Namba Hatch, Osaka

Kansai rock fans are starting the year being spoilt for choice. Along with bands old and new, one of the biggest rock stars around—SLASH—is coming to Japan. The Guns n Roses axeman is bringing his band The Conspirators to Osaka fronted by vocalist Miles Kennedy. This band first came about in 2011 when Slash was working on his second solo album. The album was released as Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators (essentially his touring band). The band released a third album last autumn, Living the Dream, on Slash’s own record label, Snakepit Records, and they have been touring to promote it since. Alongside Slash and Miles Kennedy are bassist Todd Kearns (The Age of Electric, Faster Pussycat), drummer Brent Fritz (Alice Cooper, Vince Neil), and guitarist Frank Sidoris (The Cab).