2007.12.03 - Metro - 60 Seconds: Slash

60 SECONDS: Slash

By ANDREW WILLIAMS

Slash, born Saul Hudson and brought up in Stoke-on-Trent, is touted as one of the best rock guitarists. The 42-year-old performed legendary solos on Guns N’ Roses songs Sweet Child O’ Mine and November Rain. He fell out with singer Axl Rose and is currently lead guitarist in Slash’s Snakepit and rock supergroup Velvet Revolver. His autobiography is out now.

Did you learn anything about yourself from writing the book?

No. I just cemented what I already knew. It’s a pretty good snapshot of my existence up to now.

Have you been back to Stoke on-Trent lately?

I haven’t been back to visit. I have family there and I talk to them regularly but I haven’t made the effort to go. I should. I’ve driven past on the motorway a couple of times but that’s it.

What was the high point of your time in Guns N’ Roses?

The whole thing was a high point. It was the best thing I could have got involved with. I always judged how successful we were by the response from the fans. Towards the end it was overwhelming. The biggest concerts we did were two Rock In Rio festivals, where we played to more than 190,000 people. Playing in front of that many people is a lot to take in so I hid behind the guitar, the hat, the hair, the cigarette – but you can definitely still feel them out there.

You’ve worked with a variety of famous musicians. With whom did you get on best?

I really got on great with almost all of them. Michael Jackson’s record was a special moment, so was working with Iggy Pop, Lenny Kravitz and Ray Charles. A not-so-great one was with Bob Dylan. That was a huge learning experience. I was recommended for a guitar solo on his track Wiggle Wiggle during one of his darker periods in the late 1980s. I put a solo on there that I was quite proud of and put an acoustic rhythm track underneath it. When I heard it, only the acoustic track was there. Apparently he took the solo off because it sounded too much like Guns N’ Roses.

That must have been disappointing.

A bit. It was one of my first sessions. If I knew then what I know now I’d have done things differently.

What bands do you like at the moment?

Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Megadeath, White Stripes. Mostly bands that have been around for a while. There haven’t been any new bands I’ve heard recently that have caught my ear.

What was Michael Jackson like?

Very astute and professional – he knew exactly what he wanted me to do in the songs.

What about as a person?

He was great. All that stuff about his extra-curricular sexual preferences – I hope isn’t true. I never encountered anything like that. He was just a pleasure to work with.

Will you ever work with Axl Rose again?

I always say ‘never say never’ but it’s not going to happen in the foreseeable future.

Do you still collect pinball machines?

Yes, I just gave away a couple so now I only have 13. I want to get the new King Kong and the Pirates Of The Caribbean ones. My favourite is an old one called Funhouse. They’re programmed not to take money, or else I’d need a lot of loose change.

What are the highs and lows of dating a porn star [Slash has gone out with at least two]?

It depends on the porn star. The sex is great and very uninhibited. The lows were getting too much of the same thing. It starts to feel like you’re making a movie every time you have sex.

Is keeping a pet cougar hard?

You have to be very tenacious and respectful. It was a great experience. His name was Curtis and he was an amazing buddy of mine for a long time. He got really big and I couldn’t hide him any more. It’s illegal to keep a cougar as a pet in Los Angeles. I took him away to live with one of my friends in the country.

How many snakes do you own?

I’ve only got one now. When my son London was due I got cold feet about keeping snakes. I didn’t like the idea of a toddler running around with 80 pythons on the property. It was a wise move. It was quite possible one would have eaten him. I’ve only got a baby anaconda now.

You were dead for eight minutes after a drugs overdose. Did you see a white light?

No I didn’t. That would have been awesome. I was too inebriated to recall anything. That time was a one-off. I’d kept my nose clean prior to that. I stayed away from drugs for a little while after.

How did you hit upon wearing a top hat on stage?

I just saw it in a store one day and thought it was cool. It just spoke to me and became an item I wore all the time.

Have you ever thought of wearing a beenie hat instead?

Not really.

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