When Guns N' Roses broke up, some may have thought that the #32 guitarist's career was over. They have been proven wrong:
Saul Hudson, who is now known by the stage name Slash, was born July 23, 1965 in London. He achieved worldwide success in the late 1980's and early 1990's as the lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses. After leaving that group, he co-founded Velvet Revolver. Time named him #2 in their list of "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" in 2009 while Total Guitar ranked his riff in "Sweet Child O' Mine" #1 in "The 100 Greatest Riffs" in 2004 and Guitar World placed Slash's solo in "November Rain" at #6 in their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos" in 2008.
Saul's mother was a costume designer whose clients included David Bowie, and his father created album covers for artists such as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. Hudson was given the nickname "Slash" by a friend because he was "always in a hurry, zipping around from one thing to another." He received his first guitar, a Gibson Explorer, from his grandmother and began learning to play.
In 1979, Slash tried to form a band with a friend, who played guitar. The band never materialized, but Slash decided to learn to play bass. He began taking lessons with a teacher at Fairfax Music School, but switched to guitar after hearing his teacher play "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones. Slash would practice up to 12 hours a day. He finally joined his first group, Tidus Sloan, in 1981 and in 1983, formed the band Road Crew with friend Steven Adler, who was a drummer. The group could not find a suitable lead singer and disbanded the following year. Slash then joined Hollywood Rose, which included singer Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin. Slash then joined the band Black Sheep.
But not too long afterwards, in June 1985, Rose and Stradlin asked Slash to join the group Guns N' Roses, with Duff McKagan and Steven Adler completing the lineup. The group played at the Whisky a Go-Go, the Troubadour and the Roxy and opened for larger groups in 1985 and 1986. The group began writing songs and signed with Geffen Records in March 1986.
Guns N' Roses released its debut album, Appetite for Destruction in July, 1987. From the outset, Slash was a key component of their success. We were first introduced to the band by Slash's guitar riff on "Sweet Child O' Mine". The album has now sold 28 million copies worldwide, 18 million in the United States.
In November, the group released G N' R Lies, and it has sold over five million copies in the United States. But heroin use was common among the group, the first hint that they wouldn't last long. Adler was fired because of his addiction, and was replaced by Matt Sorum, formerly of the Cult.
In 1991, Guns N' Roses began a two-and-a-half-year Use Your Illusion Tour. The following year, they released the albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, which debuted at #2 and #1, respectively. But Izzy Stradlin defected in November, replaced by Gilby Clarke, and Slash played what would be his final show on July 13, 1993.
The group had essentially three years of inactivity, prompting Slash to leave in October, 1996. Meanwhile in 1994, Slash formed Slash's Snakepit, a side project that also included Guns N' Roses mates Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke. Eric Dover sang lead and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains was on bass. Slash had written material for GNR that was rejected, so Slash's Snakepit recorded the songs and released the album It's Five O'Clock Somewhere in 1995. The album sold over a million copies in the United States.
Slash's Snakepit toured to support the album through 1996. Slash then toured for two years with the blues rock cover band Slash's Blues Ball. In 1999, Slash decided to regroup Slash's Snakepit with Rod Jackson on vocals, Johnny Griparic on bass, rhythm guitarist Ryan Roxie and drummer Matt Laug. The group released the album Ain't Life Grand in late 2000 although it did not fare as well as its predecessor. The group opened for AC/DC in 2000 before disbanding in 2002.
In 2002, Slash reunited with Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum for a tribute concert and the three, realizing they still had good chemistry, decided to form a new group. They hired Dave Kushner on rhythm guitar and, after auditioning lead singers for months, chose Scott Weiland, former singer of the Stone Temple Pilots.
The quintet chose the name Velvet Revolver and played several concerts during the summer. They released their debut album, Contraband, which debuted at #1 and sold over two million copies. This showed the strength and appeal of Slash. Velvet Revolver toured for a year-and-a-half to support the album, which included the single "Set Me Free".
In 2007, the group released the follow-up, Libertad, and set off on a second tour. Weiland left the band, however, in 2008 to rejoin Stone Temple Pilots, leaving the group in a state of hiatus.
In September, 2008, Slash began working on a solo album. The self-titled Slash was released in 2010 and debuted at #3 on the album chart. Several artists, including Fergie, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Adam Levine from Maroon 5 and others, helped out on the project. Slash went on his first solo world tour to promote the album, then began working on a solo album, which is slated for release later in 2012.
Slash has also helped out other artists. He played lead guitar on the opening for "Black or White", the single "Give In to Me" and on the HIStory, Blood on the Dance Floor and Invincible albums for Michael Jackson. Slash also played for Rihanna, Lenny Kravitz, Alice Cooper and on the Yardbirds' comeback album in 2003. Slash also played guitar on the film score of The Wrestler in 2008.
Slash owns more than 100 guitars, but prefers the Gibson Les Paul. Gibson credits him with bringing back the Les Paul into the mainstream. Slash has worked with Gibson on eleven signature Les Paul models. He started out with a B.C. Rich Warlock and a B.C. Rich Mockingbird before discovering the Les Paul. His favorite studio guitar is a Les Paul Flame '59, but has also played a Flying V '59 and an Explorer '58. Slash also uses a Fender Stratocaster and a 1952 Telecaster.
On stage, Slash uses the Les Paul Standard '87, a Les Paul Standard '76, a Gold Top 187 Les Paul Gold and a B.C. Rich Mockingbird. He also plays a Gibson EDS-1275 and a Travis Bean T-1000.
Slash has always loved amplifiers from Marshall. He used an early 1970's Marshall 1959 for Appetite for Destruction and uses the "Silver Jubilee" JCM 2555 amp on stage. Slash used a Marshall AFD100 for his debut solo album and a "Vintage Modern" 2466 for his second album. The first signature amp ever introduced by Marshall was a Slash Signature JCB 2555. Slash has also used a Vox AC30 and small Fender tube amps.
Slash doesn't use effects nearly as much as other guitarists, preferring to let his natural ability show through. He does use amp reverb, a slight delay, produced by a Boss DD-5 and Boss GE-7 graphic equalizer, and recently has gone to an octave Boss OC-2 and a Fernandes sustainer with Velvet Revolver. Dunlop introduced the Crybaby SW-95 Slash Signature Wah, designed after Slash's custom Crybaby wah pedal.
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In 2007, Slash earned a star on the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame, with his name placed alongside Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen. In 2009, Time magazine ranked Slash second only to Jimi Hendrix among electric guitarists, a bit too high in our opinion. In 2010, West Hollywood mayor John Heilman presented Slash with a plaque decalring August 26, 2010 as "Slash Day". Besides "Sweet Child O' Mine" rated as the #1 Riff of All-Time by Total Guitar magazine, three others ("Paradise City", "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Out ta Get Me" ranked in the Top 100. Slash's work on "Paradise City" was voted #3 by readers of Total Guitar for The 100 Hottest Guitar Solos. Guitar World ranked Slash's solo on "November Rain" at #6 in their list of The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.
Slash can design a riff with the best of them and he ranks way up in his guitar solos and speed. With a high level of success in both Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, Slash has proven himself to be a viable guitarist as well. With 32 years experience, he also places well in The Top 100 Guitarists in that category as well. Add all that up and it results in a ranking of The #32 Guitarist of the Rock Era*...for Slash.
#32: Slash, Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver
32 years as an active guitarist
32 years as an active guitarist
(a Slash live solo)
Saul Hudson, who is now known by the stage name Slash, was born July 23, 1965 in London. He achieved worldwide success in the late 1980's and early 1990's as the lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses. After leaving that group, he co-founded Velvet Revolver. Time named him #2 in their list of "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" in 2009 while Total Guitar ranked his riff in "Sweet Child O' Mine" #1 in "The 100 Greatest Riffs" in 2004 and Guitar World placed Slash's solo in "November Rain" at #6 in their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos" in 2008.
Saul's mother was a costume designer whose clients included David Bowie, and his father created album covers for artists such as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. Hudson was given the nickname "Slash" by a friend because he was "always in a hurry, zipping around from one thing to another." He received his first guitar, a Gibson Explorer, from his grandmother and began learning to play.
In 1979, Slash tried to form a band with a friend, who played guitar. The band never materialized, but Slash decided to learn to play bass. He began taking lessons with a teacher at Fairfax Music School, but switched to guitar after hearing his teacher play "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones. Slash would practice up to 12 hours a day. He finally joined his first group, Tidus Sloan, in 1981 and in 1983, formed the band Road Crew with friend Steven Adler, who was a drummer. The group could not find a suitable lead singer and disbanded the following year. Slash then joined Hollywood Rose, which included singer Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin. Slash then joined the band Black Sheep.
But not too long afterwards, in June 1985, Rose and Stradlin asked Slash to join the group Guns N' Roses, with Duff McKagan and Steven Adler completing the lineup. The group played at the Whisky a Go-Go, the Troubadour and the Roxy and opened for larger groups in 1985 and 1986. The group began writing songs and signed with Geffen Records in March 1986.
Guns N' Roses released its debut album, Appetite for Destruction in July, 1987. From the outset, Slash was a key component of their success. We were first introduced to the band by Slash's guitar riff on "Sweet Child O' Mine". The album has now sold 28 million copies worldwide, 18 million in the United States.
In November, the group released G N' R Lies, and it has sold over five million copies in the United States. But heroin use was common among the group, the first hint that they wouldn't last long. Adler was fired because of his addiction, and was replaced by Matt Sorum, formerly of the Cult.
In 1991, Guns N' Roses began a two-and-a-half-year Use Your Illusion Tour. The following year, they released the albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, which debuted at #2 and #1, respectively. But Izzy Stradlin defected in November, replaced by Gilby Clarke, and Slash played what would be his final show on July 13, 1993.
The group had essentially three years of inactivity, prompting Slash to leave in October, 1996. Meanwhile in 1994, Slash formed Slash's Snakepit, a side project that also included Guns N' Roses mates Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke. Eric Dover sang lead and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains was on bass. Slash had written material for GNR that was rejected, so Slash's Snakepit recorded the songs and released the album It's Five O'Clock Somewhere in 1995. The album sold over a million copies in the United States.
Slash's Snakepit toured to support the album through 1996. Slash then toured for two years with the blues rock cover band Slash's Blues Ball. In 1999, Slash decided to regroup Slash's Snakepit with Rod Jackson on vocals, Johnny Griparic on bass, rhythm guitarist Ryan Roxie and drummer Matt Laug. The group released the album Ain't Life Grand in late 2000 although it did not fare as well as its predecessor. The group opened for AC/DC in 2000 before disbanding in 2002.
In 2002, Slash reunited with Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum for a tribute concert and the three, realizing they still had good chemistry, decided to form a new group. They hired Dave Kushner on rhythm guitar and, after auditioning lead singers for months, chose Scott Weiland, former singer of the Stone Temple Pilots.
The quintet chose the name Velvet Revolver and played several concerts during the summer. They released their debut album, Contraband, which debuted at #1 and sold over two million copies. This showed the strength and appeal of Slash. Velvet Revolver toured for a year-and-a-half to support the album, which included the single "Set Me Free".
In 2007, the group released the follow-up, Libertad, and set off on a second tour. Weiland left the band, however, in 2008 to rejoin Stone Temple Pilots, leaving the group in a state of hiatus.
In September, 2008, Slash began working on a solo album. The self-titled Slash was released in 2010 and debuted at #3 on the album chart. Several artists, including Fergie, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Adam Levine from Maroon 5 and others, helped out on the project. Slash went on his first solo world tour to promote the album, then began working on a solo album, which is slated for release later in 2012.
Slash has also helped out other artists. He played lead guitar on the opening for "Black or White", the single "Give In to Me" and on the HIStory, Blood on the Dance Floor and Invincible albums for Michael Jackson. Slash also played for Rihanna, Lenny Kravitz, Alice Cooper and on the Yardbirds' comeback album in 2003. Slash also played guitar on the film score of The Wrestler in 2008.
Slash owns more than 100 guitars, but prefers the Gibson Les Paul. Gibson credits him with bringing back the Les Paul into the mainstream. Slash has worked with Gibson on eleven signature Les Paul models. He started out with a B.C. Rich Warlock and a B.C. Rich Mockingbird before discovering the Les Paul. His favorite studio guitar is a Les Paul Flame '59, but has also played a Flying V '59 and an Explorer '58. Slash also uses a Fender Stratocaster and a 1952 Telecaster.
On stage, Slash uses the Les Paul Standard '87, a Les Paul Standard '76, a Gold Top 187 Les Paul Gold and a B.C. Rich Mockingbird. He also plays a Gibson EDS-1275 and a Travis Bean T-1000.
Slash doesn't use effects nearly as much as other guitarists, preferring to let his natural ability show through. He does use amp reverb, a slight delay, produced by a Boss DD-5 and Boss GE-7 graphic equalizer, and recently has gone to an octave Boss OC-2 and a Fernandes sustainer with Velvet Revolver. Dunlop introduced the Crybaby SW-95 Slash Signature Wah, designed after Slash's custom Crybaby wah pedal.
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Slash can design a riff with the best of them and he ranks way up in his guitar solos and speed. With a high level of success in both Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, Slash has proven himself to be a viable guitarist as well. With 32 years experience, he also places well in The Top 100 Guitarists in that category as well. Add all that up and it results in a ranking of The #32 Guitarist of the Rock Era*...for Slash.
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