The real reason Slash thinks ‘Appetite For Destruction’ is “so great”
Guns N’ Roses were an incredibly exciting band to see break through the creative barrier, as they had an energetic sound behind them. As many saw it, they dismissed the dull hair metal sound that was so popular and adopted an unforgiving hard rock attitude.
This manifested into some of the most aggressive and cutthroat rock music of the 1980s. Slash’s hard rock riffs and Axl Rose’s screeching vocals were the best combination that gave a new shot of venom into the Los Angeles music scene. They gained momentum almost immediately, and they managed to capitalise on that venom with their debut album, Appetite for Destruction.
Even in the modern age, there is something about that record which is impossible to ignore. The whole thing starts on the G-string, fourth fret, before a quick pick of open B and then back to G. This is the strumming pattern that forms the iconic intro to ‘Welcome To The Jungle’, something which still resonates with rock lovers and can be recognised almost instantly by those who adore a six-string and distortion.
The rest of the album doesn’t let up from that point on, as every album is packed to the brim with different riff-reliant rock ruckus. You have an album with ‘Paradise City’, ‘Rocket Queen’ and ‘Out To Get Me’ all on it, each of which has its own unique blend of hard rock.
Guns N’ Roses continued making great music, and when they eventually split, people didn’t know what the different members were going to do. After playing in a couple of bands such as Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver, Slash opted to go on a solo venture, where he teamed up with different artists to make a mix of rock music. This saw him work with his rock contemporaries, pop stars and even some of his old Guns N’ Roses members.
One of the most surprising tracks he made during this solo period was one called ‘Baby Can’t Drive’, an upbeat rock song about a bad driver who likes to live life on the edge. Singing on the track is Alice Cooper, which you would expect, given that he and Slash had worked together multiple times prior. However, accompanying Cooper on the vocals is Nicole Sherzinger, famously a singer from The Pussycat Dolls.
Slash has a talent for bringing the inner rock star out of the unassuming, and this is exactly what he did with Scherzinger. Someone who has always been associated with pop took to the screeching guitar sounds like a pro and managed to deliver a stellar performance akin to some of the rock legends who also played on the album.
A lot of fans of Guns N’ Roses will have heard something else in the song, though. There was a bounce in the drums, something oddly nostalgic despite being present on a track which was brand new. Once they looked at the credits, they better understood what they were hearing. Guns N’ Roses alumnus Steve Adler was back behind the kit.
“I promised Steve Adler if he stayed clean long enough, he could play on the record,” said Slash. “I hadn’t played with Steven in 20 years, and it was great.” Slash also admitted that he was excited to have Adler on the album because he was the reason that Appetite for Destruction sounded so good in the first place. “One of the reasons Appetite for Destruction is so great is the energy that he brings to the table. It was great to get in a room with him and start playing, and just to recognise that sound that he has.”
