Slash

Slash
Slash with Anthony Bozza
Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-135142-6
Non-Fiction, Autobiography, Memoir
Reviewed by Lee Gooden

Between 1987-1993, the world belonged to the hard rocking band Guns and Roses. The antithesis of the glam rock scene that had dominated the music charts, Guns and Roses were the American late eighties version of the Rolling Stones. Like the Stones they were labeled the “bad boys” of rock and roll and they played a harder raunchier, grittier and bluesy music than other contemporary eighties bands like Ratt and Faster Pussy Cat. GNR’s original line-up consisted of front man Axel Rose, Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), Stephen Adler and (lead guitar) Slash.
Guns and Roses rose to the meteoric status as the crown princes of rock and roll in an absurdly short amount of time, rarely experienced by any other band. Hit songs off their album, Appetite For Destruction, Welcome To The Jungle and specifically Slash’s innovative guitar licks and Axel’s poetic lyrics on Sweet Child of Mine paved the way for other artists that refused to bow to tin pan alley and bubble gum pop. They were give carte blanche to combine hard music with intelligence, realistic angst, and if the urge struck, sentiment. Bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam and the entire early nineties Seattle Grunge Scene were influenced by Guns and Roses.
Slash’s autobiography (written with rock columnist, Anthony Bozza), titled, Slash: It Seems Excessive...But That Doesn’t Mean It Didn’t Happen is a surprisingly calm read. Written by a bigger-than-life celebrity notorious for his decadent and belligerent behavior, legendary vendettas, bar room brawls and super human consumption of drugs, alcohol and sexual partners; Slash is written by a man that does not wish for his past, but marvels at the fact that he is still alive and able to share his story. Enough time has passed for him to be able to put his life in a realistic perspective to where he can say that he has learned from his mistakes. Now that Slash is a father and husband, his focus is maintained on his family, furthering his career as member of Velvet Revolver and increasing his abilities as an innovative musician.
Slash was born in 1963 to England to parents who led bohemian lifestyles. His mother was a fashion designer for rock stars and entertainers and his father was an artist. (After his parents split up, Slash’s mother had a temporary relationship with David Bowie) From his parents Slash lived an existence upon which he thrived and prepared him for life on the road which he still loves. Slash writes, “They exposed me to environments so rich and colorful and unique that what I experienced even while very young made a permanent impression on me. My parents treated me as an equal as soon as I could stand. And they taught me, on the fly, how to deal with whatever came my way in the only type of life I’ve ever known.”
Slash holds nothing back in his autobiography, but he never resorts to bashing his band mates, family or friends. While reserving his harshest criticisms for himself he does not fall into the role of the forlorn rock story pining for his glory days. He has a zest for life that is so palpable that the reader can feel his enthusiasm from the very words that Slash has slashed across the page.