Slash

Slash, born Saul Hudson on July 23, 1965, in Hampstead, London, is a British-American guitarist and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses, one of the best-selling bands in history. His iconic riff on "Sweet Child o' Mine" and the soaring solo on "November Rain" are landmarks in rock guitar. He is instantly recognizable by his top hat, sunglasses, and Gibson Les Paul. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and ranked No. 2 on Rolling Stone's 2023 list of the 250 greatest guitarists. His autobiography, Slash (2007), is a best-selling rock memoir. He holds dual British and American citizenship. His guitar playing is defined by a bluesy, melodic, and aggressive style. He continues to tour and record, with a 2024 blues covers album Orgy of the Damned and an ongoing Guns N' Roses global tour in 2025/2026.[edit]

Saul Hudson grew up in the Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles after his parents divorced and he moved from London at age six. His mother, Ola Hudson, was a costume designer who worked with David Bowie and John Lennon. His father, Anthony Hudson, designed album covers for Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. Actor Seymour Cassel gave him the nickname "Slash" because he was always zipping around. He was a hyperactive kid who got expelled from several schools and eventually dropped out of Beverly Hills High School. He found his purpose in skateboarding and music. At 14, his grandmother gave him a flamenco guitar, and he taught himself by playing along to Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith records. His first band was a short-lived group called Tusker. In 1983, he joined the glam metal band Hollywood Rose, where he first met Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin. The pivotal moment came in 1985 when Axl asked him to join a new band after Tracii Guns left. That band became Guns N' Roses. He met Steven Adler and Duff McKagan at local clubs on the Sunset Strip.[edit]

Slash co-wrote and performed on Guns N' Roses' 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction, which sold over 30 million copies worldwide. The singles "Sweet Child o' Mine," "Welcome to the Jungle," and "Paradise City" became anthems. The band followed with the double albums Use Your Illusion I and II in 1991, featuring "November Rain." Tensions with Axl Rose grew, and Slash left in 1996. He formed Slash's Snakepit, releasing two albums. In 2002, he co-founded Velvet Revolver with Duff McKagan and Scott Weiland. Their debut Contraband (2004) won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for "Slither." His solo career took off with the 2010 self-titled album featuring guest vocalists. He then formed a permanent band with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, releasing five studio albums. In 2016, he rejoined Guns N' Roses for the "Not in This Lifetime... Tour," one of the highest-grossing tours ever, grossing over $584 million. In 2024, he released the blues covers album Orgy of the Damned.[edit]

Slash is the archetypal rock star: cool, rebellious, and supremely talented. His look is instantly recognizable: a tall black top hat, dark sunglasses, long curly hair, and a lit cigarette. He plays a Gibson Les Paul and his sound is bluesy, melodic, and aggressive. The media often calls him the "heart and soul" of Guns N' Roses' classic sound. His fans are a mix of classic rock enthusiasts and guitar players. On social media, he posts tour dates and behind-the-scenes content, rarely engaging in controversy. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of Guns N' Roses. His social media presence includes 3.1 million followers on Instagram, 1.3 million on X, 7.7 million on Facebook, and 448k on YouTube.[edit]

Slash's fanbase is less a distinct tribe and more the sprawling, multi-generational legion of Guns N' Roses itself. There is no official moniker like "Slashers"; instead, devotees identify simply as GNR fans, united by a shared reverence for the man in the top hat. Their devotion manifests in digital rituals that spike every July 23, flooding social media with tributes to his birthday and archival photos from the late eighties. This collective energy fueled a rare moment of modern folklore on March 24, 2026, when Slash and Duff McKagan reunited with Steven Adler and Gilby Clarke for a benefit gig in Los Angeles. The crowd erupted during "It's So Easy," celebrating a lineup configuration many thought impossible. Fans also rallied behind the band's legacy, defending *Chinese Democracy* against critics and embracing cross-genre moments like Chris Stapleton's 2026 cover of "Patience." Slash remains accessible yet mythical, a figure whose signature look transcends rock history. These placements reflect his enduring global footprint across media coverage, search trends, and consumption signals worldwide. He is currently the 82nd most famous person from United Kingdom, holding steady from the previous cycle. In the hard rock sphere, he ranks as the 5th most famous person in Metal, maintaining his elite status within the iFANN Global Fame Rankings.[edit]

His iconic top hat started as a thrift store find originally made for women, but it became his permanent trademark after years of wear. Although naturally left-handed, he plays the guitar right-handed. A severe fear of flying keeps him grounded on tour buses rather than planes. His collection boasts over 100 guitars, anchored by his primary Gibson Les Paul. Horror films are a major passion, leading to a cameo appearance in *The Walking Dead*. A skull and crossbones tattoo marks his arm. In 2024, he revealed a third diagnosis with COVID-19 while recovering. His 2007 autobiography remains a best-seller. Legend has it that his departure from Guns N' Roses in 1996 was driven strictly by management issues rather than personal conflict, a clarification made public in November 2025. The visual mythos of his curly hair and top hat cemented his status as the most recognizable face of hard rock since *Appetite for Destruction*. A viral moment occurred in August 2026 when Chris Stapleton performed "Patience" with the band in Toronto, bridging country and rock audiences.[edit]

Slash's mother, Ola Hudson (1950–2009), was an African-American costume designer who worked with David Bowie and John Lennon. His father, Anthony Hudson, is a white English artist who designed album covers for Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. They divorced when Slash was young, and he was raised by his mother in Los Angeles. He has two sons with his first wife, Perla Ferrar: London Emilio (born 2002) and Cash Anthony (born 2004). Slash has said fatherhood helped him get sober. As of 2026, he is engaged to photographer Meegan Hodges and lives in the Hollywood Hills.[edit]

Axl Rose has been Slash's longtime bandmate and creative foil. Duff McKagan played with him in both Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver. Myles Kennedy is the lead singer of Slash's solo band. Scott Weiland was the late frontman of Velvet Revolver. Steven Adler and Izzy Stradlin were original Guns N' Roses members.[edit]

Slash's first public relationship was with Renée Suran from 1985 to 1986, during the early Guns N' Roses days. He married costume designer Perla Ferrar on October 15, 2001. They had two sons, London (2002) and Cash (2004). The marriage became toxic, and they separated in 2014. Perla filed for divorce in 2015, finalized in 2018. In 2009, tabloids linked him to Megan Fox, but both denied a romance. In 2015, he began dating photographer Meegan Hodges, the ex-wife of his friend David Arquette. They became engaged in 2019. As of 2026, Slash is engaged to Meegan Hodges.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates Slash's net worth at $90 million as of 2026. The foundation of this wealth rests heavily on Guns N' Roses, where the massive "Not in This Lifetime... Tour" (2016–2019) generated over $584 million in gross revenue. This era earned him an estimated $20–30 million directly. Continuous royalties from the band's catalog, particularly *Appetite for Destruction*, inject millions into his income annually. His solo ventures with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators contribute significantly through album sales, touring, and merchandise. Income from Velvet Revolver adds another layer to his financial portfolio. Major endorsement partnerships with Gibson Guitars, Marshall Amplifiers, Dunlop, and Ernie Ball secure millions in deal value. He owns a line of signature guitars and effects pedals while co-founding The Bunker recording studio in Los Angeles. His Hollywood Hills residence, bought for $1.5 million in the early 2000s, has appreciated substantially in value.[edit]

Slash won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2005 as a member of Velvet Revolver for "Slither." He has received multiple Kerrang! Awards, Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards, Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, and Gibson Guitar Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 with Guns N' Roses.[edit]