooner than later. But other than that, we have stuff [that’s still] got to come out. So that’s gonna be coming out piecemeal over the next… few months or something like that.”
The last fans really heard from GN’R was in December 2023 when release a new single titled “The General.”
“The General” is the fourth new song Guns N’ Roses has released since Slash and Duff McKagan returned to the band. “Absurd” was the first new song and came out in August 2021. About a month later, the band released “Hard Skool.” The third song released was “Perhaps,” which came out in August 2023. All four tracks are outtakes from the recording sessions of Chinese Democracy.
