JAKARTA - Nuno Bettencourt, who has appeared with pop superstar Rihanna for more than a decade, clarified his recent comments that were deemed offensive to one of his colleagues, Guns N 'Roses guitarist Slash.
In an interview with Planet Rock, the Extreme guitarist argued that many guitar players, including Slash, would not be able to handle the diversity of Rihanna concert music.
"When someone like Rihanna contacts you to appear, everyone thinks 'oh, that's funny. It's a pop artist, whatever it is,'" said Nuno.
"Let me tell you something, what should I do night after night... wearing a reggae hat [for one song] with a reggae feel, and getting into R&B, then into the punk rock and pop rock that he (Rihanna) showed, and then the club track. All kinds of [hal], all those different feelings. "
"Sorry, most of the guitar players I admire haven't been able to play in that show for the rest of his life," he added. "I mean in the most likely way."
"Slash is one of the greatest rock guitar players of all time but I guarantee - and he will be the first to tell you - that if he jumps and he has to play clean intro for Rude Boydari Rihanna, that's not going to happen."
Nuno continued: "I believe that if I wasn't so diverse musically and accepted everything I experienced when I was raised, it was impossible for me to be in where I am now. And also open, being an open musician in the sense of'ready for anything.'"
A few days after Nuno's comments circulated on the music media, Slash's co-star at Guns N 'Roses, Richard Fortus, via Instagram, shared headlines from the Guitar.com article that reported Nuno's words by including a special message to the Extreme guitarist.
"I have to respectfully disagree. @nunobettencourtofficial is one of the best, of course. However, very little @slash couldn't do on the guitar (if he wanted). I toured Rihanna before Nuno and I've spent a lot of time playing music with Slash. This (Rihanna) show won't be difficult for her."
Late Saturday, July 22, Nuno took to his social media to clarify his original comments and to respond to Richard, who played with Rihanna on the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour in 2008 and 2009. Bettencourt wrote: "Welp... I know (comments) this is finally coming."
"You can't be blessed and appear on some cover of a guitar magazine at the age of 56 surprisingly, getting this much attention to your game and a new album as a rock guitarist without any other guitarists causing a fuss."
"I'm not responding to this because I care about what this guitarist (Fortus) thinks about me, but, on the other hand, because I don't like to think a few words I offend my hero, @slash and maybe mess up my relationship with him.
"@4tus I've never heard you play a single tone in my 56 years of life and only know your name from the Rihanna camp and as a substitute at Guns (N' Roses)."
"I'm sure you are a good player, but do you really need to repost the title that makes me look bad at my fellow player, Slash."
"It seems I once thought Slash couldn't play Rihanna's song in his sleep."
"Let's straighten it out. For me, Slash is one of the greatest rock guitarists of my generation and all time. Period. And @4tus if you really know and where my heart is, you'll know that what I mean in this statement is not about Slash or his abilities. It's about rock guitarists like me or Slash changing genres and awkwardness in playing this feel."
"No one doubts, Slash can play these songs, thank you very much for showing it as if we don't know it yet. But for me as the dominant rock guitarist, I'm clearly not as talented as you are and find the challenge of controlling all the bags and guitar tones that are different from genres such as reggae, R&B, electronic dance, trap and pop."
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"As far as you highlight my ridiculous statement that Slash will be 'trouble', it's a bad choice of words on my part, I personally hope that Slash who is my partner and influence will be more mature to understand what I actually mean as a guitarist with that comment."
"Call Slash as an iconic rock example, I mean in general the rock guitarist will find it, not struggle, but feel like fish is coming out of the water as a player. That's what I mean."
"I have nothing but respect and admiration for @gunsnroses and @slash."
"Sorry if I accidentally offended anyone."
Nuno recently shared the stage with Rihanna when the Grammy Award-winning R&B artist took the stage in Phoenix on February 12 for his performance in the 2023 Super Bowl part-time.
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