Latest news with #Slash
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Valerie Bertinelli 'Couldn't Be Prouder' of Son and His New Star-Studded Music Video
Valerie Bertinelli continues to support her son Wolfgang Van Halen and his work with his band, Mammoth VH. Last week, she shared a photo on her @wolfiesmomInstagram account from the set of the band's new video for the song 'The End,' in which she makes a cameo along with a few other celebs, including Danny Trejo, who is pictured with the pair. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 'What an amazing experience. The video for The End @mammothwvh is out now. The song is streaming everywhere I couldn't be prouder,' she wrote in the caption. Along with Bertinelli and Trejo, the video also includes cameos by rockers Myles Kennedy and Slash, Wolfgang's wife Andraia Van Halen and others, and was directed by Robert Rodriquez (known for From Dusk to Dawn, El Mariachi, Machete and more) and makeup artist Greg Nicotero. The clip has subtle throwbacks to Michael Jackson's iconic 'Thriller' video, Wolfgang's late father Eddie Van Halen, as well as some of Rodriguez's films. It begins with a quote from Jackson before Trejo's character warns Mammoth VH not to play too loud because his customers at the club are 'sensitive to loud noises.' The band fails to heed that advice and the audience soon turns into a variety of werewolves, vampires and zombies as Wolfgang and company rip through the tune. Fans left praise for the clip in the comments on YouTube. 'walking towards the camera on the table, just like dad. Epic,' wrote one, while another added, 'Danny Trejo and Slash in a Mammoth video?!?! HELL YEAH!' 'Valerie throwing punches while Slash just chills was perfect,' another added, while yet another wrote, 'The Force runs strong in the Van Halen family.'
The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Review: Guns N' Roses play Human Being live for first time in tribute to Axl Rose's late idol
There are only two acts I can remember who came on stage precisely at the advertised 8pm start time – Selena Gomez and Guns N' Roses. That the latter was once one of the most notoriously tardy bands in the history of rock n' roll is not lost on me. But that's a testament to what Guns N' Roses have become in 2025. Their misbehaviour may be the stuff of legend, and feuds may have kept the core members – Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan – apart for more than two decades, but it's been about 10 years since they made amends. This is not a victory lap or a quick cash grab – this is a band built to last for decades to come. And it makes sense that they would follow in the footsteps of the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Elton John and Paul McCartney and potentially play into their eighties. This has always been a band built on those influences – which made them an anachronism even when they debuted in 1985. At that time, their power as a unit was so mighty that they nearly single-handedly pushed mainstream hard rock back to the 70s – the decade when classic rock came to its own – for better and for worse. And now, with each core member either in or approaching their sixties, they're one of the few bands keeping classic rock alive in 2025. Not all the band's 70s heroes are still on stage, of course. In February, the music world lost David Johansen, the front man of the proto-punk pioneers New York Dolls. Johansen's famed on-stage swagger was one of the key influences on Rose, which he has been vocal about since GNR's early days. Most famously, the band paid tribute to the Dolls on their 1993 album The Spaghetti Incident?, covering their 1974 deep cut, Human Being. But for decades, the band never played their New York Dolls cover live. That made it particularly moving when Guns N' Roses played Human Being live on stage in Abu Dhabi for the first time in their history. Rose noted the debut with a smile, along with a tribute to his late hero. It's rare the band has looked this happy and healthy. Rose no longer sports the long hair and bandana, and looks and sounds noticeably better than he did when the band reformed in 2016, which allows him and his cohorts to breeze through a more than three-hour show at Etihad Arena – hitting all the right notes. Slash, on the other hand, remains ageless – his style has never changed, nor has his immaculate and virtuoso playing style. And most importantly, their camaraderie is palpable, with no signs of discord between them. The band, accompanied by their capable new drummer Isaac Carpenter, who joined the band in March, toured through all their beloved hits, starting with Welcome to the Jungle and ending with Paradise City, as they often do. Sweet Child o' Mine, and their covers of Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door and Wings' Live and Let Die were joyously performed. They even reached for some deep cuts, performing Attitude and Reckless Life for the first time on their current tour, and Used To Love Her for the first time since 2018. While the energy of the crowd may not have matched their 2017 show at Dubai's Autism Rocks Arena, which had 30,000 thrilled fans comes to see the reunited line-up for the first time – that is to be expected. This is the band's fifth time in the UAE, after all – and second time in Etihad Arena so far this decade. But their return is welcome, nonetheless, and marks perhaps their best performance yet. If this is the Guns N' Roses we're going to get for the next few decades, the UAE will welcome them back gladly each time.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Two College Dropouts Secured $41 Million To Revolutionize Industry-Specific Banking With Slash, Backed By Top VCs
Slash, the neo-bank launched by college dropouts Victor Cardenas and Kevin Bai, announced Tuesday it has closed a fresh $41 million funding round at a $370 million valuation, which was led by Goodwater Capital and supported by Menlo Ventures and New Enterprise Associates. The raise marks a definitive comeback after the company's core market, sneaker resellers, collapsed overnight, following Adidas' decision to end its collaboration with Kanye West, Fortune reports. Don't Miss: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — The idea for Slash emerged while Cardenas was studying at Stanford University and Bai at the University of Waterloo in Canada, Fortune says. As they explored different startup concepts, they discovered an ecosystem of sneaker resellers: young entrepreneurs generating substantial revenue but struggling to access essential banking tools. Many lacked incorporation or were too young to qualify for products like virtual credit cards, exposing a clear gap in the market. According to Fortune, that niche allowed the startup to quickly gain traction, especially as it offered virtual cards and other tools tailored to their needs. But when Adidas cut ties with Kanye West, the Yeezy resale economy collapsed. Slash saw its revenue fall by 80% almost instantly. The founders had announced on May 4 that they raised $19 million in earlier rounds, with dozens of employees onboard. According to Fortune, they faced a decision: double down on a dying niche or rebuild from scratch. Trending: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Over the next 18 months, they chose to rebuild from scratch, transforming Slash into a vertical banking engine for underserved industries like crypto firms, HVAC companies, and performance marketing agencies, to name a few. Today, Slash processes roughly $300 million each month through its cards, Fortune reports. While competitors like Brex, Mercury, and Ramp spread their services across industries, Slash doubled down on vertical integration. Fortune says that the founders' approach is to design bespoke banking infrastructure for the unique workflows of specific sectors. In performance marketing, that means creating sub-accounts for each client so agencies can track ad spending and prepayment balances. In crypto, Slash enables companies to move between fiat and digital currencies while maintaining transparent internal finance systems. More than 1% of all Facebook ads are now purchased through Slash-issued cards, Fortune reports. "If we continue solving these niche, vertical, specific financial workflows for businesses across different industries, then we can sneakily become one of the largest commercial credit card issuers in the country," Cardenas told to a LinkedIn post, Goodwater Capital leads the new round, with NEA returning as a consistent backer since Slash's early stages. Other notable investors include figures like Joshua Browder of DoNotPay and Zach Abrams. According to Fortune, the startup also has support from Column, a tech-friendly chartered bank co-founded by a Plaid executive. Their partnership helped Slash navigate the recent turmoil around fintech infrastructure provider Synapse, which disrupted operations for many competitors. The current 35-person team plans to use the new capital to scale into more verticals, including online travel, property management, and e-commerce, Fortune says. As Slash continues to solve critical pain points in niche industries, it quietly positions itself as one of the fastest-growing commercial credit card issuers in the U.S. Read Next: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Two College Dropouts Secured $41 Million To Revolutionize Industry-Specific Banking With Slash, Backed By Top VCs originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The National
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Timeframe: Guns N' Roses and their 15-year connection with the UAE
Guns N' Roses' Abu Dhabi concert this month is a continuation of their 15-year love affair with the UAE. They are one of the few major rock acts to have performed consistently in the country and across the Gulf during that period. Fans in the UAE have seen the band at various stages of their career: from the time it was essentially a solo vehicle for Axl Rose, backed by hired hands, to the reunion of the classic line-up, including guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan. The band continues to sell out arenas around the world. Their visits to the UAE have mirrored Abu Dhabi's own evolution as a live events destination, from their shows at Etihad Park, the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix and their sold-out concerts at Etihad Arena. Each of these packed shows not only reaffirmed the UAE's place on the band's touring map, but also laid the groundwork for other hard rock acts. These have included everyone from Metallica to upcoming gigs by Limp Bizkit and Smashing Pumpkins, who are making their first visit to the city. Their impact would have been hard to predict when Guns N' Roses first came to Abu Dhabi in 2010. With Rose the only remaining member from the classic line-up, it was difficult to muster much enthusiasm beyond the novelty of the group's first UAE performance. Yet the show turned out to be a triumph of will for Rose, who delivered a two-hour-plus set featuring 23 songs – including hits and defiant cuts from their 2008 album Chinese Democracy. Former keyboardist Dizzy Reed remembered the band's first Abu Dhabi visit as memorable for what happened offstage. 'It was trippy,' he told The National in 2013. 'We saw Emirates Palace and the world's most expensive Christmas tree. We also caught a soccer game and went to this yacht club – it was pretty amazing.' With the novelty of a first appearance gone, Guns N' Roses' return to Etihad Park three years later – with the same line-up – was a no-frills affair in the best way, featuring a set list that stretched to nearly 30 songs. According to The National's review, Rose was on scintillating form. 'No lip-synching from this guy – a physical performer, he ran himself breathless at times – yet Rose hit the right notes all the time, every time, proving he can still snarl, scream and roar,' wrote The National's Ellen Fortini. 'The band was gelled, tight, and put on a memorable show. Every bit of it came across as genuine, even Rose himself, who laughed, smiled, danced, strutted and spun his way through the set with a few well-timed and good-natured microphone stand tosses.' Perhaps as a reward for staying the course, Rose returned to the UAE in 2017 with the reformed classic line-up, delivering a sold-out performance in front of nearly 30,000 people at Dubai's Autism Rocks Arena. The return of Slash and McKagan brought a renewed energy and added potency to what was a thrilling show. 'Do the three reassembled key players like each other? Does it even matter? Bands have been built on money and ego for as long as recorded music has existed. Do they have the same cultural zeitgeist – the same whiff of danger and ability to shock – that they did 25 years ago? Of course not,' read The National's review of the show. 'But Slash and Duff's return has comfortably upgraded the group's legacy from a touring tribute circus outfit to long-reigning rock 'n' roll heroes. And on the basis of this euphoric, knockout juggernaut of a show, there's no rock band of the past three decades who can rival the might of Guns N' Roses.' After cementing the reformation's staying power with a follow-up show at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix a year later, the band went one better by choosing the UAE capital as the opening stop of their 2023 world tour. This time, they dug deep into their catalogue, performing Bad Obsession and Pretty Tied Up for the first time in 30 years, and featuring McKagan on lead vocals for the first time for their cover of T.V. Eye by The Stooges. With no new music reportedly on the horizon, Guns N' Roses' return to the UAE may seem minor, but their enduring relationship with the region reflects a band comfortable to dig deep into their catalogue, and a fan base embracing them in whatever form they take.
Finextra
22-05-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Slash raises $41m for 'vertical banking'
Slash has raised $41 million at a $370 million valuation for its business banking platform that promises to end the one-size-fits-all model and instead provide bespoke offerings for different industries. 0 Goodwater Partners, NEA and Menlo Ventures joined the round for Slash, which comes after a 2023 $19 million Series A. Slash started out serving sneaker resellers but, little over a year ago, it was hit by the fallout from Kanye West's anti-Semitic outbursts, which led to the rapper losing his Adidas partnership, which in turn saw the startup's revenue fall to the tune of 80%, co-founder Victor Cardenas tells Fortune. Slash pivoted to serving larger businesses, targeting their "deepest, vertical specific financial needs," says Cardenas in a blog. This vertical approach separates it from other business banking fintechs such as Ramp and Mercury, which have a horizontal method. Slash first went after marketing specialists that run ads for e-commerce firms and has since added crypto businesses, helping them to toggle between fiat and crypto. Says Cardenas: "In essence, we believe most banking products in the market today are too 'cookie cutter' and don't do enough to solve their customers' problems. Legacy banks compete exclusively on the basis of high yields, rewards, and relationships. "Other fintechs go further, and couple their banking + card products with bill pay, invoicing and expense management solutions. Their products, however, are industry agnostic: they're the same for restaurants, construction companies, property managers, e-commerce brands, and crypto companies - even though the underlying needs of each vary wildly." With the new funding in place, Slash plans to become the "largest commercial card in America" by building apps for dozens of categories, such as online travel and property management.
