Gibson Band Featuring Slash, Duff McKagan, and Cesar Gueikian Announce Benefit Single
100% of "I Can Breathe" song proceeds to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI.
On Giving Tuesday, Gibson announces a new release from the Gibson Band--a revolving collective of musicians who join together to make music and raise funds and awareness for worthy causes.. A hard-hitting rock song, the new benefit single “I Can Breathe” features rhythm guitars and piano from Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson, with special guests Duff McKagan on lead vocals and lyrics, and Slash on lead guitar and solos. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the song “I Can Breathe” will benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), through Gibson Gives. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health resource organization that is dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
On “I Can Breathe” Duff McKagan crafted the lyrics and is featured on lead vocals, Cesar Gueikian wrote the music and played rhythm guitar and piano, and Slash wrote and played thelead guitar and solos, while Jota Morelli (drums), and Seta Von Gravessen (bass) rounded outthe group in the studio. The music was recorded by Cesar at La Roca Power Studio in BuenosAires, Argentina, vocals were recorded by Duff at the Sound Factory in Los Angeles and leadguitars and solos by Slash in Los Angeles. The track was produced by Cesar Gueikian and JorgeRodriguez with collaboration from Pablo Toubes and Francisco Trillini, and mixed and masteredby Greg Gordon. A special thanks goes to Gonzalo Riviera Villatte, Gina Furia, and guitar techLisardo Alvarez for all his work at La Roca Power Studio.
Gibson Records, Duff McKagan, Slash, and Cesar Gueikian, will donate 100% proceeds from thesale of “I Can Breathe,” in addition to all auction funds raised to the National Alliance on MentalIllness (NAMI), through Gibson Gives. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental healthresource organization that is dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affectedby mental illness. NAMI’s mission is to create a world where all people affected by mentalillness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.
“It was such a pleasure to work with Cesar and his whole crew on this tune,” says Duff McKagan.“The musical slant and progressive rock-ness of this huge epic pushed me in a whole new direction. Ilove a challenge and Cesar killed it! Most importantly, to be of service for mental health issues andawareness is super important to me at this time. Let’s rock!”
“Cesar and Duff came to me with a really cool piece of music,” adds Slash. “I loved the riff idea, andDuff's vocal, so I felt right at home on the track.”
“Guns N’ Roses had a profound influence on me and my guitar playing, so having the opportunity towrite and record this song with Slash and Duff is a dream come true, and it’s an honor to call themfriends and partners,” says Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson. “’I Can Breathe’ started as aninstrumental track I recorded at La Roca Power Studio in Buenos Aires. Upon listening to the mix thatGreg Gordon put together, Jenny Marsh (Global Director of Cultural Influence at Gibson) suggestedDuff as lyricist and vocalist. Guns N’ Roses had just come off touring when I shared the song withDuff, he loved it and quickly wrote the lyrics and cut the vocals at the Sound Factory in Los Angeles.Having Duff on vocals made the next step obvious, which was asking Slash if he would collaboratewith lead guitars and solos. Both Duff and Slash transformed the track from a collection of riffs to agreat song! While Greg Gordon’s mixing and creativity tied it all together. I am grateful for thecollaboration from Slash, Duff and Greg, and from my friend Serj Tankian’s participation with coverartwork. I’m thrilled we are donating all proceeds from the song to a great and relevant cause.”
The instrument was based on the Pearl White bass McKagan used while recording Guns N' Roses’ debut album, Appetite for Destruction.
Hollywood, CA (March 27, 2019) -- Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today released the Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass the latest iteration of Fender’s collaboration with the Guns N’ Roses bassist and New York Times bestselling author. The newest model in Fender’s Artist Signature Series captures the true musical essence of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee McKagan. Best known for his work with Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver McKagan has had an epic music career, entertaining and inspiring countless fans. Now, with the Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass, he will continue influencing the industry with a bass guitar that epitomizes rock culture and caters to his unique, melodic playing style that’s impacted bass players and music-lovers everywhere.
“The Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass is a nice evolution of the original bass we released with him,” added Justin Norvell, EVP Fender Products. “While we were developing it, we worked closely with Duff and the first guitar tech for Guns N’ Roses – McBob – to give this bass even more versatility than ever. Duff played these basses on the latest Guns N’ Roses world tour and new features like instant Drop- D tuning with the Hipshot Bass Xtender came in handy during those 30-song sets with 3 to 4 different tunings.”
Based on the Pearl White instrument McKagan used while recording Guns N' Roses’ debut album, “Appetite for Destruction,” the Duff McKagan Signature model is a distinctive, sleek and full-sounding reissue of his favorite '80s-era Jazz Bass® Special. The bass combines a Precision Bass body with a Jazz Bass neck, as well as pickups from both instruments. It also adds player-friendly features and stylistic touches that Duff demands in his playing. On the heels of the latest Guns N’ Roses album release, the bass truly reflects Duff’s love for punk, rock ‘n’ roll and an evolution of his original signature model.
“The original bass I bought was the only one I took at the road for the Appetite for Destruction tour,” McKagan said. “We had a backup bass, but we didn’t need it. At some point we went to get another bass, but we couldn’t find a Jazz Special, so we went to Fender. To flash forward, be a Fender artist and have my own signature bass with this company is incredible. Fender is James Jamerson, John Paul Jones and it’s the bass that all the greats played. I’m still kind of in awe, and I don’t take it for granted.”
New features inspired by the legendary bassist’s preferences, include: instant Drop-D tuning, tonal versatility from a TBXTM (Treble/Bass Expander) tone circuit and a sleek black-painted neck with pearloid block inlays and binding. The signature bass also features a Pure Vintage ‘70s bridge and, as a special touch, a neckplate adorned with Duff’s signature skull-and-crossbones artwork.
McKagan also recently announced the upcoming release of his much-anticipated solo album, Tenderness, which was produced by and features Grammy® award-winner Shooter Jennings, as a musical follow-up to 2015’s best-selling book, How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions). McKagan and Jennings began recording in March 2018, working out of Station House studios in Echo Park, Calif., where they wrote and recorded in-between McKagan’s tour with seminal rock band Guns N’ Roses and the release of Jennings’ eponymous album, Shooter.
In true tradition, the Fender’s Artist Signature Series honors popular and iconic musicians through product progression and storytelling, creating instruments inspired by the unique specifications of the world’s greatest guitarists and bassists. “It’s an honor to collaborate with such an esteemed and iconic bassist like Duff, who inspires musicians of all generations and continues to raise the bar through his recorded work and on stage in one of the world’s most iconic bands,” said Matt Watts, VP Artist & Integrated Marketing. “It’s signature artists like him that build on Fender’s tradition of bass excellence.”
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