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On July 23, one of rock music's most celebrated guitarists celebrates his 61st birthday.
Best known as the lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses, Slash has spent nearly four decades creating some of the most recognizable guitar parts in rock history. Among them is the unforgettable opening riff to "Sweet Child o' Mine," which Total Guitar once named the No. 1 greatest guitar riff of all time, ahead of countless other classics.
Born Saul Hudson in London in 1965, Slash moved to Los Angeles as a child and helped transform Guns N' Roses into one of the defining rock bands of the late 1980s. Their 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction eventually became the best-selling debut album in U.S. history, powered by enduring hits including "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City" and the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash "Sweet Child o' Mine."
The guitarist's reputation extends well beyond a single song. In 2009, TIME ranked Slash No. 2 among the world's best electric guitar players, behind only Jimi Hendrix, calling Slash "a remarkably precise player who had to put up with more crap from his lead singers than any other guitarist on this list."
They cheekily added, "Does he make the cut partially because of the hat? Yes. Yes he does."
Guitar World later placed his soaring "November Rain" solo among the greatest guitar solos ever recorded, whileRolling Stone included him among its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2011.
"As far as the guitar solo [in 'November Rain'], it was so natural from the first time I ever played it ... One of the best things about a melody for a guitar solo is when it comes to you the same way every time, and that was definitely the case with ‘November Rain,'" Slash told Guitar World.
Rolling Stone wrote at the time they compiled the list, "He may have spent much of his Guns N' Roses prime shirtless, drunk and surrounded by snakes, but Slash brought good taste and restraint back to hard-rock guitar."
After leaving Guns N' Roses in the 1990s, Slash formed the supergroup Slash's Snakepit before co-founding Velvet Revolver with Scott Weiland, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner. The band enjoyed major commercial success in the 2000s before Slash eventually reconciled with Axl Rose and rejoined Guns N' Roses in 2016.
Despite his legendary status, Slash has often spoken with humility about his career. Recalling the moment Michael Jackson invited him to perform on "Black or White," he admitted he was stunned.
"I was in shock! … Why me?" he recalled in a 2011 interview with Guitar World, adding that Jackson's team later explained, "They said that they wanted my feel."
He's also reflected on the winding path his career has taken.
"I don't believe in regrets. You live and learn… I don't regret anything," Slash said during an interview with KISS 92.5.
Today, Slash remains one of rock's most influential guitarists. From the instantly recognizable riff that opens "Sweet Child o' Mine" to the emotional solo in "November Rain," his playing has inspired generations of musicians. More than 20 years after readers crowned his signature riff the greatest of all time, it remains one of the first guitar parts aspiring rock musicians learn and one of the most recognizable moments in classic rock history.
Related: 1987 Classic Ranked Among ‘Greatest Albums of All Time’ Gets Unexpected New Honor
