Axl Rose and former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash have been the subject of several rumors this year as fans began to hope for a reunion, but Slash says that’s not going to happen.

Rose and original bassist Duff McKagan have been on tour with the band this year, and McKagan’s willingness to work with Rose again prompted fans to speculate on Slash’s return. But, he says, there’s been no talk between the musicians about it at all.

“People have been speculating about it for years, but I really have a hard time picturing it. There hasn’t been any communication along those lines between he (Rose) and I. I have a hard time picturing it, because I’m always focused on the next show. I’m one of those people who lives in the moment. I don’t look too far into the future and I don’t dwell too much on the past,” Slash told Guitarworld.com.

Slash is currently hard at work with his band The Conspirators, whose second album World On Fire will be released on September 16. He says that while so many things have changed over the years, a lot of things are still the same.

“Obviously I’m in a different band now, but the road trips and venues are pretty much the same. It was a blast then and it’s a blast now. I do know I’m not as fucked up as I was! We were at the height of our debauchery back then,” he said.

As for comparisons of World On Fire to Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction, Slash says there was no intentional similarity, and points to producer Mike Baskette’s skills in the studio for giving it a raw sound.

“The sonic landscape has completely changed in the recording world. Mike really cut his teeth working as an engineer in the studio trying to record rock and roll the way that it should be. I think it was a relief for him be able to work with a band that was actually going to play through the songs and then be able to use his own chops to achieve what the band sounds like. It was a really good pairing.”