Legendary rock guitarist Slash was suitably impressed with Belleville judging by his on-stage comments late in his show at Empire Square Live in Belleville on Saturday.
Slash, who shot to fame with his catchy licks and searing solos with Guns N’ Roses, said that he didn’t know what to expect when he came to Belleville but that the good folks from the Friendly City came to party.
“So, f***ing Belleville kicks ass,” Slash said before launching into his signature opening riff for Sweet Child O’ Mine. “Who ever knew?”
Official attendance numbers haven’t been released but the capacity crowd was believed to be the biggest ever for the temporary outdoor venue. Earlier this summer, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Alice Cooper both drew more than 3,500 fans to Empire Square Live.
“I didn’t know what to expect having never been here,” Slash said. “But some people said that you guys f***ing rock so that’s cool. But now that I’m here I f***ing know that you guys are f***ing cool. Thank you very much.”
Slash – with vocalist Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge – ripped through a hit-filled set of tunes from his Guns N’ Roses, Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver days. They closed with the Guns N’ Roses staple Paradise City to an appreciative crowd.
Bobby Schneck also played guitar along with an all-Canadian rhythm section of Brent Fitz from Winnipeg on drums and Todd Kerns from Lanigan, SK on bass.
Canadian icon Kim Mitchell opened the show with Fitz, Kerns and Schneck joining him for two songs late in the set including his anthem Rock & Roll Duty.
This was by far the best concert i’ve ever been to and i cant wait to hear some new stuff from the boys!