''Slash'' is an autobiography written by rock guitarist

Slash Slash may refer to: * Slash (punctuation), the "/" character Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Slash (Marvel Comics) * Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'') Music * Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band * Nash ...

with

Anthony Bozza Anthony Bozza is a New York City-based author and journalist who has written extensively for '' Rolling Stone'' and other magazines. He is also the author of bestselling books on Eminem, AC/DC and Artie Lange. Since 2005 he has co-authored numer ...

. Most of the book focuses on Slash's years with

Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band comprised vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKa ...

, including many rock star cliches: trashed hotel rooms, groupies, drug abuse, etc. Slash talks about

Axl Rose W. Axl Rose (born William Bruce Rose Jr.; born February 6, 1962) is an American musician. He is best known for being the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, and has been the band's sole constant member since its incep ...

, frontman of Guns N' Roses, and his departure from the band in the mid-1990s. He explains that Axl's inability to show up to gigs and rehearsals on time, in addition to Axl's almost dictator-like control of the band contributed to the band's downfall. Slash also states that Axl wanted to change the musical direction of the band to include more synthesizers and effects, rather than guitar-driven rock as with their earlier material. Slash relates how he eventually achieved stability and sobriety after his second marriage and the birth of two sons. The book's tagline is: 'It seems excessive, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen...'

''Slash: The Autobiography of Slash''

Slash's autobiography tells his story of playing in bands around early 1980s

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, eventually leading to the formation of

, who would go on to become one of the biggest bands on the planet in the early 90s, before collapsing under their own weight. He discusses his reasons for leaving the band, what he did after leaving, the other projects he worked on between leaving

and the formation of

Velvet Revolver Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup consisting of Guns N' Roses members Slash (lead guitar), Duff McKagan (bass, backing vocals) and Matt Sorum (drums, backing vocals), alongside Dave Kushner (rhythm guitar) formerly of punk b ...

, and the drama surrounding that band, and everything in between. Slash also explains how he dealt with and overcame the harsh chains of addiction, and his many close calls with death because of

heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...

cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...

, pills, alcohol, and more. He had a very bad addiction to a variety of different drugs, but was in time, able to overcome and get his life back on track. ''"I've always had to do things my way; I play guitar my way; I've taken myself to the edges of life my way; I've gotten clean my way; And I'm still here. Whether or not I deserve to be is another story."'' - Slash

''New York Times'' Bestseller list

The book was at #6 on the NYT Hardcover Nonfiction list as of November 25, 2007, having been published in the United States on October 30.

Nikki Sixx Nikki Sixx (born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr.; December 11, 1958) is an American musician, best known as the co-founder, bassist, and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a me ...

's book, '' The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star'', which debuted at #7, was at #16 on the list.Hardcover Nonfiction – New York Times
/ref> Slash retells some of the events from that book from his own perspective in the autobiography.

Chapter list

References

{{Guns N' Roses 2007 non-fiction books Music autobiographies

Autobiography An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life. It is a form of biography. Definition The word "autobiography" was first used deprecatingly by William Taylor in 1797 in the English peri ...

HarperCollins books Guns N' Roses