Slash Portrait of Slash, best known as the lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, with his signature top hat and amber Gibson Les Paul guitar in 2012. (more) Slash British-American guitarist Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Slash-British-American-guitarist Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Saul Hudson Written by Written by Agathe Demarolle Agathe Demarolle was an Editorial Intern at Encyclopædia Britannica. She is studying at the University of Chicago, where she's majoring in political science and creative writing. She's also a reporter... Agathe Demarolle Fact-checked by Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep. 19, 2025 •Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Quick Facts Byname of: Saul Hudson (Show more) Born: July 23, 1965, London, England (age 60) (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Who is Slash? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Slash, born Saul Hudson, is a British-American guitarist known for his emotional playing, most famously for the hard rock band Guns Nu2019 Roses. His signature look includes a top hat and an amber Gibson Les Paul." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How did Slash get his nickname? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Slash got his nickname from American actor Seymour Cassel, who called him u201CSlashu201D because he was always in a hurry." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was Slashu2019s first band, and what did they play? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Slashu2019s first band was Tidus Sloan, and they played instrumental covers of rock songs." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was significant about Guns Nu2019 Rosesu2019 Appetite for Destruction release? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Guns Nu2019 Rosesu2019 debut album, Appetite for Destruction, initially received little attention, but its single u201CSweet Child Ou2019 Mineu201D helped it reach the top of the charts more than a year after its release." } } ] } Top Questions Who is Slash? Slash, born Saul Hudson, is a British-American guitarist known for his emotional playing, most famously for the hard rock band Guns N’ Roses. His signature look includes a top hat and an amber Gibson Les Paul.

　　How did Slash get his nickname? Slash got his nickname from American actor Seymour Cassel, who called him “Slash” because he was always in a hurry.

　　What was Slash’s first band, and what did they play? Slash’s first band was Tidus Sloan, and they played instrumental covers of rock songs.

　　What was significant about Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction release? Guns N’ Roses’ debut album, Appetite for Destruction, initially received little attention, but its single “Sweet Child O’ Mine” helped it reach the top of the charts more than a year after its release.

　　Slash (born July 23, 1965, London, England) is a British-American guitarist whose emotional playing, whether in melodic solos or bluesy yet heavy riffs, makes him one of the greatest rock guitarists. He has most famously played for the band Guns N’ Roses, and his signature look—a top hat and an amber Gibson Les Paul—has become inseparable from the band’s image. He was born Saul Hudson to Ola Hudson, an African American costume designer, and Anthony Hudson, an English album cover designer. Initially raised in Stoke-on-Trent, he moved to Los Angeles with his father in 1970 to join Ola Hudson, who ...(100 of 2013 words)

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