Post by 3arman on Mar 17, 2011 9:06:49 GMT -5
So I just got done reading Slash's autobiography which is aptly titled...It seems excessive but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. I really wasn't thinking about the GNR/Shannon connection when I got the book, but when I was about a third of the way through I realized that Slash was pretty detailed about everyone he ever crossed paths with so I started to think that there would be a nice piece talking about Shannon. I wanted to start speed reading or searching, but I decided to stay the course because I really liked the book. Finally on page 317/318 he finally mentions Shannon which is just a small blurb and kind of a let down considering he probably dedicated 2 pages to some janitor at McDonald's earlier in the book. Anyway, this is what it says: while recording the Illusion albums we had a very bohemian, 1960's kind of scene going on around the studio; the combination of our friends---musicians and otherwise---plus all the other people we knew made for a very cool backdrop. Any given night I might be laying down guitars in one studio while Axl was doing vocals in the other while a cast of interesting characters hung around participating in one way or another. SHANNON HOON from Blind Melon came by often because he was an old friend of Axl from Indiana; he sang backup on "Don't Cry", which made that song all the more soulful....
A nice compliment but I was expecting more.
I was going to put this in the Shannon section, but I wanted to talk about the book some more and I wasn't sure if anyone had posted about this tidbit before since the book is 4 years old.
Anyway, I really like Slash and I think he is the last great guitar player in the last 25 years and may be the last of a dieing breed. After reading this book I have a whole new respect for him. First of all, he as always been Slash in the sense that none of his personality has been made up which is the opposite of most everything that was going on in L.A. during the 80's. I had no idea that he was actually raised in Hollywood from an early age. If you look at pics of him from when he was a kid, you'll see that he always had that big mop of hair. What impressed me the most though was the fact that not once did he ever say one bad word about Axl. No name calling and no slander. Throughout the entire book he does nothing but compliment Axl's talent. Even when he didn't agree with direction the band was taking during the recording of Illusions, he does nothing but praise Axl for his God given talent. When it gets to part of the breakup of the band, he still doesn't attack Axl, but simply gives his sided of the story. His opinion kind of confirms what I always thought/read/heard...that Axl's ego became bigger then the band and I have hated Axl for the last 15/20 years for just that. But after reading this book, I have a whole new appreciation for his talent. It's a long book, but it isn't boring that for sure.
A nice compliment but I was expecting more.
I was going to put this in the Shannon section, but I wanted to talk about the book some more and I wasn't sure if anyone had posted about this tidbit before since the book is 4 years old.
Anyway, I really like Slash and I think he is the last great guitar player in the last 25 years and may be the last of a dieing breed. After reading this book I have a whole new respect for him. First of all, he as always been Slash in the sense that none of his personality has been made up which is the opposite of most everything that was going on in L.A. during the 80's. I had no idea that he was actually raised in Hollywood from an early age. If you look at pics of him from when he was a kid, you'll see that he always had that big mop of hair. What impressed me the most though was the fact that not once did he ever say one bad word about Axl. No name calling and no slander. Throughout the entire book he does nothing but compliment Axl's talent. Even when he didn't agree with direction the band was taking during the recording of Illusions, he does nothing but praise Axl for his God given talent. When it gets to part of the breakup of the band, he still doesn't attack Axl, but simply gives his sided of the story. His opinion kind of confirms what I always thought/read/heard...that Axl's ego became bigger then the band and I have hated Axl for the last 15/20 years for just that. But after reading this book, I have a whole new appreciation for his talent. It's a long book, but it isn't boring that for sure.