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In Park City this week, Slash attended a Chefdance party, the culinary cousin of the Sundance Film Festival.
At a table of some 25 people, the famously top-hat-wearing musician sat next to filmmakers, movie producers, agents, heads of movie studios and other film professionals. All were wearing sharp suits and appeared to be models of sophistication, the musician said.
"It was definitely different from the rock [world]," Slash said in a Tribune interview.
The iconic 45-year-old guitarist is known for his work in Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver. Last week he came to town for the Sundance Film Festival and to announce the launch of his new film production company, Slasher Films. On Saturday, Jan. 29, he'll be back in the rock world, performing at The Depot with a band that features his good friend Myles Kennedy, the singer for multiplatinum rock band Alter Bridge.
"[Myles] is very, very easygoing, down to earth," Slash said. "He's a pleasure to work with. I've had so many volatile relationships with not just singers, but other musicians."
Kennedy is singing for Slash's band during this tour, after appearing on two songs on Slash's brilliant 2010 debut solo album, "Back to Cali" and "Starlight." While not as dynamic as Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose, Kennedy possesses a soulful voice that adds another dimension to songs that have appeared on Slash's recent setlists, including from the guitarist's time in Velvet Revolver ("Sucker Train Blues," "Slither") and Guns N' Roses ("Paradise City," "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Mr. Brownstone," "Civil War," Nighttrain").
Playing songs from his entire catalog was an easy decision. "I can do whatever I want," Slash said. He chose to play songs that he hadn't played since he left Guns N' Roses in 1996.
Slash wasn't talking about music when he came to the festival last Sunday. Instead, he hosted a news conference and a party at Park City's House of Blues Foundation to announce his production company. He plans to produce horror films that are a throwback to "intelligent" films such as "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Exorcist," which had characters you cared about. "I wanted something a little more in-depth, [to] bring back a level of sophistication," Slash said.
As a child, Slash's parents exposed him to recordings of Orson Welles' radio retelling of "The War of the Worlds," and later the stories Edgar Allan Poe. That led to his lifelong passion for horror films. "I love monsters," he said. "I love creepy stuff. I love being scared."
Slash and his creative partner, Rob Eric, have chosen four films to produce. The first film, "Nothing to Fear," is scheduled to begin production this summer in Louisiana.
Slash likened being a film producer to making a solo record: starting with nothing, and then assembling all of the components needed to develop and complete a work of art. And that's something the longtime musician knows how to do.
Welcome to Slash's jungle
P Slash, now launching a film production company, performs on a concert bill that includes Myles Kennedy and The Fabulous Miss Wendy.
When • Tonight at 8:30
Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $25 in advance, $30 day of, at SmithsTix.com