Slash (autobiography)

Slash
Author(s)	Slash with Anthony Bozza
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Autobiography
Publisher	HarperCollins Entertainment (UK) HarperEntertainment (USA)
Publication date	October 29, 2007 (UK) October 30, 2007 (USA)
Media type	Print (Hardback)
Pages	480
ISBN	ISBN 978-0007257751 (UK) ISBN 978-0061351426 (USA)
OCLC Number	271423201

Slash is an autobiography written by rock guitarist Slash with Anthony Bozza.

Most of the book focuses on Slash's years with Guns N' Roses, including many rock star cliches: trashed hotel rooms, groupies, drug abuse, etc. Slash talks about Axl Rose, front man of Guns N' Roses, and his departure from the band in the mid-1990s. He explains that Axl's inability to show up to gigs and rehearsals on time, in addition to Axl's almost dictator-like control of the band contributed to the band's downfall. Slash also states that Axl wanted to change the musical direction of the band to include more synthesizers and effects, rather than guitar-driven rock as with their earlier material.

Slash relates how he eventually achieved stability and sobriety after his second marriage and the birth of two sons.

The book's tagline is: 'It seems excessive, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen...'

Slash is happily living in Los Angeles, CA with his wife, Perla, and his two sons, London and Cash.

Slash: The Autobiography of Slash

  This book not only explains and describes the life Slash has lived in the past up until present day, but also allows you a visual image in your mind about every little detail. From the years in L.A with Tracii Guns and L.A Roses; around 1985. During that time, there were several changes to the members/line-up as well as issues naming the band. However, they eventually chose the name "Guns & Roses" (Abbreviated as G N'R) to become the bands name. The classic line-up was: vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler The band was also running into management problems. The band just couldn't decide on the right manager for their band. They turned down several different managers and finally agreeing upon Mike Clink. After producing their first album "Appetite for Destruction", Guns & Roses found themselves leading a following. The fan base increased more rapidly than any other band during that present time. The group released about six studio albums selling over 100 million copies worldwide, 45 million being the United States, reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The song "Sweet Child o' Mine; from the album "Appetite for Destruction", reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Present day, Axl Rose is the only original *founding* member of the legendary Guns & Roses band. The present day line-up now consists of: vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarists Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and DJ Ashba, rhythm guitarist Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, drummer Frank Ferrer, and keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman.

The original line-up of Guns & Roses has been selected to have a chance to be inducted into the Rock N' Roll hall of fame. Slash's autobiography also explains how he dealt with and over-came the harsh chains of addiction, and his many close calls to death. Heroin, Cocaine, Pills, Alcohol, and more. He had a very bad addiction of a variety of different drugs, but was in time, able to overcome and get his life back on track. This book, is very motivating and I strongly urge you to get the book, and atleast read the first 3-5 pages. Give it a shot. You can rent or purchase the book, but I gurantee you will be glued to it from the beginning to the end, and once you've finished reading it. You will have a different outlook on life. "I've always had to do things my way; I play guitar my way; I've taken myself to the edges of life my way; I've gotten clean my way; And I'm still here. Whether or not I deserve to be is another story." -SLASH

Note: The sound captured during the recording of the album "Appetite for Destruction" can never be replicated. Some may get close, but it will never be able to be duplicated exactly like it sounded at that time. It doesn't matter what gear you're using at all. If you used THE very same guitar Slash played on himself during that album's recording sessions, you still wouldn't be able to reproduce it. As I learned by reading this biography, the air's temperature, pressure, location of the amp, and so much more ultimately affects the sound. Unless everything was EXACTLY worn in/worn down, set up, tuned, placed in the very same EXACT location, perfectly like it was then, and the atmosphere in the studio the same, noone will ever be able to get that very same exact sound/tone.

New York Times Bestseller list

The book was at #8 on the NYT Hardcover Nonfiction list as of November 15, 2007, having been published in the USA on October 30. Close friend, Nikki Sixx's book, The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, which debuted at #7, was at #16 on the list. Slash retells some of the events from that book from his own perspective in the autobiography.