Slash

From one of the greatest rock guitarists of our era comes a memoir that redefines sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

He was born in England, but raised in LA, spending an adolescence on the streets of Hollywood, discovering drugs, drinking, rock music and girls, all the while achieving notable status as a BMX rider. But everything changed the day when, aged 15, Slash first held the beat-up, one-string guitar his grandmother had discarded in a closet.

The instrument became his voice and as soon as he could string chords and a solo together, Slash wanted to be in a band. He found that band in the form of four young men of equal minds: Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler and Duff McKagan. Together they became Guns N' Roses, one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands of all time. Dirty, volatile and as authentic as the streets that weaned them, they fought their way to the top with ground-breaking albums such as the iconic Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusions 1 and 2.

Here, for the first time ever, Slash tells the tale that has yet to be told: how the band came together, how they wrote the music that defined an era, how they survived insane, never-ending tours, how they rode the most excessive rock 'n' roll wave of a generation and, ultimately, how it all fell apart. This is a window into the world of the notoriously private guitarist and a seat on the rollercoaster ride that was one of history's greatest rock and roll machines: always on the edge of self-destruction even at the pinnacle of success.

Slash is also an intensely personal account of struggle and triumph: as Guns N' Roses journeyed to the top, Slash battled his demons, escaping the overwhelming reality with women, heroin, coke, crack, vodka and whatever else came to mind.

He survived it all: lawsuits, rehab, riots, notoriety, debauchery and destruction, and ultimately found his creative evolution. From Slash's Snakepit to his current band, the massively successful Velvet Revolver, Slash found an even keel by sticking to his guns.

Slash is everything the man, the myth, the legend inspires: it's funny, honest, jaw-dropping and in a word... excessive.

From one of the greatest rock guitarists of our era comes a memoir that redefines sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll

He was born in England but reared in L.A., surrounded by the leading artists of the day amidst the vibrant hotbed of music and culture that was the early seventies. Slash spent his adolescence on the streets of Hollywood, discovering drugs, drinking, rock music, and girls, all while achieving notable status as a BMX rider. But everything changed in his world the day he first held the beat-up one-string guitar his grandmother had discarded in a closet.

The instrument became his voice and it triggered a lifelong passion that made everything else irrelevant. As soon as he could string chords and a solo together, Slash wanted to be in a band and sought out friends with similar interests. His closest friend, Steven Adler, proved to be a conspirator for the long haul. As hairmetal bands exploded onto the L.A. scene and topped the charts, Slash sought his niche and a band that suited his raw and gritty sensibility.

He found salvation in the form of four young men of equal mind: Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler, and Duff McKagan. Together they became Guns N' Roses, one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands of all time. Dirty, volatile, and as authentic as the streets that weaned them, they fought their way to the top with groundbreaking albums such as the iconic Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion I and II.

Here, for the first time ever, Slash tells the tale that has yet to be told from the inside: how the band came together, how they wrote the music that defined an era, how they survived insane, never-ending tours, how they survived themselves, and, ultimately, how it all fell apart. This is a window onto the world of the notoriously private guitarist and a seat on the roller-coaster ride that was one of history's greatest rock 'n' roll machines, always on the edge of self-destruction, even at the pinnacle of its success. This is a candid recollection and reflection of Slash's friendships past and present, from easygoing Izzy to ever-steady Duff to wild-child Steven and complicated Axl.

It is also an intensely personal account of struggle and triumph: as Guns N' Roses journeyed to the top, Slash battled his demons, escaping the overwhelming reality with women, heroin, coke, crack, vodka, and whatever else came along.

He survived it all: lawsuits, rehab, riots, notoriety, debauchery, and destruction, and ultimately found his creative evolution. From Slash's Snakepit to his current band, the massively successful Velvet Revolver,Slash found an even keel by sticking to his guns.

Slash is everything the man, the myth, the legend, inspires: it's funny, honest, inspiring, jaw-dropping . . . and, in a word, excessive.