Slash – HuffPost 9.7.10

Mike Ragogna: Slash, do you have any advice for new artists?

Slash: Do I have any advice for new artist? Wow, it’s such a crazy business right now. There was a really great band that we were just playing with on tour who were scared to death because the record company is putting all sorts of pressure on them to be able to produce this, that, and the other or they’re going to drop them. It’s not like it used to be, where you go out and sign a record deal based on the band’s merit, and then you grow with the record company and you all work together to try and be successful. Now, it’s about putting out the big, massive hit, and you get kind of a one shot deal. The actual growth and creative element seems to be gone, and it’s really financially and commercially focused.

So, for a new artist, you have to have your integrity, and at the same time, you’re jumping into the most cut-throat f**kin’ industry, where your future is so speculative, it’s not even funny. You could be completely committed and very talented and have made all the sacrifices necessary to try and persevere in this industry, and still lose. The odds are a lot worse now than they used to be back in the day. So, you’ve just got to stick to your guns, and really be very disciplined, and intelligent, and hopefully, musically prolific. Just hang in there and hope for the best.