Slash

 From Guns to the Sword

Slash's latest album, Apocalyptic Love is one of the best albums to come out in the last 12 months.  He just released the third single from it, Anastasia, and it wouldn't be a stretch to predict that it'll do just as well as the first two.

It's been a crazy ride for Slash.  From his beginnings with Guns n' Roses, to his time with Velvet Revolver and of course his various side projects, he's been a continued presence in rock since the late 80s.

Now, in 2013, Slash may be in his best form ever.  

Let's start at the beginning.

Guns n' Roses

If you don't recognize the name, you certainly recognize the songs.

Sweet Child O' Mine. Paradise City. Welcome to the Jungle.  I could go on and on.

To call Guns n' Roses one of the most successful bands of the late 80s and early 90s would be no exaggeration.  All 5 albums recorded with Slash between 1987 and 1993 hit the top 10, and combined have sold nearly 100 million copies.

Yeah.

Looking back, the thing that always amazed me about Guns n' Roses is that they managed to stay together for as long as they did.

Axl Rose is (and always has been) a little bit nuts.  I mean, the guy incited a riot in St. Louis because someone in the crowd had the audacity to record the show.  He literally jumped into the crowd, wrestled the camera away from the guy, and then stormed off the stage announcing that the show was over.  Dozens of people were injured. Police wanted to press charges, but nothing ever really came of it.

And that's just one of the many stories.

All throughout this, Slash continued to help write hugely popular songs, keeping the group in the spotlight.

If it wasn't for Axl practically pushing Slash out the door by introducing a new guitarist to the mix, he might still be with Guns n' Roses today.


Slash's Snakepit

When Slash left G n R he took drummer Matt Sorum with him and together they formed Slash's Snakepit.  It actually featured a lot of songs that Slash had written for Guns n' Roses, and did fairly well, eventually selling 1 million copies.

If it had received the attention that the fading Guns n' Roses records got, it probably would have done even better. 


Velvet Revolver

Most of Guns n' Roses (minus Axl) got back together in 2002 for a tribute concert, and afterwards decided that they would give the whole being a band thing a chance again.

But they needed a lead singer.

Axl was out of the question, but Scott Weiland was no longer working with Stone Temple Pilots, so the match seemed perfect.  Together they recorded two albums as Velvet Revolver, Contraband and Libertad, but by 2008, Weiland wanted to return to STP, so Revolver kinda fell apart.

They actually haven't officially broken up, but it's safe to say there won't be a teary eyed reunion anytime soon.


Slash today.

So, that catches us up to the last 3 years.

Since 2010 Slash has been working as a solo artist, writing and recording music for himself while inviting guest artists to lay down vocals for him.

His self titled debut featured a ton of big names including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy of Motorhead, and Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother.  It even had appearances from Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas and Adam Levine of Maroon 5.

Adam Levine and Slash

The album is a who's who of music.  If you haven't heard it lately, give it a listen.  It's remarkable.

Of all the people Slash worked with on the album, he enjoyed working with Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge the most.  According to Slash they share the same work ethic, and together produced one of the first album's biggest singles, By The Sword.

So it only makes sense that on the second solo album, Apocalyptic Love, all 13 tracks are Slash and Myles Kennedy working together.

The album's first two singles, You're A Lie and Standing in the Sun have both charted in the top 10, and it seems pretty likely that their latest, Anastasia, will do the same.

The Future

Slash has said that he has no intention of rejoining Guns n' Roses, or any Scott Weiland project in the future.  Not because of any ill will, but because he enjoys working as a solo artist.  He has said that writing music now is easier than it's ever been.

I can imagine.

And while nothing has been confirmed yet, Slash has mentioned that he's writing new songs all the time, so another Slash album is a definite possibility.

 You can follow Slash on Twitter here.

And be sure to join Mike Lang for Fresh Tracks Sunday at 6pm on www.1069thewolf.com  He'll have more on the brand new single.