The four greatest lead singers of all time, according to Slash
British-American guitarist Slash, best known for his work in the now-iconic rock band Guns N’ Roses, is considered by many to be one of the best guitarists in history, boasting accolades and critical success that most could only dream of. There are few things the six-string assassin hasn’t done in the world of rock and roll.
In addition to his exploits with Guns N’ Roses, Slash has famously engaged in work outside the band and released five solo studio albums to date. His career has not only been a storied one, littered with some of the most outrageous tales of rock and roll debauchery ever, but he has also worked alongside some of the greats too.
He’s a man with the adequate credentials to pass judgment on the great and good of music, and not to forget he’s worked closely with a large number of them. While Axl Rose is an obvious choice in terms of the astonishing singers that Slash has worked with – despite the controversies that follow his private life – he just kicks off the list of Slash’s favourite singers of all time.
Picking a list of favourites when thinking about the art of rock and roll is always a difficult notion to wrap one’s head around. Music is subjective at the best of times, but the attitude, swagger and undeniable chutzpah one needs to be a lead singer of a band means that not everything comes down to sheer vocal range of singing talent alone. Within the confines of Slash’s list, these ideals are explored to the hilt.
Slash’s four favourite lead singers:
Alx Rose
Working with a person for as long as Slash and Axl Rose have been together obviously warrants some appreciation and respect, and that’s clear in the way in which Slash has spoken about his bandmates throughout their careers.
Slash once said of Axl: “I’d worked with different singers on and off for a while, and then when I met Axl, and we started jamming together, he was the only singer that ever brought an emotional content to it that affected me on an emotional level, on an energy level.”
He continued: “A song all of a sudden went to a whole new level, and I felt it. And that’s when I realised where music and vocals really meet. Because prior to that, everybody that I’d worked with sucked and I had no use for it, and I would just rather play instrumentally. But that’s when I first really arrived at that poignant feeling that you get when things connect on a lyrical and the vocal level and the music level.”
Transforming a person’s entire view of music and how it interacts with vocals? That’s some of the highest praise possible. Slash has worked with some of the best, but it’s hard to think of much better than his longest-serving musical partner, Axl Rose.
Michael Jackson
Does Michael Jackson even need an introduction? He’s the king of modern pop music but there are some questions to be raised considering his inclusion on this list. He may well just about sneak in under the definition of “lead singer” for his role in the Jackson 5, but it still feels strange to see him with Axl Rose for company, considering his genre-leanings. But, when Slash worked with Jackson, the singer showed himself to be an icon in the guitarist’s eyes.
Slash said himself: “Initially, it was a phone call from my manager where he said, ‘Michael is trying to get in touch with you.’ I was like, ‘Wow.’ So I called him back, and he wanted me to play on ‘Dangerous.’ We made a date. I went down to the Record Plant in Hollywood and he was there with Brooke Shields. That was very surreal. These were two people that I’d sort of grown up with, in a way.”
He said of working with the singer, “So we hung out for two minutes, and they went off to dinner and left me with this song. I did my thing; he really dug it, and afterwards, he kept asking me if I’d be into doing this or doing that. I’d do some shows here and there, and it was fun because he was such a pro. He was such a fucking talent from on high. That was the main thing: he was so amazingly musically fluid. Such a treat to be around.”
Mick Jagger
Lead vocalist and founding member of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, is considered to be one of the most influential rock stars of history. Additionally, he seemed to have quite the impact on Slash, considering that he listened to The Rolling Stones a lot growing up. Slash was a convert to rock and roll from an early age thanks to his mother, Ola Hudson, having designed a lot of costuming for some of the groups coming up.
In 2016, he recounted: “From day one, it was all about the Stones, The Yardbirds, Cream and the Kinks.” Although he mentioned other bands too, The Rolling Stones made their way in there. Over the years, Slash has regularly shared his appreciation for the group and Jagger specifically.
The pair have also been photographed together on numerous occasions and even worked together briefly.
James Brown
James Brown is the classic to end all classics, so it would only make sense that he would end up on anybody’s list. The funk music icon passed away in 2006, but not before posing for a photo alongside Slash with a few other notable stars.
Slash has even expressed his affection and admiration by posting a video to Instagram of James Brown’s ‘I Feel Good’ with a bit of the history behind it. This pick clearly shows that Slash has incredible talent and a vast and intriguing taste that spans generations.
