In 1983, Saul Hudson, better known as Slash, was just 18 years old and still a few years away from global fame with Guns N’ Roses. At that time, he was living in Los Angeles and actively immersed in the local rock scene. He had recently taken up the guitar seriously, having started in his mid-teens after a brief stint on BMX bikes.
Around this time, Slash formed a band with Steven Adler and Duff McKagan called Road Crew, inspired by the Motörhead song “We Are The Road Crew.” The band struggled to find a singer and ultimately disbanded, but it laid the groundwork for future collaborations. The main riff for what would become Guns N’ Roses’ “Rocket Queen” was reportedly written during this period.
Slash was intensely dedicated to playing guitar, often practicing for up to 12 hours a day. He was influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith, and teachers helped him refine his skills. He was also reportedly playing a B.C. Rich electric guitar and a handmade Les Paul copy around this time.
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