Slash Uncomfortable With Legend StatusAugust 16, 2010
The top hat, the ever present cigarette dangling from his lip and the instantly recognisable riffs have seen the former Guns N' Roses guitarist achieve legend status.
Although the man himself is a little uncomfortable with his legend status.
"I'm too young for it. I haven't accomplished enough to be a legend and I'm still practising diligently on the guitar. It's sort of unfathomable to me, but it's still flattering," Slash told Close Up's Mark Sainsbury.
Surprisingly enough for a man considered a guitar hero, he still considered himself a novice.
"It's like trying to really become a really great communicator on the guitar. That takes a lifetime's work."
While his passion for guitar remained strong, Slash said he had given up on one of his other famous pleasures - partying.
He said he gave it up when he realised it began conflicting with his musical vision.
"So I just started focusing in earnest on rock 'n' roll. I didn't want to be a casualty."
He would not be drawn on former bandmate Axl Rose, who was notorious for his feuds with other musicians and celebrities.
"I'm pretty easy going, but I have my moments. When I first started doing a lot of press back in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and people started asking me those questions [about Rose], I had a little bit of piss and vinegar about that whole situation.
"[But] I don't like to perpetuate all that sort of negative stuff, it doesn't do anyone any good. I'd rather let sleeping dogs lie."
Slash's latest self-titled album saw him perform with fellow rockers, including Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and Chris Cornell.
"I called up people that I knew the best to start, the ones that I had the longest standing relationships with. The first step was just to send them the music and if they were sold on that, then we at least had a leg-up."
For the moment, Slash said he was enjoying the freedom that came with being a solo artist.
"I wanted to be able to play anywhere where I wanted to play, as opposed to only playing in the big, high-profile cities. I want to play wherever I could get to that actually has an audience that was willing to listen."
http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/slash-uncomfortable-legend-status-3706835
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