Last Thursday, August 5th Slash featuring Myles Kennedy performed in Malaysia for the very first time at Sunway Lagoon. Knowing this as a very rare occasion that we Malaysians get to enjoy rock concerts, what more to say by a top international rocker, I did not have a second thought about going.

Note: My SLR was confiscated by security at the entrance, so I had to improvise with my iPhone’s camera. The nicer (credit due) pictures you see in the following are borrowed from Amy Search’s FB album. Hope he doesn’t mind.

As I arrived at 7pm, the main entrance was already crowded. The event (Fatdeal) and venue (Sunway Lagoon) organisers were quite incompetent in controlling the crowds and in making sure a smooth check-in. By the time arrived at the Surf  Beach, the venue of the concert, it was almost quarter to eight and I missed the opening act by Malaysia’s rock legend Amy Search.

Waited for about twenty minutes or so for Slash’s crew to perform final sound check. At around 8.15pm, Slash emerged from the backstage belting out Ghost, the first track from his self-titled debut album.

The show then continued with Mean Bone (Slash’s Snakepit album), Night Train (GnR), Back From Cali (new album, Slash), Suckertrain Blues (Velvet Revolver – Contraband), Nothing To Say (Slash).

Then came the moment I had been waiting for. Myles Kennedy sang my favourite track from the new album, titled “Starlight”. His voice was extraordinary, combined with Slash’s guitar, I was blown away.

They then performed Rocket Queen (GnR), Civil War (GnR), Dirty Little thing (VR), By The Sword (Slash), Sweet Child O Mine (GnR), Rise Today (Alter Bridge – Blackbird) and Slither (VR) before the band left the stage leaving the crowds to cry for more.

A minute later, they came back on stage and played Paradise City (GnR) as the final song.

Bad promoter and rude security apart, the concert on the overall was really an amazing experience. Watching Slash showing off his guitar skills, in person, on stage, live, was money well spent. Had he performed another night, I don’t mind buying a VIP ticket to see him upclose. To sum it up, venue was good, crowd was sporting, Myles voice was powerful and Slash’s skill was just phenomenal! Hope it won’t be his first and last show in Malaysia.

Thank you FireFlyz for bringing in my childhood icon to KL!