Slash [Paperback]

Slash (Author), Anthony Bozza (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 21, 2008

From one of the greatest rock guitarists of our era comes a memoir that redefines sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll.

For the first time ever, Slash tells the tale that has yet to be told from the inside: how the legendary band Guns N' Roses came together, how they wrote the music that defined an era, how they survived insane, never-ending tours, how they survived themselves, and, ultimately, how it all fell apart. Slash is a window into the world of the notoriously private guitarist and a front seat on the roller-coaster ride that was one of history's greatest rock 'n' roll machines, always on the edge of self-destruction, even at the pinnacle of its success. Slash is everything Slash is: funny, honest, ingenious, inspiring, jaw-dropping . . . and, in a word, excessive.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Wonderfully frank.” (Entertainment Weekly )

“Entertaining and educational...a crash course for aspiring rock gods.”” (Spin magazine )

About the Author

Slash, Velvet Revolver founding member and guitarist, lives in California with his wife, Perla, and their two children.

Anthony Bozza is the author of four New York Times Bestsellers, including Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem, Slash, co-written with Slash and the #1 bestselling Too Fat to Fish, co-written with Artie Lange. Bozza was a staff writer and editor for Rolling Stone magazine for seven years, during which he profiled a diverse range of artists from Eminem and the Wu-Tang Clan to Trent Reznor and U2. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: It Books; Reprint edition (October 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061351431
• ISBN-13: 978-0061351433
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (293 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Musical Genres > Rock
  • #92 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 119 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dual purposes: introspective memoir and the definitive insider GNR history November 7, 2007

By Jessica Lux

Format:Hardcover

The story of Guns N' Roses is one of the most controversial in rock n' roll history. GNR has had a famously terse relationship with journalists and authors, and in recent years, former band members have publicly disagreed about the "real story" in the press. The band even threatened bodily harm to journalists in the lyrics of the Use Your Illusion albums! For the first time ever, someone on the inside has gone on record with to describe the genesis of the band, how they wrote and performed one of the most definitive rock albums of all time, the changes in the band's lineup, and finally, the implosion of all things GNR related. Who knew it would be the notoriously private lead guitarist, a soft-spoken man hidden behind a famous mop of hair, who would step up and tell the story?

Slash's memoir is the diary of a dope fiend (released a month after the autobiography of his friend and former heroin-buddy Nikki Sixx). Well, the diary of a dope-, and women- and coke- and crack- and alcohol-fiend. Have anything else debaucherous? The late 1980's and 1990's Slash would have tried it for sure. During one cocaine-induced hallucination of an attack by blue-gray Predator-like creatures with machine guns, Slash punched out his glass shower door and ran naked into the streets in terror. The incident got Slash into rehab, but no sooner than his limo driver picked up the "cured" ax man, he was downing half a liter of vodka in the backseat.

What doesn't Slash want to talk about? Well, don't bother asking if GNR is getting back together (I'm not even going to acknowledge the current faux-lineup). Slash says it won't happen, ever. The ten-years-delayed release of Axl's Chinese Democracy album? Slash gets asked that question in every interview, and he leaves it out of his memoir. In an interview about the book, Slash stated "Axl works in a different time zone than I do. So what may seem like a long time to other people is a tick of the clock to him. It'll come out, though. It will." Even Axl's famous tour cancellations and delays are treated matter-of-factly--Slash doesn't attempt to analyze or explain the behavior of his bandmate, nor does he seethe with anger or resentment.

Others have tried to write the history of the band, but most are hacks or fanboys who strung together quotes from numerous previously published sources. Before Slash spoke up, the only other worthwhile title was rock journalist Mick Wall's The Most Dangerous Band in the World (1992), and the VH1 Behind the Music production (2004). Thank you, Slash, for letting all rock fans into the inner world of GNR, featuring your toxic twin Steven, current bandmate and forever friend Duff, the laid-back and gifted Izzy, and the enigmatic Axl. You've treated the story with humor, candor, honesty, self-reflection, and respect, even for those from whom you are currently estranged.

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars pretty good junk December 30, 2007

By electra lebeau

Format:Hardcover

I could not resist this book. I can't believe I dropped the cash, but I did, and then spent all day today reading it. I just finished it.

First, a short history of my fandom--I was a GnR fan when I was a very young teenager, I lived for their videos coming up on MTV, I bought Rip magazine, I saw them at the LA coliseum with my parents. Even though I came from a hippie artsy background, something about them hooked me and I became a slutty wannabe rocker chick at 13. I still think they're awesome musically.

OK so my review--a fun read. Full of crazy details about partying, debauchery, excess. Pretty much every detail of GnR's formation, life, and dissolution. Slash's voice is pretty brash and honest. I trusted him, I trusted that he was always telling his truth and trying to be objective, and he's pretty careful about not trying to paint W. Axl like an as***le, and even praising him quite a bit. I skimmed some parts at the end because I don't care that much about all the various boys and the details of their beefs, and Velvet Revolver is not interesting to me. I would have liked more personal stuff, more stuff about sex and romance and artistic inspiration and less about this and that manager.

My main criticism is extremely lazy editing. I am not nitpicky about this stuff, but I swear man, there were some retarded sentences in this book, and a bunch of typos and inconsistencies, as well as structural issues. I was like, could they not pay someone an extra $100 to do a final proofread? For god's sake, when I pay $30 for a book I expect it to be coherent. I know, it's not fine literature, but sheesh. Also, there were times when the 'voice' was so clearly not Slash's it was almost comical, it was occasionally haughty and erudite all the sudden, forcing you to remember that it ghostwritten or cowritten or whatever you call it. But mostly it was totally fun and Slash is a riot, although I'm never going to be his girlfriend, or roommate! Pretty amazing he lived through all that excess. God must have spared him in hopes of a GnR reunion...

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Guitar God tells some but probably not all November 3, 2007

By Blues & Jazz Fan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Better written than I would have expected, interesting and informative about GNR and his life. What really makes this so much different from Eric Clapton's book or Nikki Sixx's trip through the hell of his own mind is that Slash never seems to have been unhappy or angry to have regrets. He did all the drugs, alcohol and sex for fun and because he is easily bored. This makes the book much more fun for the reader. Is he being truthful, private or shallow? Hard to say, but you can also see how he must have helped drive Axl crazy. On the other hand you can see that Slash would have been happier if he had a front man who wanted to tour all the time.