Slash exclusive: I want solo album

Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash recently published his autobiography and now has a solo album in his sights. Although he doesn't have a timetable for the project, Slash told us he already has a lot of ideas for what direction he wants it to take: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "I really want to do a solo record and play with a lot of different people that I've worked with before, maybe some people I haven't worked with, and just do something really, really sort of interesting. 'Cause I've played on so many other people's records, you know, and I want to write material for, like, different individuals to sing on and whatnot. So that's sort of like the main sort of backburner kind of thing going on at the moment."

Meanwhile, Velvet Revolver was forced to cancel a four-city Japanese tour after the band members were denied visas, according to Blabbermouth.net. A spokesperson for concert promoter Creativeman Productions noted in a statement that the group had previously toured Japan in 2005, but now explained, "The increasingly tough Japanese immigration officials are taking exception with the backgrounds of various band members, which have included arrests." The band was scheduled to perform in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Yokohama between November 26th and 30th.

Velvet Revolver is still scheduled to tour Australia in early December.

The group wrapped up a North American tour with Alice In Chains last month as it continues promoting its second album, Libertad. The record has sold 250,000 copies since its release last July.

Slash will appear as a presenter at the 35th annual American Music Awards, which will broadcast live on ABC this Sunday (November 18th) from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.