Slash (musician)

Saul Hudson, better known to the world as Slash, was one of the guitarists of hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is noted for his long, black, afro hair, and his signature top hat.

Related Topics:
Guitar - Guns N' Roses

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Hudson was born July 23, 1965 in Hampstead, London, England to a British-Jewish father and a black mother. He was raised in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire until the age of 11 when his family moved to the United States. In the United States he attended Beverly Hills High School along with other future stars including Lenny Kravitz and Nicolas Cage.

Related Topics:
July 23 - 1965 - Hampstead - London - England - Stoke-on-Trent - Staffordshire - United States - Beverly Hills High School - Lenny Kravitz - Nicolas Cage

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In the mid 70's his parents split up and he moved in with his grandmother. At this time he started BMX and even won an award for his riding. At about age 15 Hudson was given a one string Acoustic guitar, with which he was able to learn to play. Slash's early influences include Led Zeppelin, Rory Gallagher, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Queen, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Neil Young. Hudson began to devote at least 12 hours a day to playing guitar, which evidently affected his school work. Eventually, Hudson gave up on school, dropping out in eleventh grade. While a part of the Los Angeles band scene, he met drummer Steven Adler and the two formed the band Road Crew.

Related Topics:
BMX - Acoustic guitar - Led Zeppelin - Rory Gallagher - Eric Clapton - The Rolling Stones - Queen - Aerosmith - Jimi Hendrix - Jeff Beck - Neil Young - Los Angeles - Drummer - Steven Adler - Road Crew

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Hudson and Adler later met future Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin who played him a tape of Axl Rose singing. Hudson and Adler met Axl shortly thereafter. Later, when guitarist (Tracii Guns) and drummer (Rob Gardner) of Axl's new band, Hollywood Rose, could not make the band's first few shows in Seattle, Slash and Adler volunteered and quickly joined as full time members. The band became Guns N' Roses shortly thereafter. After Guns N' Roses' Use Your Illusion Tour, Slash became an American citizen.

Related Topics:
Rhythm guitarist - Izzy Stradlin - Axl Rose - Tracii Guns - Rob Gardner - Hollywood Rose - Use Your Illusion Tour - American

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While serving as GN'R's lead guitarist, Slash was involved in many projects with artists as varied as Lenny Kravitz, BLACKstreet, Michael Jackson and Queen.

Related Topics:
Lenny Kravitz - BLACKstreet - Michael Jackson - Queen

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Slash quit GN'R in 1996 after he declared that he could not work with Rose. He then focused on a group he had formed in 1994 called Slash's Snakepit, which he later disbanded in July 2001. Slash has currently embarked upon a musical endeavour with old Guns N' Roses musicians Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland and former Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner, called Velvet Revolver. In 2003, he participated in the Yardbirds' comeback record "Birdland" (which consisted mostly of re-recordings of some of their greatest hits, with guest appearances by former member Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Brian May, Steve Lukather, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, John Rzeznik, Martin Ditchum and Simon McCarty), released on the Favored Nations label. He played lead guitar in the track "Over, Under, Sideways, Down".

Related Topics:
1996 - 1994 - Slash's Snakepit - 2001 - Duff McKagan - Matt Sorum - Stone Temple Pilots - Scott Weiland - Wasted Youth - Dave Kushner - Velvet Revolver - Yardbirds - Birdland - Jeff Beck - Joe Satriani - Steve Vai - Brian May - Steve Lukather - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - John Rzeznik - Martin Ditchum - Simon McCarty - Favored Nations

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Slash maintains an impressive collection of guitars, the backbone of which is made up of Gibsons - particularly his trademark Les Paul model. He has at this stage well over 100 guitars, not only Gibsons but Fenders as well and several BC Rich guitars.

Related Topics:
Guitar - Gibson - Les Paul - Fender - BC Rich

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Slash was the first musician ever to have a signature amplifier created for him by Marshall.

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With his second wife Perla, he has two sons, London and Cash.

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