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Slash is predicting an April release for his next album, which he describes as "killer" and is being recorded with the same Myles Kennedy-fronted band he took on tour to promote 2010's "Slash" and with whom he recorded the upcoming live set "Made in Stoke 24/7/11."

"Based on the relationship that we've developed and the chemistry we've got going, I started writing material with Myles and the guys in the band in mind," the top-hatted guitar icon tells Billboard.com. Slash says he's accumulated "tons" of new material and has already been in the studio with the quintet to record "the first three of about 20 songs" for the as-yet-untitled set. The group will reconvene in December, after Kennedy returns from touring with Alter Bridge, and record through January.

"It's very different from the last one," says Slash, who recorded "Slash" with a variety of guest singers, including Kennedy. "There's a lot of freedom on this record; it's very diverse, but it's definitely the sound of one band with a lot of different ideas. This is probably the most 'live' recorded album I've ever done, too. The way I like to do records is rehearse, rehearse, rehears and then go in and get to know the song like the back of your hand and then go in and bang it out. That's how we're doing it."

That's not all Slash is planning to do before the end of the year, however. He says Velvet Revolver will also get together in December to "spend some time with a couple of singers -- that's all I can tell you." The group, on hiatus since frontman Scott Weiland left to rejoin Stone Temple Pilots in 2008, worked early this year with Slipknot/Stone Sour frontman Corey Hart, but that did not pan out.

While all that is going on, "Made in Stoke 24/7/11" -- due out Nov. 15 on two-CDs, with a DVD added to the Special Edition -- captures some of the chemistry that Slash has in his own band. "When I hooked up with those guys, it was really to just have a good time doing this, and everybody is doing just that, just doing what they do best," Slash says. "So it's been very cohesive. This is the most fun I've had since the early Guns (N' Roses) days."

With a healthy dose of GNR songs and even material from his previous solo band Snakepit, the live set also shows how Slash has taken ownership of all the music he's played on over the years,

"I realized that I actually have a catalog at this point. There's a body of work that I can refer to," he notes. "And I just pulled stuff that I wanted to play, a lot of stuff that I hadn't played in a really long time. Playing 'Nightrain' was a gas; that's something I hadn't done since the mid-90s. I just had this freedom to do whatever I wanted, so it was really fun and there was a lot of material to pull from."

Slash adds that he's also "honored" by Guns N' Roses nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2012. "It's become very prestigious over the years, and it's become a huge honor for anybody to be inducted into it -- or even nominated, for that matter," he says. "It's a cool accolade, I suppose. Obviously we're in really, really great company."

Slash says he hasn't spoken with any other GNR members about the nomination, and he's trying not too think too much about how the original quintet -- which hasn't played together since 1991 -- would handle its induction. "Of course, you have those thoughts of how it might work in case it does happen, but with Guns 'N Roses, there's really no guessing exactly how it will go. I suppose if it happens, everybody will get some sort of ducks in order. But I think the first thing to do is wait and see if we actually get inducted, because you know how unpredictable that is."

After its first day of deliberations, the jury in the involutary manslaughter case of Michael Jackson's doctor adjourned for the weekend without a verdict on Friday evening.

After a six-week trail, deliberations began Friday morning. Their discussions behind closed doors in a downtown Los Angeles courthouse could lead to the conviction or acquittal of Dr. Conrad Murray, whom the panel has heard described alternately as an inept and opportunistic physician or a naïve outsider granted access into Jackson's inner realm.

The seven-man, five-woman panel listened intently Thursday as prosecutors and defense attorneys argued over whether Murray should be convicted of involuntary manslaughter for Jackson's death in June 2009. The physician's attorneys attacked prosecutors and their witnesses, saying they had over time developed stories and theories that placed the blame for Jackson's death squarely on Murray.

On Friday, media were camped outside the courthouse and in the courtroom where the jury's decision will eventually be read. There was no sign of Murray or attorneys handling the case, but they will receive a two-hour notice when a verdict is reached. Murray waived the need for his presence if the panel asks any questions, but must be present when a verdict is reached.

Jackson died from a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol; Murray has acknowledged giving Jackson propofol to help him sleep.

The real reason Jackson died, defense attorney Ed Chernoff argued, was because he craved the powerful anesthetic so much that he gave himself a fatal injection when Murray left his bedside. "They want you to convict Dr. Murray for the actions of Michael Jackson," Chernoff said. "Poor Conrad Murray," prosecutor David Walgren replied in his final speech to jurors. "Michael Jackson is dead. And we have to hear about poor Conrad Murray and no doctor knows what it's like to be in his shoes."

Walgren noted that several doctors who testified - including two who were called by Murray's attorneys - said they would have never given the singer anesthesia in his bedroom. Murray is solely to blame for Jackson's death, Walgren argued, saying Murray had purchased more than four gallons of propofol to administer to Jackson and had been giving him nightly doses to help him sleep.

Walgren repeatedly described Murray's treatments on Jackson as unusual and called his actions on the day of the singer's death - including not calling 911 and not mentioning his propofol doses to paramedics or other doctors - "bizarre." Murray was essentially experimenting on Jackson, Walgren said. Murray should have known Jackson might die from the treatments, yet he lacked the proper life-saving and monitoring equipment.

"What is unusual and unpredictable is that Michael Jackson lived as long as he did under the care of Conrad Murray in this situation," Walgren said. The prosecutor repeatedly invoked the singer's children, Prince, Paris and Blanket, and said Murray's actions left them without a father. The children, who range in ages from 9 to 14, were not present, but Jackson's parents and several of his siblings attended closing arguments. The Houston-based cardiologist's culpability will be decided by jurors, who heard from 49 witnesses and have more than 300 pieces of evidence to consider. They were given lengthy instructions about how to deliberate and interpret the case.

If Murray is convicted, he faces a sentence that ranges from probation to four years behind bars, and he would lose his medical license. The sentence will be decided by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor and not the jury; the judge will receive input from attorneys for both sides and probation officials if necessary. A recent change in California law means that Murray, 58, might serve any incarceration in a county jail rather than a state prison.

If acquitted, Murray would be free from criminal prosecution, but will likely be pursued by medical licensing authorities in the states of California, Nevada and Texas.

In order to convict Murray, jurors will have to determine the cardiologist was substantially responsible for Jackson's death. Despite days of scientific testimony about what likely happened in Jackson's bedroom from experts for Murray and the prosecution, Walgren acknowledged that some things about the events in the King of Pop's bedroom that led to his death will never be known.

"The people won't prove exactly what happened behind those closed doors," he said. "Michael Jackson could give answers, but he is dead."