Slash (musician)
With his top hat, curly hair, and blistering guitar riffs, he became the instantly recognizable rock god of a generation.
Born 1965 (age 61)·British musician·Birthday: July 23·Generation X
Biography
Born Saul Hudson in London and raised in Los Angeles, Slash fused bluesy sensibility with hard rock aggression to create some of the most iconic guitar parts in history. As the lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses, his solos on 'Sweet Child o' Mine,' 'November Rain,' and 'Paradise City' provided the fiery backbone for the band's late-80s domination. His onstage persona—a silhouette of hair, hat, and cigarette—was as indelible as his playing. After leaving Guns N' Roses in the mid-90s, he remained a constant force, forming Slash's Snakepit and later achieving massive success with his collaborative project, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. More than just a virtuoso, he represents the enduring spirit of rock 'n' roll excess, survival, and sheer musical power.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Slash was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Slash Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Slash's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote and performed the guitar solo on 'Sweet Child o' Mine,' which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and is frequently ranked among the greatest solos ever.
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N' Roses in 2012.
- His self-titled 2010 solo album, featuring vocalists like Ozzy Osbourne and Fergie, debuted at number three on the Billboard 200.
- Ranked number 65 on Rolling Stone's 2023 list of the 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Slash' was given to him by family friend and actor Seymour Cassel because he was always in a hurry.
He is an avid collector of exotic snakes and once owned a boa constrictor named Crispy.
Before fame, he worked as a telephone salesperson for a pornographic magazine.
He composed the main theme for the video game 'Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.'
“I don't really think about what I play; I just play it.”
