Robert Wolin: The man Slash called “one of the most amazing players I’ve ever met”
Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash has long been hailed as one of the finest hard rock players. Stylistically operating at a nexus between punk, metal and classic rock, his distinctive sound was critical to his band’s rise in the late 1980s, giving them that necessary star power that all great acts have.
With an oeuvre ranging from the sleaze of ‘It’s So Easy’ to hits such as ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ and ‘Purple Rain’, Slash has covered many bases with the Californian band and across their 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction, the gravity of his talent was made clear. It’s remarkable that this first offering still stands as his finest work.
In his time, Slash has named various bands and players as influences on his craft. Whether it be Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, or The Rolling Stones, a host of legends were instrumental in the tophat-donning axeman establishing his dynamic approach. Of the late Beck, he once said: “Jeff Beck is the most amazing guitar player out of anybody that I can think of. He is the only guy that blows me away.”
Yet, it wasn’t just rock’s most vital acts that inspired Slash. As with every guitarist of note, one of his guitar teachers, Robert Wolin, a man whom he credits with showing him the way to becoming a guitarist, also had a defining effect on him. Notably, in 1988, Slash revealed that the first time he met Wolin while he was playing Eric Clapton licks made him immediately drop the bass and pick up the guitar.
Later, when speaking to Guitar Player in 1991, Slash outlined what made Wolin so good and maintained that he was still “one of the most amazing players I’ve ever met”. The teacher’s flawless playing of classic rock, such as Led Zeppelin and Cream, made the young Slash so astounded by him.
Slash recalled: “One teacher, Robert Wolin—a great guy who had a lot to do with me getting into gui-tar-pointed me in the right direction. As all music teachers are supposed to do, he started me reading music and playing ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb.’ It was so boring! But Robert played the shit out of the guitar —he’s still one of the most amazing players I’ve ever met. I’d bring in records, and he’d play ‘Stairway To Heaven’ note for note. He had a great cover band that played Cream and Zeppelin.”
Continuing: “It really pissed me off, ’cause I’d sit there with this bullshit Mel Bay. Finally, I quit and spent a lot of time teaching myself. I worked full-time to support my guitar habit and stayed up until God-knows-when practicing and learning. My main thing was Jeff Beck at that time. I remember learning ‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers’ [Blow By Blow] note for note, getting every subtlety. There was Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, and Zeppelin. I sold my soul to the guitar. If I quit playing now, I’d have no future [smiles].”
Watch Slash shredding below.
