10 ALBUMS THAT CHANGED THE LIFE OF GUNS N’ ROSES SLASH

10 ALBUMS THAT CHANGED THE LIFE OF GUNS N’ ROSES SLASH

The Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist tells Metal Hammer about the most important records in his life.

The first album I ever bought…

Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin (1969)

The line between the albums I bought and the ones I stole is blurred. I had no money, so I’d go to Tower Records and take advantage of the five-finger discount, which meant stealing records. I remember getting my hands on Led Zeppelin’s debut so quickly after it came out. They opened the door to everything that came to symbolize the 70s: hedonism, excess, and drugs. Their music made me want to fuck girls!

The album that inspired me to learn guitar…

Aerosmith — Rocks (1976)

“Rocks!” was all Led Zeppelin’s sexy riffs combined with the laid-back, bluesy vibe of the Rolling Stones. It was an album that delivered with Steven’s unbridled screams and the shrieking “KRRRK!” guitars. It was a record that felt like it was made for me — the music spoke to me like a lost teenager to a peer, and set me on the rock and roll path.

The album with the best artwork…

War – Why Can’t We Be Friends? (1975)

My dad was a record sleeve designer, so we had tons of those records on our walls. There were a lot of great designs, but the one that immediately comes to mind is “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” This record came with a black and white illustration of Los Angeles' Sunset Boulevard with all the hookers and even Joe's Hamburger Stand.

An album that makes you want to go full speed ahead...

Judas Priest – Screaming For Vengeance (1982)

Oh man, that's a great question! "Screaming For Vengeance" should definitely be on this one. The best "Let's go record something to drive around to, ha ha ha" record. "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" - wow, that's a tune!

The first album I ever had sex to...

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977)

I almost got laid the first time to Aerosmith's "Rocks." I had been following this girl for months, and she finally invited me over to her house when her mother was out. And then she put this album on. I was so freaked out, I sat there and couldn't stop listening to this record until she told me I could fuck off. Usually sex happens to the music the girl chooses. So I think, I can't remember exactly, it was something like "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac, because that album was really popular with girls at the time.

If a kid asks me what kind of music this is, metal, I'll play them...

Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1970)

Nothing comes close to "Black Sabbath" in capturing the essence of the metal sound. I also like "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" to the same extent. I've heard people cover the Black Sabbath song of the same name by tuning the guitar down, but no one can make it sound as heavy in the original tuning as Sabbath did in the original. Tony Iommi is a fucking genius!

No one will believe that I have this album in my collection...

Kanye West – Graduation (2007)

I downloaded this album for one song - "Stronger". But being an old school guy, I bought the whole album, not just one song. It's not some secret passion of mine, it's just an album that makes me feel awkward having in my music library.

I want to be remembered for this album...

Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction (1987)

I will be remembered for this album, and that's fine with me. I love the spirit of this record - genuinely honest, pure, even innocent, but with lessons and wisdom from the streets. We captured the anxieties and passions of life and made such a raw record. I never thought it would be so successful!

I want this album to be played at my funeral…

Erik Satie – Gynmopédies (1888)

I probably wanted something like Erik Satie, a wonderful French composer, to be played at my funeral. This particular piece is just brilliant. Probably my favorite piece of classical music.

The album that shouldn’t have been…

Guns N’ Roses – Sympathy For The Devil (1995)

Oh, I hate to criticize. Can I choose our Guns N’ Roses cover of “Sympathy for the Devil”? Yeah, it’s not an album… But I definitely feel like that version should never have been made. So let me go with that one, haha!