Pleasantly Surprised | by a guitarist I thought didn't have much talent. | Slash

[Ting Ho Dung]

I've been looking for a few acoustic songs to learn since I have this beautiful Melancon acoustic guitar. Those of you who have read any of my posts at all already know that I'm a Myles Kennedy Whore. So I youtubed acoustic songs that he plays. After about an hour of playing and listening to a lot of songs I stumbled on the video I'm sharing with you guys. I knew that Myles and Slash teamed up on part of Slash's recent solo album but figured it would suck as bad as Slash could make it suck. You see, I was born a bit late to be in the GNR scene. I think I was in my mid twenties when they left their trailer park and hit the stage. I thought Axle had the worst voice ever and found Slash's playing and tone extremely annoying. But, all I've ever heard of them was airplay. I've never heard any of their album music. I clicked on the video below because I saw Myles play Sweet Child Of Mine on his own acoustic set a while back. I was ready to hate the video but was surprised by the light touch Slash has on the strings. His tone is bell like. It's almost like he's a savant, almost angelic-like. I got a sense of piece watching him play and I felt bad about my misunderstanding of him. Of course I was high as a kite when I watched it last night but watched it again this morning and still feel I've misjudged him both as a person and as a guitarist. Of course Myles is stellar as always in the video. His voice shines and makes even the GNR tunes enjoyable.

I'm sure McChris will tell me to GTFO for my (mis)perceptions of Slash. That's fine. You guys can unleash your hate on me. I'm in the mood for abuse today. But, what I would like along with the kick in the nuts is what you more Slash-knowledgeable jerks can tell me about him. Both as a person and as a musician. Maybe you can even convince me to listen to some "good" GNR songs. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Here's the video.

[MCChris]

I'm sure McChris will tell me to GTFO for my (mis)perceptions of Slash.

HAHAHAHA! That's exactly what I was fixin' to do when I saw the thread title and the author!

Nothing else to add other than yes, I'm a big Slash fan. The "Sweet Child O' Mine" solo is as finely executed a rock lead as I can think of.

[Stike]

http://www.youtube.com/embed/WrNkxy9e2Sg?autoplay=1

This song kicks more ass than a cross eyed Rockette.

[carfish7]

Slash seems to have made the full circle from somewhat humble beginnings, a rise to stardom, dealing with band drama, finding his own voice, and finally arriving at a more humble, introspective place. Any interview I have read or seen reveals a pretty intelligent, soft-spoken dude who has seen a few things and lived to tell the tales. I have always dug his tone and phrasing, but Axl made me want to pull my hair out with his screeching and PAB antics so GnR was always a chore to listen to.

I don't see how you can judge a person by merely hearing some tunes, but hey - I guess I'd be judging myself for saying so........

Slash has his place among the greats - maybe not for pure technique or innovation, but he found a voice and made plenty of folks sit up and take notice of what he was doing in a time where he risked being a caricature of a "rock God" with his image and his band. I don't think he gave half a fuck about any of that and I respect what he brought to the table.

[bubs_42]

http://www.youtube.com/embed/WrNkxy9e2Sg?autoplay=1

This song kicks more ass than a cross eyed Rockette.

That band was killer. Rod Jackson and Kerry Kelly! Rod is a MONSTER LIVE!

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Axl made me want to pull my hair out with his screeching and PAB antics so GnR was always a chore to listen to.

This.

The number of bands that I can't stand because of the singer (GnR, Zep, Oasis, REM) is staggering...maybe more rock bands should do instrumentals.

[elduave]

Apocalyptic Love = Album Of The Year (2012)

Available on vinyl here at the Rock! :-)

[BlueRedWhite]

Well, Slash is no Vai, but he is pretty good...and if you would like to judge a man by his guitars, he's got the biggest 1950's collection of Les Paul. A man with those tastes cannot be a bad man

I despised Axl, but Slash, i've always liked

[cmatthes]

Agreed - always hated Axl, but have been a fan of Slash and his playing since 1987.

He does that slinky, half-assed, Joe Perry/Jimmy Page thing better than they do sometimes.

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Well, Slash is no Vai, but he is pretty good...and if you would like to judge a man by his guitars, he's got the biggest 1950's collection of Les Paul. A man with those tastes cannot be a bad man

I despised Axl, but Slash, i've always liked

It's not the size of the LP collection, it's how you use it.

Wait, is this the Outer Circle?

[Ting Ho Dung]

Have any of you watched the video I posted? Is there no love for Myles?

[triodecr]

Have any of you watched the video I posted? Is there no love for Myles?

Who's Myles?

[Ting Ho Dung]

Have any of you watched the video I posted? Is there no love for Myles?

Who's Myles?

JFCOAFC!!

[elduave]

Love for Myles? I told ya, Apocalyptic Love was the best album of 2012. He sang, played and co-wrote the damn thing!

[Ting Ho Dung]

Love for Myles? I told ya, Apocalyptic Love was the best album of 2012. He sang, played and co-wrote the damn thing!

I'll have to check that out. Didn't see the connection. My bad.

[elduave]

You won't regret it.

[MCChris]

Also, if you do iTunes, there's a live iTunes Session with Slash, Myles and their current band. They do the two songs they did together on Slash's previous solo album plus Zep, GnR and Velvet Revolver covers. Pretty good.

[Ting Ho Dung]

Also, if you do iTunes, there's a live iTunes Session with Slash, Myles and their current band. They do the two songs they did together on Slash's previous solo album plus Zep, GnR and Velvet Revolver covers. Pretty good.

Thanks, now GTFO. LOL.

[Ting Ho Dung]

I don't see how you can judge a person by merely hearing some tunes, but hey - I guess I'd be judging myself for saying so........

Because I can. I'm pretty good at it. You can look at a person's posture. Their demeanour. How they sit. How they interact with others and interviewers. I usually give someone 30 seconds face to face. That's all I need to decide if they are honest and humble. or IF.

[elduave]

Agreed - always hated Axl, but have been a fan of Slash and his playing since 1987.

He does that slinky, half-assed, Joe Perry/Jimmy Page thing better than they do sometimes.

I think he's a better player than both those guys. Hasn't written as many monumental songs as them, but as a player, better.

[elduave]

I don't see how you can judge a person by merely hearing some tunes, but hey - I guess I'd be judging myself for saying so........

Because I can. I'm pretty good at it. You can look at a person's posture. Their demeanour. How they sit. How they interact with others and interviewers. I usually give someone 30 seconds face to face. That's all I need to decide if they are honest and humble. or IF.

I go about a minute, face to face; 30 words on the HFC.

[elduave]

But, what I would like along with the kick in the nuts is what you more Slash-knowledgeable jerks can tell me about him. Both as a person and as a musician. Maybe you can even convince me to listen to some "good" GNR songs.

http://www.amazon.com/Slash/dp/B00D57ECCM

BTW, don't bother listening to any GNR. There's this album, see, it's called Apocalyptic Love.

Just listened to all 4 glorious sides of Red & White vinyl, prompted by your thread.

[DaveL]

Izzy was the song guy in gnr....

absolutely... and I think he may have been the quiet puppet master behind the whole thing...

but while I think there were a few things happening in harmony with that band, the boat

doesn't float without slash's phenomenal playing both lead and rhythm...

and while the joe perry project, I've got the rock and rolls again is a top 12 desert island

disc, think slash might not have needed a ghost player on train. of course he would have

been 5 years old at the time but let that go.

[elduave]

Dave L (and Rodip), I don't disagree with you about Izzy, but it didn't translate to his solo stuff. Also, I don't follow the JPP, ghost, train thing, but I do love those first two Project records!

[BTMN]

Agreed - always hated Axl, but have been a fan of Slash and his playing since 1987.

He does that slinky, half-assed, Joe Perry/Jimmy Page thing better than they do sometimes.

They are big fans of his. Slash had Rick Nielsen present Joe Perry with his old "Walk This Way" Les Paul on Joe's 50th birthday. That sealed my admiration for Slash that and watching him sit about 5 rows off the floor at the the LA Forum in January 2002 jamming to Cheap Trick and then headliner Aerosmith just like you and me.