Quote Of The Day By Slash: 'I Just Locked Onto This Guitar And ...'

Even if you aren't familiar with Slash's role as the lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses, you'll know him as that handsome, seemingly ageless rock star who wears an iconic top hat. He's one of the most instantly recognizable musicians out there, known for his larger-than-life look as much as his shredding skills. Of course, most folks know Slash as one of the greatest guitar players of all time — the genius behind riffs like "Sweet Child O' Mine" and countless other bangers. As such, he's the perfect person to listen to on how to make it as a musician.

Slash was born in Hampstead, London, on July 23, 1965, and he spent the first few years of his childhood living in Stoke-on-Trent before moving to Los Angeles. He was a bad boy growing up, getting into trouble at school before discovering the allure of rock 'n' roll. He played in several bands prior to finding fame, but forming Guns N' Roses with Axl Rose, Steven Adler, Izzy Stradlin, and Duff McKagan in 1985 took him to the stratosphere.

Still, every musician starts off with the dream of making it someday, and Slash was no different. Once upon a time, he was just a clueless kid with a guitar, which brings us to our quote of the day.

"I just locked onto this guitar and I've been doing it ever since."

Our quote of the day comes from an interview Slash gave to Blues Blast Magazine in 2024. The Guns N' Roses guitarist was promoting his blues rock album "Orgy of the Damned," but it became an all-encompassing conversation about his relationship with the guitar and how he fell in love with the instrument at a young age.

During the conversation, Slash recalled a story from his childhood about talking to a teacher who played Cream licks as they spoke. From that moment on, Slash knew that he wanted to shred, and the rest is history. He gave up on his other dream of becoming a motocross racer and proceeded to embark on a journey that ultimately led to him joining Guns N' Roses — co-creating some of the top rock albums of all time – all because he didn't know what else to do.

Our quote of the day comes from a celebratory conversation about music, but Slash credits picking up a guitar for helping him through his teenage years. Growing up, he felt like an outcast among his peers because he had long hair, whereas the other kids came from more affluent and traditional families. However, things changed for the better when he learned how to play music, and people started treating him differently.

Slash has experienced tragedy throughout his life. He has also been open about his past personal issues, and at one point, the Guns N' Roses guitarist was given six weeks to live. The good news, though, is that Slash overcame those setbacks, and he has since credited music with playing a huge role in getting him back on track.

Slash hasn't looked back since picking up a guitar as a kid, and it's helped him through all of life's highs and lows. In a broader sense, Slash's quote is a testament to finding something healthy to be passionate about, as it can be the key to both success and salvation.

• "I managed to get halfway through high school and then I dropped everything so I could support my guitar. And that's really what I wanted to do, so I don't really have any regrets –- I can count and I can read, so I'm good."

• "I'm so insecure as a guitar player that I have a hard time accepting myself as someone who is influential."

• "When I get into conversations, people usually realize that I have a little more depth than that caricature. It feels good to walk away from conversations with somebody and leaving them knowing that I'm not a rock moron."

• "I don't play the big rock star guy very well. I'm not that guy."

• "You are who you are and you do what you do. Things come and go and change, and I'm too busy living in the moment to watch the ebbs and flows."