Why did Slash leave Guns N’ Roses (and why did he return)?

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As a gamer who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I can’t help but reminisce about the iconic days of Guns ‘N Roses. They were the soundtrack to my teenage years, their raw energy and rebellious spirit echoing through every guitar riff and Axl Rose’s powerful vocals.

The first album by Guns ‘N Roses initially didn’t gain much traction, but once it did, there was no stopping it. They were undeniably the epitome of hard rock bands during the 1980s, blending glam metal with a raw, tough-edged rock and roll that some believed had vanished earlier in the decade.

Guns ‘N Roses was primarily driven by lead vocalist Axl Rose and guitarist Slash; however, their personal conflicts resulted in numerous disputes throughout their career. These disagreements escalated to such an extent that Slash eventually departed from the group in 1996.

Slash left over “personal and creative differences”

By the mid-90s, the band was gradually losing its appeal due to the emergence of grunge music. Guns ‘N Roses were perceived as outdated by many, and this didn’t make things easier for the internal conflicts between Rose and other band members. Axe-man Slash found Rose’s behavior increasingly intolerable, eventually leading him to leave the band due to these issues.

In a conversation with MTV, he stated that Axl and he have been disagreeing about Guns N’ Roses for quite some time now. They attempted to work together, but at this juncture, he is no longer part of the band. Later on, Slash pointed out Paul Tobias as another reason for his departure, stating that he had creative and personal disagreements with the guitarist.

After his time with Guns ‘N Roses and Alice In Chains, Slash established the collective known as Slash’s Snakepit, which included fellow musicians from these bands. This band produced two albums, and their first, titled “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere“, received positive reviews from both fans and critics. During the 2000s, Slash was also part of Velvet Revolver.

Slash rejoined Guns ‘N Roses in 2016

Originally named Saul Hudson, the guitar virtuoso eventually found his way back to Guns N’ Roses. He joined forces with Axl Rose once more to headline Coachella in 2016, and since then, they’ve been touring together consistently. Slash discussed the reasons behind his return during an interview on The Abe Kanan Show.

He mentioned a special connection with Axl Rose, describing it as an almost forgotten chemistry. This strong bond becomes particularly evident when they perform together or work side by side. He finds it incredibly fascinating and is glad they were able to overcome their differences.

Slash and Rose, two original members of Guns ‘N Roses, remain in the band along with bassist Duff McKagan. Since their last album “Chinese Democracy” was released in 2008, they’ve been absent from it, but it’s clear that these iconic rockers are enjoying themselves by performing their classic hits.

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2024-12-13 00:00