Andrew Cutler of the Rapid City Journal spoke to legendary guitarist Slash ahead of the VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES axeman's appearance at the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

"I just think Sturgis is a great event," Slash said. "I remember being excited to do it with VELVET REVOLVER [in 2007], and finally getting there. It was my first time there. Now I'm really looking forward to it, because VELVET REVOLVER with [lead singer] Scott [Weiland] was always like a hit-or-miss proposition. Whereas with this one coming up, I know it definitely is going to be a monster gig. It's going to be great to be in that environment."

Slash's second album, "Apocalyptic Love", came out in May and the ex-GUNS axeman has been on the road consistently with his band, MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS.

The group will head to Australia and New Zealand this month, but will return for a fall headlining North American tour that will begin on September 4 in San Diego and wind down on October 3 in Los Angeles.

"[The album has] been really well received and I was really pleased with the record in the first place; it's great," Slash said. "You never know what exactly is going to happen and I never have any what you'd call expectations, but once it's out there and people sort of dig it for the right reasons, it's always a good feeling."

Slash recently revealed that he and singer Myles Kennedy have already begun working on music for the guitarist's next album, to be recorded sometime next year.

"We are working on material, gathering ideas for another [record] at this point," Slash told Rapid City Journal. "We are sort of like in those early stages where I'm just recording different guitar ideas and I turn Myles on to it. He's thinking about his stuff and what he's going to do with it and so on."