The Slash autobiography thread

[SpiritDave]

Do you want to get banned?

Why would I get banned ?

Wait, aren't you the guy who said he had enough and left the board crying?

The one with all the Slash gear and cartoons.




/jarmo

Well, I didn't go away crying ... I mean ... stop lying Jarmo

But yeah ... well, I aint got Slash gear ... but I do draw cartoons ... an yeah... I did leave.  But something enticed me back.  I think it was coz the one I went to... Roses of Velvet, got fucked over.  By a big politcal takeover or something ...

I don't visit here as often as I used to tho.  I really do think it used to be a great board.  It's gone downhill.  But I like the color scheme.

Plus ... what's that got to do with me being banned?  I mean ... I haven't really given any reason to be banned ....

...

.

yet

[SpiritDave]

Actually ... you know what?  I fucking LOVE the arguments I get into here.  I think I guess that's why I'm here now ...   You're so into arguing too ... it's like ... you're made for the internet!  Admit it Jarmo ... you fucking LOVE arguing

[jarmo]

Actually ... you know what?  I fucking LOVE the arguments I get into here.  I think I guess that's why I'm here now ...   You're so into arguing too ... it's like ... you're made for the internet!  Admit it Jarmo ... you fucking LOVE arguing

I only argue when I see something I don't agree with.

Unfortunately for some of you, that happens quite often when it comes to VR.



/jarmo

[SpiritDave]

Actually ... you know what?  I fucking LOVE the arguments I get into here.  I think I guess that's why I'm here now ...   You're so into arguing too ... it's like ... you're made for the internet!  Admit it Jarmo ... you fucking LOVE arguing

I only argue when I see something I don't agree with.

Unfortunately for some of you, that happens quite often when it comes to VR.



/jarmo

But you HAVE to agree, it's exactly the same the other way around ... And that's true man ... a lot of the GnR fans are fucking morons ... just the same way a lot of the VR fans are.  We both have to agree on that one.

[Ali]

It's not even about trying to prove Slash is a liar.? It's about looking at what he said in the book, while keeping in mind everything you've read him say about why he left GN'R, and realizing "Hey, this doesn't make sense."

Ali

What makes less sense is that you're taking a few sentences from interviews and assuming that the interviewer has written down every word that Slash has said in the whole interview... yet Slash has various reasons for leaving ... jeez, it's like ... you don't leave your girlfriend because she just burns toast do you?!? You leave her if she bakes the sausages onto the frying pan too!

Multiple reasons ... and now he's bringing all the reasons into one book, where there's no one to change his words, to alter for space in a magazine, to sell copies etc.? It's all there.? Ignore everything you've read before, because it's all been edited.? 1000% guarantee on that.

Right, so every single reporter that has asked him about why he left GN'R took his quotes out of context.? And, Matt Sorum and Tom Zutuat who said that they couldn't get over their disagreement over the musical direction of the band, they were either misquoted or had their quotes taken out of context so that their statements would be completely misinterpreted too.? That makes so much more sense.

No matter how you cut it, the bottom line is that him saying in his book that he did not leave over differences with the musical direction of the band stands in complete contrast to what he said time and again over the years.? No ifs, ands or buts about that.

Ali

I think blaming it on musical differences was just a convenience. ?At the very least it was just one of many reasons. ?The book basically says they didn't see eye to eye on anything in a very long winded way. ?Don't know if that qualifies as a lie or not.

It was one of several reasons, I'm sure.? But, he does deny that it was a reason at all in the book, does he not?

That's just perplexing, to say the least.

Ali

There had to be musical differences and he definitely glosses over that in the book. ?The point I got from the book was that he would have been more willing to compromise had other aspects of the situation been better. ?But I'm sure many people will assume that's a lie too.

Well the quote transcribed is "My departure had nothing to do with artistic differences, as many people claim to know."  Not that it had little to do with musical differences, but nothing to do with them. 

Maybe it's a matter of interpretation.  The way I read what he wrote was "artistic differences was not a contributing factor, period."  That would , undeniably, stand in contrast to what he has said in the past.

Ali

[FunkyMonkey]

RADAR REVIEWS

Slash - Slash, with Anthony Bozza

Readers of the NYT Book Review will have noticed one drug-addled rocker's bio missing from its Music Issue this past weekend. While Clapton, Coltrane, and even seminal country rocker Gram Parsons all get the (usual) treatment, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash's effort, Slash (HarperCollins, Oct. 30), is oddly ignored. Does the Times have a standards policy against books containing pictures of the subject getting his salad tossed by his wife at the Hard Rock Cafe? Seems prudish.

Like most, I prefer my guitar heroes served with a smack habit and a heaping helping of alcoholism, but too often their stories make for boastful, boring advertisements for legendary musicians' tired images. For all his own debauched history, Slash (born Saul Hudson)?along with co-writer and Radar contributor Anthony Bozza?gives his story of skyrocketing fame and varying heroin and alcohol addictions an incredibly, um, sober rendering. Slash's light-speed lifestyle is treated almost tenderly?an OD occasion breezes by in a few sentences?and it's somehow noble that he remains standing among his various comrades-in-track-marked-arms?mostly bandmates, dealers, groupies, and porn stars. Even if you're celebrating alone, what is rehab, really, without a vodka-drenched after-party?

Despite Slash's rich personal history, people will read this book hoping for the dish on Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses' demise. Slash and Bozza wisely hedge the relationship with Rose (and thus the band's collapse) in deft, diplomatic terms. He's as ready to highlight his own missteps and failings as he is to draw attention to Rose's renowned mercurial egotism. More than an airing of any dirty laundry (obviously there's plenty), Slash delivers with earnestness?to the point that at times it seems he may still not recognize the effects his antics had on his music (uh, Velvet Revolver?) and those closest to him.

Luckily, much of Slash is theater of the hilarious and absurd: Of course Izzy ejaculates on Slash's leg during a gangbang. Sure Liz Taylor sneaks a peek at Slash's man-snake. Is it weird for him to have sex with two chicks in front of hotel staff? Why wouldn't a bottomed-out Slash ignore spiritual counseling from David Bowie or get wasted with Billie Joel or hang with Michael Jackson and Brooke Shields or go partying with Gary Oldman? Someone has to.

But before you know it, Slash is (if you buy this) sober, and even more shockingly married?of course to the girl with whom he cheated on his first fianc? the night before his wedding. He's still playing music (seriously, Velvet Revolver?), but the knowledge of having survived a life of touring with one of modern rock's hardest living bands must leave Slash nostalgic for the challenge of having something to prove?and the blinding party that comes with it.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/10/slash-slash-with-anthony-bozza.php

[leatherebel]

Everybody lies occasionally....it's part of the business......if not the artists themselves, then it can be their PR or manager who lies on their behalf...which may not always be in consent with the artist..

and oh well, some lie more than other....

[Mr Bootlegs]

Yea Exactly! How many times has Axl lied about the release of Chinese Democracy? No one really cares.....

[Ali]

Yea Exactly! How many times has Axl lied about the release of Chinese Democracy? No one really cares.....

If you really want to go there, it depends what you want to go by, vague estimates/targets or firm dates.

If the former, then I guess you can say Axl has lied if he gave those targets knowing they were unreachable.  But, we'll never know what's in his mind, so that will be impossible to prove.

If the latter, then he's never lied because there has never been a confirmed release date for the album.

Ali

[leatherebel]

Yea Exactly! How many times has Axl lied about the release of Chinese Democracy? No one really cares.....

How could statements regarding future events (depending on so many other factors) can be interpreted as lies when the events do not happen for one reason or another?

Lies can only be statements about past events, for which there are facts that can show them as such.  I don't recall Axl himself ever lying about the past.

[Ali]

Yea Exactly! How many times has Axl lied about the release of Chinese Democracy? No one really cares.....

How could statements regarding future events (depending on so many other factors) can be interpreted as lies when the events do not happen for one reason or another?

Lies can only be statements about past events, for which there are facts that can show them as such.? I don't recall Axl himself ever lying about the past.

Fair point.  Glad someone other than me made it

Ali

[smishkey]

I just finished the book.  I thought it was very entertaining, a good read.  A few things that jumped out at me:

1. According to the book Nassau Colliseium is in NJ.  (Since when?)
2. According to the book, Slash turned on his t.v. at 8:15 on 9/11/01 to see the WTC on fire.  When in reality it happened at 8:46.
3. That story about Axl jumping out of the car was awesome.
4. I thought he was pretty gentle in his language with regards to Axl.  He could have ripped him a new one, but he was restrained I thought.
5. I also thought his lawyers when over the book with a fine-tooth comb, seeing that he constantly says "but that's just my opinoion"  "I can only speak for me" and things of that nature.  He says it alot, almost to a humorous degree.
6.  It kinda made me sad.  The good 'ol days are long gone. 

[JimBobTTD]

I haven't reached that far in the book, but perhaps he saw the WTC burning at 0815 because he was in a different time zone? California is a few hours behind New York.

[recklessroad]

I have known Axl very well for 23 years and Slash for 31 years and one thing for sure, Axl does not lie. You will always get the truth form Axl. The problem is ?a lot of the time you won't get any comment from Axl at all because his words have been twisted so many times. If he set a date for the record, he ment it. I heard the record in Aug 2006 (and by the way it's great)and he told me it would be out before Xmas of 2006. The problem is things change as days go by ?that were unseen at the time he set those dates and thats what keeps holding ?the record back. In the past Slash has said some things to the press that were not right about Axl. Slash was pissed off about a lot of things that happened between them.Also he was most likley drunk at the time and sometimes you say things that are fucked-up when you are in that state of mind. You have to remember that Slash is clean and sober now and has been for over a year. They have not sent me a copy of Slash's book yet. ?So I can't really talk about the book but I know where Slash is in his life now and I think you will find that while he is still upset about some things, he is trying to set things somewhat right. The best he can do. I was probably ?one of the only ones who remained very good friends with both Slash and Axl for all these years. They are not kids anymore and they both have evolved into different people and have many differences of opinions. What we do have is the music that was made from a band that were all into what they were doing for that time.Yes that music turned out to be timeless and will last forever. Now they are all making great music with other people. So stop fighting about it and except it ?because all of it is great stuff. Don't waste you energy going back and forth about this stuff and enjoy the Music they make for you.

[Christos AG]

I have known Axl very well for 23 years and Slash for 31 years and one thing for sure, Axl does not lie. You will always get the truth form Axl. The problem is  a lot of the time you won't get any comment from Axl at all because his words have been twisted so many times. If he set a date for the record, he ment it. I heard the record in Aug 2006 (and by the way it's great)and he told me it would be out before Xmas of 2006. The problem is things change as days go by  that were unseen at the time he set those dates and thats what keeps holding  the record back. In the past Slash has said some things to the press that were not right about Axl. Slash was pissed off about a lot of things that happened between them.Also he was most likley drunk at the time and sometimes you say things that are fucked-up when you are in that state of mind. You have to remember that Slash is clean and sober now and has been for over a year. They have not sent me a copy of Slash's book yet.  So I can't really talk about the book but I know where Slash is in his life now and I think you will find that while he is still upset about some things, he is trying to set things somewhat right. The best he can do. I was probably  one of the only ones who remained very good friends with both Slash and Axl for all these years. They are not kids anymore and they both have evolved into different people and have many differences of opinions. What we do have is the music that was made from a band that were all into what they were doing for that time.Yes that music turned out to be timeless and will last forever. Now they are all making great music with other people. So stop fighting about it and except it  because all of it is great stuff. Don't waste you energy going back and forth about this stuff and enjoy the Music they make for you.

I'm pretty sure most people here want to focus on the music but sometimes certain events/statements/interviews won't let them. That's what usually happens when great bands break up.

What saddens me is that some people in these forums can't move on.

My opinion is that Slash should have never written this book. Yeah, I know some of it will be fun, but knowing, as he stated, that he doesn't remember most of the stuff that has happened, will make lots of people sceptical about what he writes on Axl.

I know he wants to straight things up, but for me, a book was the wrong way to do it.

And I know he has to give lots of interviews for VR's publicity, but since he is sober now, he should keep the same story in every interview. OR he could send a press release to everyone, like Axl does, and talk about the things he wants to make clear. That way, the fans would know the truth, at least Slash's side of the truth without any journalist fucking it up...

It's just that he keeps on making the same mistakes. Not saying he's a bad guy, maybe naive is the right word.

Anyway, I'm glad there are some (very few) people who still have something good to say about Axl these days...

It should help some people understand, I'm not saying Axl is God and has done nothing wrong... but he's not the monster that most of the times has been presented by the press.

Hopefully your post will put an end to all this fighting...

[remcognr]

Now they are all making great music with other people. So stop fighting about it and except it ?because all of it is great stuff. Don't waste you energy going back and forth about this stuff and enjoy the Music they make for you.

Hopefully your post will put an end to all this fighting...

thanks for writing down my thoughts... I've been really curious about this book and when I came down here to read about it, and what others thought of it, I had to go through 10's of pages of discussion about Slash lying or Axl being too difficult to deal with... I really hope that this discussion (in this thread) ends with this, and people start giving reviews or other usefull info. Ofcourse this is a discussion forum, so please feel free to discuss, but why not in another thread?

Anyways, I'm ordering my copy right now, so can't wait to read it!!

remco

[Oasis1]

Sorry if this has already been posted (I did a search and found nothing).

A new book entitled "Slash" was published on October 18, 2007. Here is a description and the link to Chapters (in Canada):

Format:Hardcover
Published:October 18, 2007
Dimensions:480 Pages, 6.31 x 9.28 x 1.44 in
ISBN:0061351423
Published By:HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

From the Publisher
From one of the greatest rock guitarists of our era comes a memoir that redefines sex, drugs, and rock ?n? rollHe was born in England but reared in L.A., surrounded by the leading artists of the day amidst the vibrant hotbed of music and culture that was the early seventies. Slash spent his adolescence on the streets of Hollywood, discovering drugs, drinking, rock music, and girls, all while achieving notable status as a BMX rider. But everything changed in his world the day he first held the beat-up one-string guitar his grandmother had discarded in a closet.

The instrument became his voice and it triggered a lifelong passion that made everything else irrelevant. As soon as he could string chords and a solo together, Slash wanted to be in a band and sought out friends with similar interests. His closest friend, Steven Adler, proved to be a conspirator for the long haul. As hairmetal bands exploded onto the L.A. scene and topped the charts, Slash sought his niche and a band that suited his raw and gritty sensibility.

He found salvation in the form of four young men of equal mind: Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler, and Duff McKagan. Together they became Guns N? Roses, one of the greatest rock ?n? roll bands of all time. Dirty, volatile, and as authentic as the streets that weaned them, they fought their way to the top with groundbreaking albums such as the iconic Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion I and II.

Here, for the first time ever, Slash tells the tale that has yet to be told from the inside: how the band 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. This is a window onto the world of the notoriously private guitarist and a 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. This is a candid recollection and reflection of Slash?s friendships past and present, from easygoing Izzy to ever-steady Duff to wild-child Steven and complicated Axl.

It is also an intensely personal account of struggle and triumph: as Guns N? Roses journeyed to the top, Slash battled his demons, escaping the overwhelming reality with women, heroin, coke, crack, vodka, and whatever else came along.

He survived it all: lawsuits, rehab, riots, notoriety, debauchery, and destruction, and ultimately found his creative evolution. From Slash?s Snakepit to his current band, the massively successful Velvet Revolver,Slash found an even keel by sticking to his guns.

Slash is everything the man, the myth, the legend, inspires: it?s funny, honest, inspiring, jaw-dropping . . . and, in a word, excessive.


About the Author
Slash lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Perla, and their two sons, London and Cash.


http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Slash-Slash/9780061351426-item.html

[Ali]

I have known Axl very well for 23 years and Slash for 31 years and one thing for sure, Axl does not lie. You will always get the truth form Axl. The problem is ?a lot of the time you won't get any comment from Axl at all because his words have been twisted so many times. If he set a date for the record, he ment it. I heard the record in Aug 2006 (and by the way it's great)and he told me it would be out before Xmas of 2006. The problem is things change as days go by ?that were unseen at the time he set those dates and thats what keeps holding ?the record back. In the past Slash has said some things to the press that were not right about Axl. Slash was pissed off about a lot of things that happened between them.Also he was most likley drunk at the time and sometimes you say things that are fucked-up when you are in that state of mind. You have to remember that Slash is clean and sober now and has been for over a year. They have not sent me a copy of Slash's book yet. ?So I can't really talk about the book but I know where Slash is in his life now and I think you will find that while he is still upset about some things, he is trying to set things somewhat right. The best he can do. I was probably ?one of the only ones who remained very good friends with both Slash and Axl for all these years. They are not kids anymore and they both have evolved into different people and have many differences of opinions. What we do have is the music that was made from a band that were all into what they were doing for that time.Yes that music turned out to be timeless and will last forever. Now they are all making great music with other people. So stop fighting about it and except it ?because all of it is great stuff. Don't waste you energy going back and forth about this stuff and enjoy the Music they make for you.

Thanks Marc (I'm assuming that's you).

Well said and the perspective is very much appreciated.

Ali

[DeN]

That story about Axl jumping out of the car was awesome.

can you tell us more about it ?

[Christos AG]

That story about Axl jumping out of the car was awesome.

can you tell us more about it ?

I'd rather not.

Don't start the spoilers here.