Even the most iconic guitarists have their creative clashes — and Slash is no exception. While his work with Guns N’ Roses and other major artists has earned him legendary status, he’s been candid about one musician he never quite enjoyed working with in the studio.
Slash’s raw riffs and blistering solos helped define a generation of rock, but behind the signature top hat was a guitarist who knew when the vibe just wasn’t right. In a recent discussion about his past collaborations, Slash reflected on his time with one of his early bandmates — someone whose style and approach consistently got under his skin.
His words were strikingly direct: “I always got irritated.”
That frustration stemmed from his relationship with rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, a founding member of Guns N’ Roses whose understated style and laid-back playing provided a stark contrast to Slash’s gritty, expressive leads. While many fans celebrate Stradlin’s contributions — his rhythms form the backbone of classics like Patience and Dust N’ Bones — Slash admitted that their personalities and musical approaches didn’t always mesh well in the studio.
“It was wonderful to escape him on this record,” Slash said of working without Stradlin on later projects, adding that the result sounded “tighter and so much cooler than anything we’ve done before.”
That kind of honesty is rare from musicians who’ve shared so much history together. Despite the tension, Stradlin’s contributions were essential to the band’s early sound, and fans often point out that his departure coincided with a shift in the group’s creative direction — a shift that Slash himself acknowledged, even if he welcomed the change at the time.
Today Slash’s career has spanned decades of collaborations and projects, from his work with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators to guest spots with other rock artists. But that chapter with Stradlin remains one of the few he looks back on with a mix of respect and relief — a reminder that even legends don’t always enjoy every creative partnership.
