Artist

Slash

Saul "Slash" Hudson was like so many other children of mixed-race heritage growing up in England and the United States: He was born to rock. His Nigerian-American mother, Ola Hudson, was a costume designer for David Bowie, and his Anglo-Jewish father Anthony Hudson designed album covers for rock artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. As a teenager in Los Angeles, he frequently played with future Guns N' Roses bandmate Steven Adler. They played in several rock bands before meeting Axl Rose in the mid-'80s and subsequently formed the seminal band. Although singer Rose often took the spotlight being the frontman, Hudson became an icon closely associated with the band with his signature top hat, mounds of curly hair and dark sunglasses, all of which obscured his face except for the perennial white cigarette dangling from his pursed lips.

By the time Guns N' Roses went on hiatus in the mid-'90s, Hudson had already built a successful solo career. Throughout the decade, he did extensive session work for artists ranging from Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder to Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown soundtrack. He also formed Slash's Snakepit in the mid-'90s as an outlet for his material that was not being used by Guns N' Roses. In 1995 the group released the platinum-selling It's Five O'Clock Somewhere. In 2000 they released another record, Ain't Life Grand. Shortly after, he reunited with several of his former Guns N' Roses bandmates to form Velvet Revolver, a rock "supergroup" that included Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland. The band released two albums -- Contraband in 2004 and Libertad in 2007 -- both of which were commercial successes.

2007 proved to be a banner year for reintroducing the icon of "Slash" to a new generation. Hudson's alter-ego likeness appeared on both the cover to and as a playable character in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. He also released an autobiography, titled Slash. Throughout the late '00s he appeared in a variety of settings, ranging from being a guest mentor on American Idol to playing in a Kiss tribute on VH1.

In 2010 he released a solo album, simply titled Slash. The album featured various guest vocalists, ranging from "Ozzy [Osbourne] to Fergie," as well as Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister and American Idol's Adam Lambert. He subsequently announced a worldwide tour with Myles Kennedy, one of the album's featured singers, as the vocalist. ~Dan Nishimoto

    This Is dire... Fergies parts are good but cypris hill??

    Liam

    i'm a big fan of GNR but i still must say.... i kinda like this

    alpharocker

    Agreed Fergies good but hill sucks

    Jamie

    my god, it had to happen at some point. i didn't think slash of all people would take up axel's torch at making what was once amazing music, unbearable to listen to anymore. all respective artists are great in their own rite, but this is utter crap through and through. i truly hope this goes into the closet and forgotten forever. i'm sure it was well intentioned but just because you CAN do something does NOT mean you should.

    Josh

    I don't know...It's not any worse than the original song.

    sombaki

    Wow that was terrible! What were you thinking Slash???

    /site_media/uploads/images/users/prefix/no-user-pic.gifNeely2005

    i paused sabbaths war pigs to listen to this poo. slash what are you doing! riffs are good but its still lame. slash are you blind huuhhh

    carl

    "Walk this Way" for a new generation? bleeeccchhhhhhhh

    JohnnyB

    Really hopes they make a film about an english boy who grew up in america, liked bmx and guitar, got in a band called GNR, but didn't end up making NAFF songs with the crapness of pop as an ending to the story!

    The Duke of Rock

    Cypress Hill...? What the hell. Stop ruin the good old songs! Not good.

    Rikki Starr

    Fergie DOES sound a bit like Axl actually... xD

    Joel

    seems that after all the hard drinking and drugs slash brain cells all are dead

    nawaf

    Truth is Slash probably threw this in for the purpose of giving old Gunners a shotout. Like it or not, he's most likely sick of constantly being bombarded with unrealistic expectations of Guns renunion. Like it or not, people should have a little more respect of trying something fun for the purpose of giving his loyal fans a shoutout by throwing it back in the guys face. It's not my favorite, but I appreciate the nod man, good luck. I'm looking forward to checking out the new album.

    Tony

    Not fair to compare, Rose rips, Fergie strips and Cypress trips. It does remind me of a soundtrack song (remember Sheryl Crows horrible rendition of Sweet Child O'Mine) this has that beat by a long shot.

    LiveeviL

    I like it... Fergie does sound a lot like Axl, especially at the beginning. I don't think Cypress Hill have disgraced themselves at all. As for the man Slash I'm glad he doesn't view his own history as untouchable & I hope he kinda enjoys pissing off all the luddites who think he shouldn't have done it. Plus the solo at the end stays in key this time ;)

    Elvis_1967

    so what the f***, this song is gonna be very cool after fifty years, live it and you'll see it!

    kasic from latvia

    How ironic and hypocritical that this is going in the same direction as Chinese Democracy. The same direction that caused Slash and Axl to split in the first place. I'm saddened by that.

    Shufflemoomin

    Fergie sounds nothing like Axel, she's neither really that great or bad.

    LexC

    Well.....actually.......it really ain't that bad.........not to be taken too seriously.......it's only a b-side.....it's ok !

    Pengam Pete

    sounds ok to me

    zeech

    Friggin' brilliant! I love it. So much more energy than Chinese Democracy.

    Ernie

    This suck.......... making money from the old hits. What the f**k, Slash don't have inspiration for new songs???

    Adib

    Fergie sounds great but rather than doing the old I'm retired but can still rock with guest singers Santana like thing, I'd sooner Slash spent more time getting a new singer for VR and putting out some new material. I rate Slither as the best rock song of the noughties so want to hear some more new stuff. Leave the rehashes for when your in your sixties Slash, please!

    Paul

    Fergie ROCKS...!!! And I never thought I would say that! Gives the main man Axl a good run for his money!

    Toadhunter

    Really, really, really not necessary to have made this song. Fergie does have a certain sexy-rock-chic-screamer thing going on, but it would be better reserved for backing up Axl's vocals. This song is sad.

    EJ

    Most of this song sucks, but the parts that sound like Axl's recording are way too similar without being nearly as good... if slash is gonna redo this song, at least put a new twist on it. And a GOOD signer like Bruce Dickinson or something.

    The man with no name

    Not to say that the original wasn't a land mark, and this slightly misses the mark. On it's own I think that the Slash/Fergie combo give it an interesting sound. Hill??? Ok, I guess I can see it.... after a fifth and a J too many. Over all I still liked it, call me silly.

    Stirling Duck

    why slash!??!?!? WHY!?!?

    lespaul1

    Actually this is okay, anything Slash does is cool by me, this is just another version of a great song, don't knock it! Keep on rocking Slash you are the coolest guitarist on the planet!!
    It's another brilliant guitar rift from Slash pleasuring my burntout ear drums!!

    Robbo

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