Rock Royalty in Hollywood: Slash Honored with the 2026 Les Paul Spirit Award and Announces New Album!
Iconic guitarist Slash received the prestigious 2026 Les Paul Spirit Award this past Monday night (October 5, 2026), during an intimate and star-studded celebration at The Les Paul Recording Studio at Universal Master Recordings in Hollywood.
Presented by the Les Paul Foundation in partnership with Gibson Gives, the philanthropic arm of Gibson, the private event brought together a room filled with music-industry luminaries, celebrated artists, media representatives, close friends, and special guests to honor Slash's extraordinary creative legacy, pioneering musicianship, and enduring influence on generations of guitarists and music fans.
The evening centered on the presentation of the one-of-a-kind Les Paul Spirit Award, recognizing Slash as an artist who truly embodies Les Paul's pioneering spirit through constant innovation, relentless creativity, technology, and pure musical passion. The celebration also featured an exclusive reception and a guided tour of the historic recording studio, offering guests an up-close look at the remarkable legacy of Les Paul and the continuing impact of his groundbreaking work on modern recording techniques.
Slash and Les Paul shared a deeply personal friendship during Les Paul's lifetime and often jammed together onstage whenever possible. That genuine connection brought added emotional weight to the evening as guests celebrated not only two of the most recognizable figures in guitar history, but two creators united by an enduring curiosity, an instinct for sonic innovation, and a lifelong commitment to expanding the expressive possibilities of the electric guitar.
«We are deeply honored to present the Les Paul Spirit Award to Slash this year. He and Les Paul shared a truly special friendship and often jammed together when they could,» said Michael Braunstein, Executive Director of the Les Paul Foundation. «Not only does Slash exemplify the same boundless creativity and curiosity Les Paul possessed throughout his life, but he is also an extraordinary talent and a wonderful supporter of the Les Paul Foundation. If Les Paul were still alive today, Slash and he would undoubtedly be jamming onstage together somewhere on a regular basis.»
The annual Les Paul Spirit Award is presented to a visionary individual who exemplifies the spirit of the late Les Paul through innovation, audio engineering, technology, and music. The physical award presented to Slash was hand-crafted from actual acoustic wall boards that Les Paul built and used in his personal home recording studio. Because each award is fashioned from authentic studio materials created by Les Paul himself, no two Les Paul Spirit Awards in the world are exactly alike.
Previous recipients of the Les Paul Spirit Award include legends such as Bob Weir, Nile Rodgers, The Edge, Peter Frampton, and Steve Miller. Slash now joins that distinguished group of trailblazing artists whose creativity and lasting contributions to music reflect the pioneering spirit that defined Les Paul's life and career.
A GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist, master songwriter, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Slash has helped define generations of rock music through his iconic work with Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit, Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, and Slash's Blues Ball Band. With more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, he has authored some of the most iconic guitar riffs in rock history while continuing to push his artistry into uncharted territory. His most recent solo album, «Orgy of the Damned», was released by Gibson Records in 2024 and topped the Billboard Blues Albums chart for an incredible 13 consecutive weeks.
Whether exploring deep blues roots or recording hard-rock anthems with Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Slash remains driven by the same instinctive, collaborative mindset that has defined his career from day one.
Prior to the formal presentation, select members of the press were invited inside The Les Paul Recording Studio for an exclusive advance listening session featuring four brand-new songs from Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators' forthcoming studio album, «FLYING BLIND».
Attendees were treated to early previews of «Good Time Girl,» «One of Your Kind,» «Flying Blind,» and «Looking for a Miracle,» offering an exciting first glimpse into the band's next creative chapter.
Set for worldwide release on February 26, 2027, via Gibson Records, «FLYING BLIND» was recorded largely live in the studio with acclaimed producer Michael 'Elvis' Baskette, capturing the raw chemistry and unfiltered energy that have become hallmarks of the group's signature sound. The advance preview underscored that, even after decades at the absolute forefront of global rock music, Slash continues to compose with the same passion, spontaneity, and collaborative spirit that have defined his extraordinary career.
The massive FLYING BLIND WORLD TOUR 2027 will take Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators across Latin America, North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe, featuring headline stops at historic venues including The Wiltern, Beacon Theatre, and the Ryman Auditorium. Tickets are available now at home.slashonline.com/tour.
About SLASH: Slash, the iconic, GRAMMY Award-winning American rock guitarist, songwriter, and film producer, has sold over 100 million albums, earned a GRAMMY Award alongside seven nominations, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and become a New York Times bestselling author. Widely considered one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time and one of the most recognizable figures in popular culture, Slash was ranked No. 2, second only to Jimi Hendrix, on TIME magazine's prestigious list of 'The 10 Greatest Electric Guitar Players.'
As a founding member of Guns N' Roses, Slash created some of rock music's most enduring moments, including the immortal signature riffs on the No. 1 global hits «Sweet Child O' Mine» and «Welcome to the Jungle.» He later earned critical acclaim with Slash's Snakepit and achieved massive global success with the supergroup Velvet Revolver before launching his acclaimed solo career. His chart-topping self-titled debut solo album, «Slash» (2010), featured guest collaborations with Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie, Myles Kennedy, and many more.
He subsequently formed Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators (SMKC), featuring Myles Kennedy on lead vocals, Todd Kerns on bass and vocals, Brent Fitz on drums, and Frank Sidoris on rhythm guitar. The band has toured the globe and recorded together for over a decade and a half. SMKC released its debut album, «Apocalyptic Love» (2012), which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart, producing the band's first No. 1 rock-radio hits, «You're a Lie» and «Standing in the Sun.» The band followed with «World on Fire» (whose title track hit No. 1 at U.S. rock radio) and «Living the Dream» (2018), which earned 10 Top 10 chart placements globally. In 2022, SMKC released «4» via Gibson Records. Recorded live at Nashville's historic RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb, the album debuted as the No. 1 bestselling hard-rock album, with lead single «The River Is Rising» becoming SMKC's eighth consecutive Top 10 rock-radio single.
In 2016, Guns N' Roses triumphantly reunited, with Slash rejoining Axl Rose and Duff McKagan for the band's historic return to stadiums worldwide.
Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators will release their fifth studio album, «FLYING BLIND», on Feb. 26, 2027, via Gibson Records, marking the band's first full-length studio release since «4». «It's a fun, kind of spontaneous rock 'n' roll record,» says Slash. «It's very simple and down to earth and raw.»
Recorded with producer Michael 'Elvis' Baskette, «FLYING BLIND» features 12 brand-new tracks ranging from the driving attack of opener «Avarice and Greed» and the talk-box hooks of «Good Time Girl» to the aggressive crunch of «One of Your Kind,» the instrumental guitar showcase «Living the Dream,» the pedal steel-infused «Looking for a Miracle,» and the majestic closing track, «Stem the Flow.» Hard-hitting, spontaneous, and wide-ranging, «FLYING BLIND» captures SMKC sounding as loose, raw, and locked-in as ever. The album's anthemic title track, «Flying Blind,» arrived as its lead single on October 2, 2026.