By: Slash, Anthony Bozza Publisher: HarperEntertainment Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: HarperEntertainment Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 480 Publication Date: October 30, 2007 Release Date: October 30, 2007
From one of the greatest rock guitarists of our era comes a memoir that redefines sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll
He was born in England but reared in L.A., surrounded by the leading artists of the day amidst the vibrant hotbed of music and culture that was the early seventies. Slash spent his adolescence on the streets of Hollywood, discovering drugs, drinking, rock music, and girls, all while achieving notable status as a BMX rider. But everything changed in his world the day he first held the beat-up one-string guitar his grandmother had discarded in a closet.
The instrument became his voice and it triggered a lifelong passion that made everything else irrelevant. As soon as he could string chords and a solo together, Slash wanted to be in a band and sought out friends with similar interests. His closest friend, Steven Adler, proved to be a conspirator for the long haul. As hairmetal bands exploded onto the L.A. scene and topped the charts, Slash sought his niche and a band that suited his raw and gritty sensibility.
He found salvation in the form of four young men of equal mind: Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler, and Duff McKagan. Together they became Guns N' Roses, one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands of all time. Dirty, volatile, and as authentic as the streets that weaned them, they fought their way to the top with groundbreaking albums such as the iconic Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion I and II.
Here, for the first time ever, Slash tells the tale that has yet to be told from the inside: how the band came together, how they wrote the music that defined an era, how they survived insane, never-ending tours, how they survived themselves, and, ultimately, how it all fell apart. This is a window onto the world of the notoriously private guitarist and a seat on the roller-coaster ride that was one of history's greatest rock 'n' roll machines, always on the edge of self-destruction, even at the pinnacle of its success. This is a candid recollection and reflection of Slash's friendships past and present, from easygoing Izzy to ever-steady Duff to wild-child Steven and complicated Axl.
It is also an intensely personal account of struggle and triumph: as Guns N' Roses journeyed to the top, Slash battled his demons, escaping the overwhelming reality with women, heroin, coke, crack, vodka, and whatever else came along.
He survived it all: lawsuits, rehab, riots, notoriety, debauchery, and destruction, and ultimately found his creative evolution. From Slash's Snakepit to his current band, the massively successful Velvet Revolver, Slash found an even keel by sticking to his guns.
Slash is everything the man, the myth, the legend, inspires: it's funny, honest, inspiring, jaw-dropping . . . and, in a word, excessive.
Maybe the best book I have ever read Amazon delivered Slash book to me in just a few days, and the payment was ok too. I love the book because it's very interesting,I recommed it because it's great and easy to read. It had interesting things that people would like though they are not Slash's fan.He is showing us what great he is. Thanks, Amazon, to give me the possibility of read this book. It's hard to find a page like Amazon that deliver this book to my country (Argentina).
A good mix of entertainment and history This isn't one of your boring autobiographies. The book progresses from Slash's early childhood to his current status in life, and it's entertaining every step of the way. Slash shares moments of triumph as well as humiliating incidents, and tells us stories of many of the celebrities he's met over the years. He also answers the questions running through the minds of all Guns N Roses fans: What happened? Could it have been avoided? I'd recommend this book for any GNR fan. Damn near 500 pages, and not one was boring.
Hudson is Honest & Humble I enjoyed this book. He tells his story in a simple, honest, and humble manner. No boasting or bridge burning. He is obviously deeply disappointed with the demise of the original line up for GnR but he doesn't scream about it or come off as bitter and twisted. I believe what he has to say regarding the reasons for the breakup: Axl was an inconsiderate member of the band who is both unapologetic for his inconsideration and incapable of realizing how important it is to be considerate when interacting with other human beings.
Axl humiliated the entire band and organization by refusing to show up for gigs on time. There were innumerable times he did not take to the stage until HOURS after the band was scheduled and ready to go on. This did not happen once or twice or a few times here and there. It happened many times and Axl refused to apologize or even explain what the hell his reasoning was for keeping tens of thousands of fans waiting for him to show up and sing some rock n' roll.
Slash does NOT slam Axl in this book. He merely lays out the simple and indisputable facts about Axl's arrogance, narcissism, greed, tyrannical inclinations, and his grossly un-brotherly & inconsiderate treatment of his fellow band mates. To his further credit, Slash praises Axl's talent as a lyricist, song writer, and lead vocalist. He conveys a sense of deep sorrow that the two of them could not remain friends or band mates.
Read this book and you will no longer wish that the original GnR reunite. You will be glad that Axl has had so much difficulty with his version of the "new & improved" GnR. His thoroughly ill treatment of the original line up is enough to not only turn your stomach but put you off from ever looking again at any of those old GnR videos & concerts. You cannot watch them without seeing what an absolute piece of excrement that Axl Rose was towards his band and their audience.
When this book was published, Scott Weiland was still part of Velvet Revolver. He has since left the band and one hopes with all of one's heart that Slash and the band ask Eric Dover to join them as lead vocalist. Eric doesn't have the same front man presence as Axl, but he sings a helluva lot better than him and you can bet he won't be refusing to go on stage on time.
As for Slash's drug use: He talks about it in a refreshingly unrepentant manner. He does not come off moralistic or preachy. He does not look down his nose at anyone. His attitude is similar to that of Bill Hicks: He had a fun time in the debauchery and survived it and that's that. No apologies for having fun with crack, heroin, ecstasy, and OxyContin. None needed. He's been there, done that, and now he's a dad with two sons whom he adores and wants to raise in a healthy way.
If you liked the original GnR as much as I did, then you must read this book. It is easy to read and Slash's voice and manner are on every page. He speaks without any pretentiousness and drives home the point that he loves being a road hog and a working musician and is not interested in being anything or anyone else. He loves himself, his family, his talent, his friends, and his life. He is a good egg with a good heart. The man deserves his success.
Thanks for having the balls to write this , Slash. The current list of band bios about GnR are nauseatingly frivolous and unforgivably sensationalistic. They do not enlighten the reader; they merely obscure the truth with rumours and misspoken anecdotes.
This book was fun to read!
Love Slash but who edited this????? Let me start by saying I am a huge Slash/GnR fan. I loved Slash's stories behind all the GnR songs and his take on Axl being Axl and the last band tours. My beef is with the editing and fact checking. I am shocked by how much of it is wrong! Just small examples like Slash and Renee being married at the Four Seasons in Marina Del Rey (it's a Ritz) and getting Fred Coury's name wrong (it is mentioned at least 1/2 dozen times as Curry). There are several other wrong or inconsistent details, enough for it to distract me and wonder what else was incorrect in this book. Again, that being said, I did enjoy the book would recommend it. I just wish the publishers would take the time to put out a better quality book. Nikki Sixx's book was really so much better quality even though it is a totally different style.
Slash is so honest! Slash Slash is very honest in his book. It was a real page turner. I bought this book for my hubby for christmas. He finished it in 3 days. Then I got it and finished it in a week. Love it!! I hope to read more from this author in the future!!
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