Michael Monroe added Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators’ bassist Todd Kerns to his solo band after Sami Yaffa’s departure.
“Unfortunately due to television commitments in Finland, I’m unable to make the Michael Monroe American dates,” Yaffa wrote in an Instagram post. “However we are delighted to welcome back our good friend Todd Kerns (Slash) back, who will be holding the bottom end for the boys. I’ll be back with the band in May for our UK tour.”
Kerns previously joined Michael Monroe as a guitarist in December 2015, as reported by BraveWords. The musician said in a statement at the time, “It hasn’t been formally announced yet but will be very soon that your pal, Todd Dammit, will be playing guitar for the legendary Michael Monroe in Finland for five shows this December.”
He went on to say, “That’s right. It was bound to happen at some point. Michael and the men from his band have become some of my favorite humans on the planet. I have known guitarist, Rich Jones, for eons back in Canada. Guitarist, Steve Conte, will be unavailable for these dates in December so I got the call. I could not be more thrilled.”
“Anyone who knows me knows what a gigantic fan I am of Michael and his previous band, Hanoi Rocks. I remember sitting in my room as a kid staring at the cover of albums like ‘Two Steps From The Move’ dreaming of playing alongside these gypsy minstrels. Now all these years later I will be playing alongside two of the characters on that album cover – Michael and the legendary Sami Yaffa,” Kerns shared.
The rocker added, “The third person on that cover now plays drums for John Lennon in the great beyond. RIP Razzle. I have known Sami for a long time, too as we jammed together in the Dive Bar days in Vegas. We have always maintained contact. He’s another hero of mine. It has been a very important awakening in me to bring back to life the guitar player in me.”
Monroe will have three special shows on the U.S. West Coast this year. He will take the stage in Las Vegas on April 11 and in Hollywood on April 12 and 13.
Photo Credit: Sami Yaffa – Instagram
