Slash, the guitarist for Guns N’ Roses, is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his time, and with good cause. Whether it’s his performances on hits like ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine‘, ‘November Rain‘, or the famous Terminator 2: Judgement Day anthem ‘You Could Be Mine‘, fans don’t have to go far to see evidence of his genius.
Slash, a lifelong rock music fan, has identified numerous players from his era as heroes. But, focusing in, one man he has frequently praised is Eric Clapton. Going even further, he describes Cream’s psychedelic masterpiece ‘Sunshine of Your Love‘ as the tune that inspired him to start up the guitar. More specifically, Slash told Music Radar, “This is the record I was listening to when I decided to play guitar.” He was playing ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’, including the solo, as we were conversing. When I heard that, I said, ‘That’s what I want to do!’ So that’s how I began playing guitar.”
The late Eddie Van Halen was another figure who had a significant influence on Slash’s trademark approach. One of the quintessential guitar virtuosos who helped usher in the period of technical peacocking in the 1980s, he popularized string tapping, which Slash and many of his peers would deploy as a decisive weapon in their armory. Songs like ‘Eruption’ are among his greatest.
When chatting with Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones on his radio show Jonesy’s Jukebox in 2018, Slash commented on Eddie Van Halen’s effect on him and went as far as to describe his playing as so brilliant that “nobody else did it like him”.
Slash said, “I’m a tremendous fan of Eddie as a person and a player. And I adored [1978’s] Van Halen when it originally appeared. I’ve always thought that he had a unique style that no one else matched. Then it became something. I did not start down that path when I picked up the guitar.”
He went on to say, “But at the same time, I was influenced indirectly by him because he’s such a great, fluid, feel player.” And people don’t notice that aspect of him as much as they do the pyrotechnics he does.”
The group’s powerful performing approach wasn’t simply reserved for the stage; their studio sound also injected a megawatt of energy into the music industry. And, for Slash, the group represented a huge shift in how rock music would continue. “When Van Halen came out, as soon as I heard that record, I was like… 1978, so I was 13. And I hadn’t yet picked up the guitar. But this marked the end of rock as we knew it. [Laughs]” he continued.
The Guns N’ Roses guitarist concluded: “I’ll never forget that vibe, that type of ’60s and ’70s kind of thing that sort of evolved and matured, sort of punk rock. Everything up until that time had altered. And that contributed to the hair metal phenomenon in Los Angeles.”
In the 1980s, bands actively tried to emulate Van Halen’s swagger and confidence. Whitesnake, Poison, and countless more would follow Van Halen’s lead and achieve enormous success.
Watch the interview below.
