Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Average Customer Rating:

An honest account from a real rock god

Customer Rating:

I was never quite of the Guns'N'Roses era - I was a tiny bit too late for that. However, "Welcome to the Jungle" is constantly on the playlist on my iPod along with other tracks. Slash was the lead guitarist from nearly the start of the Guns'N'Roses story and is an immediately recognisable figure due to his trademark top hat and big hair. His autobiography (assisted byAnthony Bozza) is Slash's own attempt to tell his story. He tells it in a manner that is open and honest. He rarely apologies or attempts to conceal his actions. He simply tells it as he saw it. He begins with his childhood and family life and descibes his initial encounter with a guitar. However from there on in, there is very little mention of music in the book (in a technical sense that is). The book is more about Slash than about his music. His alcohol and drug-related excesses are presented as is his struggle to eventually become clean and be a father to his two sons. Fans of Guns'N'Roses will love the descriptions of the band's rise to success and manic tour adventures. The tension between Axl and Slash is described, with long-reaching roots to early days. Slash often refuses to say anything truly bad about his former band member and this is to his credit. Slash is famous for his open character and honesty, and that shines through in this book. His love for the music and respect for the fans is evident. This is the real story of how it all went down.

A great read - CALLING ALL SLASH & GnR FANS!

Customer Rating:

Slash's autobiography, appropriately called `Slash', is a brilliant read. It's been a while since I've read such a captivating, moving and truly insane autobiography. Now it's not like me to say this, but it's so good it nearly eclipses the WWE wrestler's autobiographies - yeah, it really is that good (those of you who've read the wrestler's autobiographies will understand where I'm coming from). Slash tells you, in great detail, about all of the main aspects of his life - his parents, what his family were like, his upbringing - the highs and lows of it - and his rise to fame. It's a really entertaining read, funny at times, sad and shocking at others. Enjoy the highs and lows, the goods and bads, of the long haired legend, the real life Guitar Hero, Saul Hudson, who we all know as Slash. Top notch reading. Enjoy.

Entertaining Account of a larger-than-life rock star

Customer Rating:

I picked this book up safe in the knowledge that it was bound to be an eye-opening story of one of the most popular guitarists of the last generation or two. Whether or not I'd find it all that enjoyable was debatable but I'm pleased to say that I flew through it's pages as quickly as Slash etches out a guitar solo. At over 450 pages it should satisfy any Guns N'Roses & Slash fans and I never once found myself bored. It's extremely well-written and as I've long admired Slash without knowing all that much about him the book really does open things up about the guy. I have to say I found myself often grinning at the larger-than-life character that I think Slash has created as much as is natural but I guess the same goes for the majority of big-time rock stars. Whilst I wouldn't have expected or indeed wanted anything other than a tale full of excess, Slash does rattle on and at times boast about the vast amount of drugs he's consumed far too often. It obviously forms a large part of his adult life but it's the only aspect of the book that I found myself thinking "Here we go again". It also struck me that he paints a picture of being constantly, totally wasted back in the heyday of Guns but manages to recount in fine detail a large number of events far better than I can remember what happened to me last month ! There's also a sad account of a close friend who died of a drug overdose in his company and you can't help but turn your nose up at Slash's version of what happened. He's painted this picture of a wild, hell-rasing rock star yet the day his friend dies he goes to some lengths to convince the reader that he was being "oh-so caring" that day which really didn't sit right with me. The above comments aside it's still a superb read & even though I've never been a fan of Guns N'Roses, I still think Slash is a great musician & his story is well worth a read.

unputdownable

Customer Rating:

i bought this book as it had been recommended to me by a few mates. in a word this book is inspirational. i found myself staying up to 4 oclock in the morning most nights whilst i was reading and finished it in less than 4 days. i would recommend this book to everyonne whether your a guns n roses fan or not. it gives a really good insight into his state of mind around the release of all of gnr albums and u really feel like you know the guy quite well after reading. quality book.

What a book, what a life, what a guy....Slash, I hope you see 50 (and many more)!!

Customer Rating:

A fantastic book. Whenever a journalist is credited on a book, the suspicion is inevitably that of 'Ghost Writing' - in this case, those little doubts are soon dispelled: although Anthony Bozza may have plyed his skills in structuring the story, anyone who has heard Slash speak and is famailiar with his style will instantly recognise the words and humour as very much his own...and its far better for it. I cannot remember a rock autobiography being more amusing, engrossing, shocking, excessive, uplifting - this book has it all. Many rock autobiographies are bland, somewhat 'controlled' PR-minded affairs, massaged to not in any way detract from the subject. Others are standard-sized books, but open them up and they look like something out of the Large Print Series (remember those?) where the pages pass in a moment....neither could be said for this book - its quite a substantial tome and you get the impression that anything other than blunt reality is an affront to Slash's sense of cool. Slash doesn't promise objectivity, but spares himself nothing and delivers one of the most highly detailed and entertaining accounts of life as a leading rock musician and in the proces of doing so, he shows himself to be extremely articulate, incredibly thoughtful, disarmingly honest and with a great sense of humour. Contrary to what many have written, this is not a rant against Axl Rose and Slash is commendably even-handed about this (read it properly!), often stressing 'this is how I saw it, Axl will have his own, equally valid account' - in fact, he bad-mouths very few and seems to see good in most people. In all, its quite a journey, from his roots in the UK (yes, he carries a British passport!), a tough adolescence on the streets of LA, his BMX career, subsequent devotion to music, the highs & lows, the drug and alchohol dependency and his transformation into an atypical family man - all very illuminating. There are also many funny moments, especially when he describes experiencing rock music's equivalent of an audience with the Pope - meeting Keith Richards. This guy's sense of humour is very much alive and kicking. It certainly has the ability to shock, so the more prudish amongst us should be warned, especially when he describes how he and a band mate 'entertained' an evidently more-than-willing female acquaintance in their shared bedroom! I'll not spoil the surprise..... As a serious-minded guitar player myself, I have always admired Slash and quite liked Guns & Roses. Whatever you might think of G'N'R, there's certainly no denying Slash is very likeable guy and goes a long way to explain (as any explanation was needed) why he is so popular & reverred. Slash has gone to alot of effort with this and the result is an absorbing insight into one of the best guitar players out there. Whilst he seems to have beaten the drugs, the booze still lurks in the background a little, so his future is not entirely without its challenges and the fact that he did all this and is striving to maintain his sobriety because of his family, you have to wish him well. If you're reading these reviews, chances are this sort of personality interests you...if so, just buy it - you abolutely will not regret it!!!