Watch Slash perform 'I'm Just Ken' with Ryan Gosling at The Oscars

Wolfgang Van Halen and Mark Ronson were also on stage

Ryan Gosling and Slash
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 11th Mar 2024

Slash joined Ryan Gosling on stage at The Oscars last night (10th March) for a rousing performance of ‘I’m Just Ken’ from the Barbie movie.

Wearing a resplendent pink suit, Ryan Gosling was flanked by 65 other ‘Kens’ and a band consisting of 'I'm Just Ken' songwriter Mark Ronson and former Van Halen star Wolfgang Van Halen.

Two minutes into the performance at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Slash joined Ryan Gosling on centre stage to tear through his guitar solo from the song.

Despite receiving a rapturous reception on the night, Ryan Gosling failed to win the best song Oscar, with Billie Eilish and her brother Finnea winning with their Barbie song ‘What Was I Made For?’

Watch Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen perform ‘I’m Just Ken’ with Ryan Gosling at The Oscars:

Last July, Mark Ronson told Variety how the Slash collaboration came about, saying: “Slash is my hero. I grew up like… I was 7th grade when (Guns N’ Roses’) ‘Appetite for Destruction’ came out. He’s my all-time hero, I had pictures of Slash all over my wall.

“When we were getting this song done, I was like ‘it never hurts to ask, it’s such a longshot.’ I sent (Slash) the song and he was like ‘This is a good song!’

“I didn’t know Slash that well before this, but he was like ‘Cool, I’ll play on it’. And he killed it! He played the solo at the end and the rhythm parts. It’s wonderful.”

Directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, Barbie is based on fashion dolls of the same name by Mattel and it’s the very first live-action Barbie film.

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