The guitar duo that personifies rock, according to Slash

When the Armas e Rosas emerged, in the second half of the 1980s, one of its great merits was the rescue of some sound influences that were forgotten in the rock of that period. While several bands were looking for a more “modern” sound at the time, using keyboards and synthesizers, the group created in Los Angeles resorted to more visceral sounds.

Perhaps the greatest inspiration of GN’R in its early years, whether musically or aesthetically, it was Aerosmith. A giant in the 1970s, the Boston group curiously experienced a low moment in the mid-1980s — and only really got back to success after the album Permanent Vacation (1987), when they decided to redesign their sound.

Meanwhile, the guns followed in some of the footsteps of early Aerosmith and enjoyed immense success with their debut album, Appetite for Destruction (also 1987). Such references became less present in the following works, as other inspirations were added, but the Boston quintet never ceased to be a mirror for the members of the group. GN’R.

let me say slash. The Guns member has paid tribute to his idols on several occasions. One of them occurred in an interview with Esquire (via Igor Miranda website), in 2014, when he was invited to choose the best guitarists of all time in his humble opinion.

The original idea was that he would select 10 names. However, it ended up becoming a “top 12” because, in two situations, he had to resort to doubles. One of them occurred when he quoted Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, both of aerosmithas the embodiment of rock guitar.

“These two guys have always personified rock guitar for me. They have the kind of phrasing, attitude and aggression that appealed to me when I was starting out.”

Then the man in the top hat mentioned rocks (1976), the Boston band’s fourth studio album, as their favorite. The disc presents classics from the size of “Back in the Saddle” and “Last Child”, in addition to having a general sonority that is cited as inspiration for names ranging from James Hetfield (Metallica) to Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe).

“The Rocks album was the catalyst for the direction I took as a musician. That sassy, ​​mean, loud, noisy, frantic kind of sound. They were my biggest influence and still are.”

Slash, Aerosmith and Rocks

As already highlighted, slash highlighted his passion for aerosmith on several occasions. And it is not something left behind. In 2022, when talking to American radio WMSC (via Blabbermouth), the musician again said how much he appreciates the album rocks.

“There’s an Aerosmith song called ‘Nobody’s Fault’ from the Rocks record… It was one of the songs that, when I first picked up the guitar, it was that record, that particular album. The moment I heard that album had a lot to do with where I am now. And that song was probably one of the heaviest hard rock songs at the time – very indicative of the ’70s and very indicative of Aerosmith at that time. It wasn’t heavy Black Sabbath, it wasn’t heavy metal; still, it was a really hardcore hard rock song.”