Slash was born as Saul Hudson in Hampstead, England on July 23, 1965 and spent his early days in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England till the age of 11 when the family relocated to Los Angles in California. His mother, a Nigerian American clothing designer for entertainers, and his father, a white Englishman art direction for record albums, are both artistic and engaged in the entertainment field.

Early Days

When his parents separated in the mid-1970s, Slash mainly lived with his mother Ola Hudson. Incidentally, a family friend named Seymour Cassel nicknamed Saul Hudson as ‘Slash’ for his reported fidgetiness as well as his nature to zoom from one thing to another. Slash deemed himself to be an ‘outsider’ in school, and led an unconventional life at home. He always found his home crowded with musicians like Joni Mitchell, David Geffen, David Bowie, Ron Wood and Iggy Pop and got accustomed to the eccentrics of these people. However, the early experiences in life prepared Slash to cope with the stress of the music industry as well as the clash between artistry and business later in professional life.

Slash with his Gibson Les Paul Guitar

At 15, while Slash was in junior high school, his grandmother presented him with his first guitar that was single-stringed. Thus far, Slash was all into motorbike riding, but now took a keen interest in the instrument. Slash dropped out of school to concentrate on music. According to Slash, he took the move as he was extremely influenced by Aerosmith's album ‘Rocks’. While this virtually changed his life, other musicians who influenced young Slash included Led Zep, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.

Career & ‘Guns N’ Roses’

Slash formed his first band ‘Road Crew’ with childhood friend Steven Adler in 1983. In addition, they had Duff McKagan as the bassist. However, ‘Road Crew’ split soon and Slash associated with a local group called ‘Black Sheep’. The leader of ‘Black Sheep’, Willie Bass also headed another band called ‘Hollywood Rose’ and both these bands opened for Christian metal band ‘Stryper’ in 1984. The show was an important point in Slash’s career as soon after the concert, Slash and lead singer Axl Rose was introduced to each other and they became good friends. Months later, the duo along with Steven Adler, Duff McKafan and Izzy Stradlin teamed up to form a band called ‘Guns N’ Roses’.

All through 1985 and 1986, ‘Guns N’ Roses’ toured several bars and during this period the group created most of the classic items like ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ and ‘Paradise City’. It was also during this period that the band was signed up by Geffen record company and it is said that the group wasted the advance received from the label on clothes, drugs and alcohol earning them the title of the ‘Most Dangerous Band in the World’.

Slash - Guns N' Roses

Guns N’ Rose’s debut album ‘Appetite for Destruction’ released in 1988 has sold more than 15 million copies in the United States alone making it the highest selling debut album ever. In 19921, the band released its second album ‘Use Your Illusion’ that included songs like ‘November Rain’ and ‘Estranged’. This album was followed by ‘Use Your Illusion I and II’ and the group also undertook a 28-month tour to promote their new albums.

In the mid-1990s, Slash penned several songs that were to be the follow up of the ‘Use Your Illusion I and II’, but as Rose rejected these, Slash began formed a side project called ‘Snakepit’ supported by Matt Sorum, Gilby Clarke, Dizzy Reed, Mike Inez and Eric Dover. The new band recorded Slash’s new compositions and in 1995 released ‘It’s Five O’clock Somewhere’.

Post Gins N’ Roses

Following his departure from ‘Guns N’ Roses’, Slash spent more time on ‘The Snakepit’. Besides, Slash became a very popular and busy session musician recording with artists like Slash would become an in-demand session musician, recording music with the likes of Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, Insane Clown Posse, Ronnie Wood, Bad Company, Cheap Trick, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. In 1990, Michael Jackson invited Slash for his album ‘Dangerous’ where he played two guitar singles ‘Black or White’ and ‘Give in to Me’. He also appeared with Michael Jackson on the MTV Music Award videos. Then in 2004, Slash and Velvet Revolver joined hands for the band ‘The Project’.

Awards

In 2005, Slash was awarded the "Best Guitarist" prize in the Esky Music Awards in Esquire magazine. And in January 2007, he was privileged with a star on the Rock Walk of Fame. Here; his name being placed alongside friends and legends Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix. More recently, Slash received the most sought title of ‘Riff Lord during the fourth annual Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards in 2007.

Slash Guitars

Over the years, Slash has owned hundreds of guitars. Some of the guitars Slash uses often are listed below:

• Gibson Les Paul
• Gibson EDS-1275
• Gibson Flying V
• Gibson Melody Maker
• Gibson Explorer
• Fender Stratocaster
• Fender Telecaster
• B.C. Rich Double neck
• B.C. Rich Mockingbird

His most favorite stomp boxes are listed below

• Dunlop Rack Mounted
• Dunlop Q-Zone
• Rocktron Hush II CX
  DBX 166 Compressor
• Yamaha SPX 900 Multieffect
• Boss DD-5 Delay
• Boss GE-7
• MXR 10-band graphic EQ
• Dunlop Heil Talkbox

• Discography

• 1986 - Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide
• 1987 - Appetite for Destruction
• 1987 - EP (Live from the Jungle)
• 1988 - G N' R Lies
• 1991 - Use Your Illusion I
• 1991 - Use Your Illusion II
• 1993 - The Spaghetti Incident?
• 1995 - It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
• 1998 - Use Your Illusion
• 1999 - Live Era: '87-'93
• 2000 - Ain't Life Grand
• 2004 - Greatest Hits
• 2004 - Contraband
• 2007 - Libertad

Born as James Moore on January 11, 1924, Slim Harpo was the eldest child of an orphaned family in Lobdell in Louisiana. Slim Harpo was is remembered for being one of the leading promoters of the rural blues in the post-war period. James was a self-taught harmonica player who dropped out of school in the 10th grade following the death of both his parents.

Early Days

Initially, James Moore, popularly known as Slim Harpo, engaged in manual labor to support his family. Soon, he started undertaking musical assignments and began to appear in concerts and musical programs since 1940 under the pseudo name ‘Harmonica Slim’. However, since the name was already being used by another musician of his time, James Moore soon adopted the pseudo name ‘Slim Harpo’.

Slim Harpo

Slim Harpo married in 1948 and took to music as a full time occupation. Initially, during the 1950s he traveled all over southern Louisiana and played for small picnics, parties, beer pubs as well as local clubs. And soon, James Moore associated with his brother-in-law Lightnin’ Slim in the mid-1950s for a succession of recordings at J. D. Miller’s studio in Crowley. As Ligntnin Slim substitute James with Lazy Lesters in 1957, Slim Harpo went back to the studio to record ‘I’m a King Bee’ that was released by Excello label under the name of ‘Slim Harpo’.

Career

While ‘I’m a King Bee’ was modestly successful, Silm Harpo followed this up with ‘Raining in My Heart, a ballad that secured top positions in pop charts and was one of the biggest hits of the time. Unfortunately, the next two albums of Slim Harpo were super flops at the box office and he eventually switched over from Excello to Imperial Records. During his association with the Imperial Records in New Orleans, Slim Harpo recorded a number of songs. Regrettably, none those were released and Miller once again succeeded in luring back the musician to his Excello label. 

Together, they recorded an innovative song ‘Scratch my Back’ and it went on to become Slim Harpo’s biggest hit music ever. This song brought so much fame to Slim Harpo that he performed several concerts in Chicago along with Sightnin’ Slim in 1967, and in Whiskey a Go-Go in Los Angeles in 1968.  He also played at the Apollo Theater in 1969 and the Fillmore East and Electric Circus in 1970. Slim Harpo released his last record ‘Tip on It’ with Excello soon after the success of ‘Scratch my Back’.

Slim Harpo’s other albums included ‘The Best of Slim Harpo’, ‘Slim Harpo Knew the Blues’ and ‘Blues Hangover’. While the first two albums were released under the Excello label, the last one was under the Flyright. Slim Harpo’s warm, relaxed voice improved the sexual allegory of ‘I’m a King Bee’ that was later recorded by the Rolling Stones, who also recorded the vivacious ‘Shake Your Hips’ that Slim Harpo first recorded way back in 1966. Apart from the Rolling Stones, Harpo’s music has been performed by other musicians and bands, including George Throughgood, ‘The Destroyers’, ‘The Fabulous Thunderbirds’, ‘Anson Funderburg’ and the ‘Rockets’ among others.

Last Days

Unfortunately, James Moore or Slim Harpo fell seriously ill in 1970 and succumbed to a heart attack at the Baton Rouge General Hospital on January 31, 1970.

Songs from the album: The Best of Slim Harpo - 1989

• I'm A King Bee
• I've Got Love If You Want It
• Wonderin' And Worryin'
• You'll Be Sorry One Day
• Strange Love
• Bobby Sox Baby
• One More Day
• Rainin' In My Heart
• Blues Hangover
• Buzzin'
• Still Rainin' In My Heart
• Snoopin' Around
• Te Ni Nee Ni Nu
• Tip On In, Part 1
• Shake Your Hips
• Baby, Scratch My Back