Three Things I Learned From Slash
Recently, I was watching some videos of Slash performing live as a guest of Warren Haynes for his annual Christmas Jam in Asheville, NC. The visual, sonic and stylistic contrast started me thinking about the influence these musicians have had on my life and musical tastes. As Slash was one of my earliest inspirations, several things seemed stark and obvious. Given that it has been some 33 years since I first discovered Slash, and much of the dizzying fog of being an adolescent fan has cleared away, leaving my perceptions more sober, three important things that I have learned from Slash spring to mind.
1. Be yourself.
Joe Perry and T-Rex seem like obvious influences on Slash’s style and fashion.
But what separates trend setters from followers is the integration of influences into one’s own unique personality. This is something Slash, like many others, has accomplished very successfully. He created a brand that is now iconic. But what is often overlooked these days is that he never fell prey (as do so many artists who attempt to stay in business as trends change) to veering off brand to appease capricious agents, record executives or even audiences. One of the things that I was most attracted to as an anxious, uncertain teenager was how Slash always appeared comfortable and at ease with himself regardless of ever changing opinions and pop culture. Artists who alter their brand to match the current fad usually fall into obscurity. This was a very important lesson that I picked up subconsciously early on.
2. Melody and feel come first!
It was the late 1980’s when I first became aware of popular music. I used to sit with my dual tape deck equipped boom box, with a blank tape in the record deck and wait for something good to be played on the radio. Then I would record it. I traded these tapes with other listeners my age and discovered many popular rock bands of the day. In the post-Van Halen era, rock music was very over-saturated with shredding guitar solos.
As a young person who did not play an instrument, I did not connect with this.
But I vividly recall seeing the video for “Paradise City” and hearing that opening guitar lick. It struck a chord because it sounded great, it conjured an emotion and it was memorable. That has stayed with me to this day. It helped me identify something I was naturally drawn to and I have discovered artists such as B.B. King and Dickey Betts whose music is characterized by a similar sound as a result. Thanks, Slash!
3. Slinging your guitar down THAT low…
As a young and impressionable teenager, seeing videos like “You Could Be Mine” in which Slash plays a cool-looking guitar, slung low and performing with reckless abandon was extremely exciting!
It made me want to play guitar. In fact it still does! But fast forward to the aforementioned Christmas Jam, that low slung Les Paul equals a great look but many sour, off pitch notes. Rock N’ Roll is about attitude not perfection, right? Sure. If you’re sitting in with the Sex Pistols. But in this context it simply did not work. While entertainment value and attitude are very important, the music should never suffer at their expense. It’s a live performance and mistakes are part of that, but adjusting one’s guitar strap so that it is physically impossible to play well… just don’t do that!
Put the music first and play your best because at the end of the day that is what is really “cool”!
Mark Anderson Mills
Dec. 17th 2023
Slash Spotify Playlist
Mark Anderson Mills is a Nashville, TN based musician, content creator and live event professional. Follow Mark👉 Socials