Gibson Launches Record Label, Signs Slash
Gibson makes records now.
The venerated guitar manufacturers have announced the launch of Gibson Records. Headquartered in Nashville and operating in partnership with BMG, the label “will work with Gibson artists to produce, record, and promote their music to fans around the world,” according to a press release.
Their first signee is Slash from Guns N’ Roses, which is appropriate enough: the guitarist has famously utilized Les Pauls his entire career. (He uses other guitar models and brands, too, but mostly Les Pauls; when you picture Slash playing in your mind, you likely picture him with a Les Paul.) The press release doesn’t say when the new album from Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators will be released, but Slash has previously expressed optimism that it would come out this year.
Says Cesar Gueikian, Brand President, Gibson Brands of the announcement:
“Launching a record label that is in service to our artists is the natural evolution of our 127 years of history. Gibson Records will work with Gibson artists to capture, record and promote their music under an artist friendly partnership. Gibson Records will keep all of us at Gibson focused on our artist first culture that is engaged and connected to music. We are excited to launch Gibson Records, to announce that Slash is our first signed artist and that we have entered into a label partnership with BMG.”
Adds Slash:
“It’s an honor to be the first release on the new Gibson Records. It’s a zenith in our partnership for sure and having worked so closely with Gibson for so long, I know they will be a label that genuinely supports their artists creatively. Not just me, but all the artists they choose to work with. It’s perfect.”
Gibson, which is 127 years old, has found some controversy amidst financial turmoil in recent years. The company entered bankruptcy in 2018 after a series of bad business decisions, including the acquisition of the consumer audio division of electronics company Philips, the introduction of robotic guitar tuners and other missteps that left the company in poor financial condition. Later that year the company found new leadership by private equity firm KKR and ousted longtime CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. More recently, employees caused an uproar when they were forced to work at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Presumably, the company is doing better now: at the start of 2021, they acquired boutique amplifier manufacturers Mesa/Boogie.
Guns N’ Roses, meanwhile, resume their ongoing stadium reunion tour for the first time since the pandemic at the end of this month. That’s bonkers! Dates are below.
JUL 31 – Hersheypark Stadium – Hershey, PA [tickets]
AUG 3 – Fenway Park – Boston, MA [tickets]
AUG 5 – MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ [tickets]
AUG 8 – Comerica Park – Detroit, MI [tickets]
AUG 11 – Fargodome – Fargo, ND [tickets]
AUG 13 – Grizzly Stadium – Missoula, MT [tickets]
AUG 16 – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Denver, CO [tickets]
AUG 19 – Banc of California – Los Angeles, CA [tickets]
AUG 22 – MODA Center – Portland, OR [tickets]
AUG 25 – SAP Center at San Jose – San Jose, CA [tickets]
AUG 27 – Venue TBA – Las Vegas, NV [tickets]
AUG 30 – Phoenix Suns Arena – Phoenix, AZ [tickets]
SEP 1 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX [tickets]
SEP 8 – Lucas Oil Stadium – Detroit, MI [tickets]
SEP 11 – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena – Atlantic City, NJ [tickets]
SEP 12 – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena – Atlantic City, NJ [tickets]
SEP 16 – Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL [tickets]
SEP 21 – Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, MN [tickets]
SEP 23 – Schottenstein Center – Columbus, OH [tickets]
SEP 26 Royal Farms Arena – Baltimore, MD [tickets]
SEP 29 – PNC Arena – Raleigh, NC [tickets]
OCT 2 – Hard Rock Live Arena – Hollywood, FL [tickets]
OCT 3 – Hard Rock Live Arena- Hollywood, FL [tickets]
