Listen to Duff McKagan, Slash’s new charity single “I Can Breathe”

In addition to playing in Guns N’ Roses, lead guitarist Slash and bassist-vocalist Duff McKagan have long been advocates for mental health organizations. For Giving Tuesday, they’ve teamed up with Cesar Gueikian, CEO of instrument maker Gibson, for a new single, “I Can Breathe,” which will raise money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Slash previously raised money for NAMI through his SERPENT music festival.

“I Can Breathe” feels a bit more metallic than the music Slash and McKagan recorded with GN’R and Velvet Revolver. Gueikian wrote the stormy riffs, while McKagan wrote metaphorical lyrics about depression as a storm (“The raging seas, and the wind it stings,” he sings. “The forecast reads that the storm will recede”) and Slash contributed an instantly recognizable bluesy guitar licks. Gueikian played rhythm guitar and keyboards on the track, while Seta Von Gravessen played bass and Jota Morelli took on drums. All money raised from the single’s release will benefit NAMI through Gibson Gives.

Gueikian says Rolling Stone that the original version of the song lasted 12 minutes. He sent McKagan a demo and the music was immediately well received. “It felt like the lyrics were pouring out of Duff’s heart and head,” he says via email. “I remember getting messages from Duff with the lyrics and I was blown away.” McKagan recorded his vocals in a single day.

“It was a great pleasure working with Cesar and his entire crew on this song,” McKagan said in a statement. “The musical direction and progressive rock character of this huge epic pushed me in a whole new direction. I love challenges and Cesar conquered them! What’s most important to me during this time is that I can help and raise awareness about mental health issues. Let’s rock!”

Gueikian then reached out to Slash to see if he, too, would be interested. “The song is a departure from what we’re all used to from Slash and Duff, but they’ve written and performed with so many artists from all genres of music that I felt somewhat comfortable with the request,” he says. “In addition to the solos, Slash tracked several lead guitar stems throughout the song! I didn’t expect that! He took the song to a new level.”

“Cesar and Duff came to me with a really cool piece of music,” Slash said. “I liked the riff idea and Duff’s vocals, so I immediately felt at home on the track.”

In addition to the song’s release, Gibson is auctioning off a print of the single’s red-and-blue cover, a painting titled “They’re Coming” by System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian, who has previously worked with Gueikian and the Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi on another song. The company is also auctioning off a Les Paul guitar with the artwork painted on it. Both can be purchased at Julien’s Auctions. All proceeds benefit NAMI.

The guitar, signed by Slash, McKagan, Tankian and Gueikian, is expected to sell for $6,000 to $8,000. Julien’s estimates the print will fetch between $1,000 and $2,000.

Gueikian has high hopes for both the single’s release and the auction. “We hope to accomplish two important things: First, raise money for NAMI, which has worked since 1979 to educate, support, advocate, listen and guide people with mental illness and their families to improve lives. “, he says. “On the other hand, we hope that ‘I Can Breathe’ will raise awareness for people in need to seek help.”