Guitarist of Guns N' Roses

Background:

American/British musician Slash, born Saul Hudson, achieved mainstream popularity as the lead guitarist of hard rock group Guns N' Roses, with whom he performed and recorded during 1985 to 1996. During his 11 year tenure, the Stoke-on-Trent, England native enjoyed multi platinum sellers with “Appetite for Destruction” (1987), “G N' R Lies” (1988), “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” (both 1991) and one platinum release with “The Spaghetti Incident?” (1993). Upon his departure from Guns N' Roses, Slash founded the eponymous Slash's Snakepit and scored two platinum albums with the group called “It's Five O'Clock Somewhere” (1995) and “Ain't Life Grand” (2000). He then co founded Velvet Revolver with his ex- Guns N' Roses members Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. With his new band, Slash recorded the albums “Contraband” (2004, #1 US) and “Libertad” (2007, #5 US) before they went on hiatus in April 2008. The lead single “Slither” (2004) brought the group a 2005 Grammy Award. Slash's self titled solo album will be released in the US in April 2010. Slash also has made a name for himself as an in demand session musician. He has recorded with various artists, including Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper, Insane Clown Posse, Ray Charles, Sammy Hagar, Bad Company, Rihanna, Cheap Trick, Chic, and Eric Clapton.

On the personal note, Slash and wife Perla Ferrar, whom he has been married to since 2001, have two children together. He and former first wife Renee Suran (together from 1992 to 1997) have no children. He is an avid collector of vintage Les Paul guitars. He mentions “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” by Hunter S. Thompson, his favorite book.

BMX Rider

Childhood and Family:

Saul Hudson, who would later be popular as Slash, a nickname given to him by a family friend because he “always in a hurry, zipping around from one thing to another,” was born on July 23, 1965, in Hampstead, London, England, to an Englishman, Anthony Hudson, and an African American mother, Ola Hudson. His father designed album art for Geffen Records artists such as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, while his mother was a clothing designer, whose clients included David Bowie and many other actors and musicians. He was raised in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire until age 11 when his family moved to Los Angeles, CA. His parents separated in the mid 1970s and he went on to live with his mother and grandmother. During this period, an outsider at school, Slash found an interest in BMX riding, and later won several awards and money in competitions. He, however, did not pick up his first guitar until he was around 14 or 15 years old, and soon discovered he had a knack on it. Young Slash frequently skipped class and played the guitar all day long. Eventually, he dropped out of the fame Beverly Hills High School in 11th grade to focus on his music. In addition to future Guns N' Roses bandmate Steven Adler, he also went to the same high school as Lenny Kravitz.

Slash has been married twice. On October 10, 1992, he married Renee Suran, but they later divorced in 1997. He married second wife Perla Ferrar on October 15, 2001. His wife gave birth to a baby boy, London Emilio Hudson, on August 28, 2002. The couple's second son, Cash Anthony Hudson, was born on June 23, 2004. A former python collector, Slash gave his collection away after he had children.

Co Founder of Velvet Revolver

Career:

After leaving high school, guitarist Slash formed his first band, Road Crew, with childhood friend drummer Steven Adler in 1983. Through an ads placed by Slash, the band got bassist Duff McKagan, but the group soon disbanded. Slash next joined a local band called Black Sheep and in 1984, the group served as an opening act for Chriatian metal band Stryper. After the show, he was introduced to vocalist Axl Rose, who at the time also performed as an opener with his own group, Hollywood Rose. The two soon became friends, and several months later, Slash and Steven Adler were invited to join with Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar) and Duff McKagan as the band Guns N' Roses.

Throughout 1985 to 1986, Slash and Guns N' Roses toured clubs and opened for bigger acts before signing with Geffen Records and released their debut album, “Appetite for Destruction,” on July 21, 1987 to huge success. The album was well received by critics and reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album has received 18X multi platinum in the US, 10X platinum in Canada and double platinum in the UK thanks to popular singles such as “Sweet Child O' Mine” (#1 Billboard Hot 100), which led by Slash's riff and guitar solo, “Welcome to the Jungle” (#7 Billboard Hot 100) and “Paradise City” (#5 Billboard Hot 100). With over 33 million copies sold (as of October 2008), “Appetite for Destruction” becomes the best selling debut album of all time worldwide and in the US, and it remains the fastest selling album in the music history.

Slash and his group resurfaced with the sophomore album “G N' R Lies,” released on November 29, 1988. Despite consisting of only eight tracks, four of which had already been released as an EP called “Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide,” the album marked another big commercial success for the group. It peaked at No. 2 in the Billboard 200 and sold over five million pieces the US alone. The album also made the Top 10 in Austria, Norway and Sweden and went gold in the UK, where it charted at No. 22.

After a three year break, Guns N' Roses launched “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” both on September 17, 1991. “Use Your Illusion I,” with Slash serving as lead guitarist, backing vocalist and six string bassist, debuted at No.2 in the Billboard 200 and sold over 685,000 units in its first week. It went on to achieve 7X platinum in the US, 10x platinum in Canada, where it peaked at No. 1, and 5 X platinum in the UK. The album spawned three hit singles with the songs “Don't Cary” (#10 on the Billboard Hot 100), a cover of Paul McCartney's “Live and Let Die” (#33 on The Billboard Hot 100) and “November Rain” (#3 on the Billboard Hot 100). Slash also co wrote several tracks on the album, including “Coma” and “Garden of Eden” (both with Axl Rose) and “Dust N' Bones” (with Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan). With “Use Your Illusion II,” Slash and his bandmates were put back on the top chart of the Billboard 200. It sold over 770,000 copies on the first week and has since gone 7x platinum. The album also reached No. 1 in other countries such as the UK , Canada, Australia, and Austria, and has received 5xplatinum and 9x platinum in the UK and Canada, respectively. Five singles released from the album were “You Could Be Mine” (#29 US, #3 UK), a cover of Bob Dylan's “Knockin' on Heaven's Door” (#2 UK), “Yesterdays” (#72 US), “Civil War,” which was co written by Slash, Axl Rose and Duff McKagan, and “Estranged.”

To support the albums, Guns N' Roses embarked on the “Use Your Illusion Tour” for 28 months. After the group completed the tour, Slash got his US citizenship, while still holding his UK citizenship.

Back to their studio, Slash and his group released the Top 4 Billboard 200 album “The Spaghetti Incident?,” the follow up to “Use Your Illusion I and II,” on November 23, 1993. Consisting totally of cover versions, the album received mixed reviews from critics, and sold under 200,000 copies in its first week of release, importantly fewer than their former releases. It eventually went platinum in US. “The Spaghetti Incident?” marked the group's first album with new rhythm guitarist Gilby Clarke upon the departure of Izzy Stradlin in the late 1991.

Meanwhile, Slash had wrote several songs for the album, but the material met with rejections from Rose. This led to his decision to found the rock band Slash's Snakepit in 1994 to record the material. With supports from fellow Guns N' Roses members Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke on drums and rhythm guitar, respectively, Mike Inez of Alice in Chains on bass and Eric Dover on vocals, Slash's Snakepit released the first album “It's Five O'Clock Somewhere” on February 14, 1995. The album enjoyed a respectable financial success. It peaked at No. 70 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by RIAA.

Following a string of failure attempts at co existing with old bandmate Rose, Slash eventually left Guns N' Roses in 1996 and went on to focus on his energies to his side project, Slash's Snakepit. However, the group disbanded in 1998 after playing a few tour dates.

A session musician since 1988, when he and Guns N' Roses members Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin collaborated with Alice Cooper for the soundtrack of the documentary film “The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years,” Slash continued providing guitar sounds to songs such as “Home” from Iggy Pop's album “Brick by Brick” (1990), Michael Jackson's hits “Black or White” and “Give In to Me” from the album “Dangerous” (1991), Alice Copper's “Hey Stoopid” from the 1991 album of the same name, Lenny Kravitz's “Always on the Run,” which Slash also wrote the music for, and “Fields of Joy” from the 1991 album “Mama Said,” and Motörhead's “Ain't No Nice Guy” “You Better Run” from the British rock groups' album “March ör Die” (1992), among other songs. In 1995, Slash reunited with Jacko when he played guitar on the controversial song “D.S.” from Jacko's album “HIStory” (1995). They would work together in the songs “Morphine” and “Privacy” from Jacko's remix album, “Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix” (1997), and the 2001 album “Invisible.” Slash also made guest appearances on TLC's “Red Light Special” (1995), Insane Clown Posse's “Halls of Illusion” (1997), Sammy Hagar's “Little White Lie” (1997) and Chic's “Le Freak” and “Stone Free” (both 1999), to name a few, and contributed to film soundtracks such as Quentin Tarantino's “Jackie Brown” (1995) and Marta Sánchez's “Obsession-Confession” for the “Curdled” soundtrack (1996).

Two years after his departure, Guns N' Roses released the 1998 compilation album “Use Your Illusion.” It was followed by a live album called “Live Era: '87–'93” on November 23, 1999. Slash, who has not spoken to Axl Rose since 1996, communicated their song selection for the live album via intermediaries.

In October 2000, Slash released the album “Ain't Life Grand” with Slash's Snakepit. Recorded with new personnels such as Rod Jackson on vocals, Ryan Roxie on guitar, Johnny Griparic on bass and Matt Laug on drums, the album gave an additional platinum for Slash. To promote the album, Slash's Snakepit toured extensively throughout the world with AC/DC in the summer of 2000. The same year, he also was featured on Doro's song “Now or Never,” from the group's album “Calling the Wild.” He continued to make guest appearances on Ronnie Wood's “ Assorted Songs,” Bad Company's “ Wishing Well” and “Crossroads,” Cheap Trick's “ You're All Talk,” Rod Stewar's “Human” and “Peach” (all 2001), Ray Charles' “God Bless America Again” (2002), Robert Evans' “Love Theme From The Godfather” (the soundtrack of “The Kids Stay In The Picture,” Matt Sorum's “The Blame Game,” The Yardbirds' “Over, Under, Sideways, Down” and Elan's “Street Child” (all 2003).

In 2002, Slash joined forced with ex Guns N' Roses members Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum for a benefit/tribute concert for Randy Castillo. Recognized that their musical relationship was still very much intact, the trio decided to form a new group together. Formerly known as “The project,” Velvet Revolver was eventually established by adding guitarist Dave Kushner and vocalist Scott Weiland to the line ups to make the group quintet.

In 2003, Slash and Velvet Revolver recorded “Set Me Free” for the motion picture “Hulk” soundtrack. The song peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and No. 32 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. The group's first album, “Contraband,” followed on June 8, 2004, with recording complicated by the vocalist's court appearances for drug accuses and his consequent sentencing to undertake rehabilitation. Released under RCA, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 256,000 pieces in its first week of release. It went on to sell nearly 3 million copies in the US and over 4 million worldwide. The lead single “Slither” reached No. 1 on both the Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks and made to the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 56. The song won the group a 2005 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. The second single, “Fall to Pieces” peaked at No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks, No. 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks and No. 25 on the Adult Top 40 , while also hitting the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 67. The third single “Dirty Little Thing” reached No. 8 and No. 18 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and the Modern Rock Tracks charts, respectively.

In support of “Contraband,” Slash and Velvet Revolver toured both the United States and Europe twice, while also performing in New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

2004 also saw the release of Guns N' Roses' next compilation album “Greatest Hits.” Despite some criticisms towards the track listing by fans, the album proved to be a huge commercial success. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and has earned 4X platinum certification in the US. It also achieved 3X platinum in both Australia and the UK.

Back to their studio, Velvet Revolver launched their second album, “Libertad,” on July 3, 2007. The album reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200, and made the top 10 in other countries such as the UK (#6), New Zealand (#3), Finland (#4), Ireland (#7) and Australia (#10). It produced three singles with the songs “She Builds Quick Machines” (#2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks), “The Last Fight”(#16 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks) and “Get Out the Door” (#34 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks). “Libertad” became the group's last album recorded with vocalist Scott Weiland, who departed the band in April 2008, and also the last album the band released on RCA Records. Since Weiland's departure. The group has been on indefinite hiatus.

Outside of Velvet Revolver, Slash kept on busy making guest appearances on other artists' projects such as Eric Clapton's “Tears In Heaven,” - Ray Charles' “Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand (version 2003)” (both 2005), Sarah Kelly's “Still Breathing” and “Out of Reach,” Derek Sherinian's “In the Summertime,” Paulina Rubio's “Nada Puede Cambiarme” and Daughtry's “Wahar I Want” (all 2006), Alice Cooper's “Vengeance is Mine,” and Edgar Winter's “Rebel Road” (all 2008). He also composed the original score “ Welcome to Tokyo” and did the soundtrack “Mustang Nismo” for the motion picture “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” (2006). In 2009, Slash was featured on Rihanna's “ROCKSTAR 101,” from the R&B singer's album “Rated R.”

Recently, in 2010, Slash contributed to “Download to Donate for Haiti,” a compilation album by Music for Relief, a non-profit organization established by Linkin Park. He played on the song “Mother Maria,” featuring Bert Hart.

Slash's first solo album, “Slash,” for producer Eric Valentine, is set to be released on March 24, 2010 in Japan, on April 6, 2010 in the US and on May 10, 2010 in the UK. The first single “Sahara,” featuring Koshi Inaba on vocals, was launched in Japan on November 11, 2009. It charted No. 4 in Japan and reached No. 27 on the US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. The follow up “Paradise City” (2010), featuring Fergie & Cypress Hill, reached No. 14 on the US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.

Awards:

• Grammy: Best Hard Rock Performance, “Slither,” 2005