According to Blabbermouth, Nuno Bettencourt, the guitarist who has performed with Rihanna for over a decade, recently clarified his comments about Slash and his ability to handle the musical diversity of a Rihanna concert. In a previous interview, Bettencourt had mentioned that many guitar players, including Slash, might not be able to handle the range of musical styles required in a Rihanna performance.
After his comments garnered attention, Slash’s Guns N’ Roses bandmate Richard Fortus took to Instagram to defend Slash’s versatility as a guitarist. Fortus, who had toured with Rihanna before, stated that Slash wouldn’t have a struggle with playing in such a diverse concert.
Nuno then responded to Fortus’s comments, stating that he never intended to offend Slash or question his capabilities as a guitarist. He clarified that he has the utmost respect and admiration for Slash, considering him one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. Nuno explained that his initial statement was about rock guitarists, like himself and Slash, facing the challenge of playing different genres, not a critique of Slash’s skills.
Nuno Bettencourt has been a significant part of Rihanna’s musical journey, and he continues to appreciate the opportunity to play diverse styles with her. He also expressed regret if his words unintentionally offended anyone and hoped that Slash, as a peer and influence, would understand the context behind his comments.
Welp… I new this was eventually coming.
You can’t be blessed and be on multiple guitar magazine covers at a shocking 56 years old, get this much attention for your playing and new album as a rock guitarist without another guitarist stirring up some shit.
Im responding to this not cause I give a shit about what this guitarist thinks about me but, instead, because I’d hate to think my few words offended a hero of mine, @slash and possibly fuck up my relationship with him.
@4tus I’ve “respectively” never heard you play one note in my 56 years of being alive and only know your name from the Rihanna camp and as a replacement player in Guns.
I’m sure you’re a decent player, but did you really need to repost a headline that made me look like I am badmouthing a fellow player, Slash.
As if I’d ever think Slash isn’t capable of playing any Rihanna song in his sleep.
Let’s get something fucking straight.
To me, Slash is one of the greatest rock guitarists of my generation and of all time. PERIOD.And @4tus if you knew me at all and where my heart is you’d know that what I meant in this statement was not about slash or his capability, It was about Rock guitarists like myself or Slash switching genres and the awkwardness of playing these feels.
No SHIT Slash can play these songs, thank you so much for pointing that out as if we didn’t already know that.
But for me as a predominant ROCK guitarist, Im obviously not as talented as you and found it a challenge to nail all the different pockets and guitar tones of genres like Reggae, R&B, Electronic Dance, Trap and pop.
As far as you shining a light on my ridiculous statement that Slash would “struggle”, yes a poor word choice on my part, I personally would hope that Slash who is a peer and influence would be more mature enough to understand what I truly meant as a guitarist by that comment.
In mentioning Slash as an iconic Rock example, I meant in general a rock guitarist would find it, NOT A STRUGGLE, but feel like a fish out of water as a player.
THATS ALL I MEANT.I’ve had NOTHING but respect and admiration for @gunsnroses and @slash.
Apologies if I’ve unintentionally offended anyone.
N.
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