Slash was born in the UK, to a father who was a graphic designer (with many album cover credits) and a mother who was a fashion designer. He soon moved to the USA, with his family rubbing shoulders with California music industry types though his family connections.

He moved in with his grandmother when his parents separated and she gave him one of his first guitars. Slash also recalled owning an Explorer copy, then a Les Paul copy and a whole load of others before winding up with his signature Les Paul.

During high school he formed bands with Steven Adler, another founder member of Guns and Roses. Guns and Roses released the classic Appetite for Destruction in 1987, which established Slash’s reputation as a guitar player.

Slash recalls Keith Richard’s rhythm playing, Muddy Waters and B.B. King’s lead styles as influential. A serial jammer and collaborator, to date Slash has played with the likes of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Les Paul, Johnny Winter, Michael Jackson, Iggy Pop, Lenny Kravitz and Mick Ronson.