Generally, Slash and former Guns N' Roses bandmate Axl Rose don't have too many kind words to offer up about one another. The guitarist, though, broke that trend recently and told Loudmire what he admires most about the legendary frontman.
"Aside from the fact that he's obviously one of the greatest singer, frontman guys to come along ever - a brilliant lyricist - but he's a very, super, super intelligent, very astute individual," Slash, who left the band 18 years ago, said about Rose. "That's one of the things I've always admired about him. And one of the most honest, straightforward people I've ever met."
Don't expect Rose to return the words anytime soon. The frontman told Adelaide Now last year that his former bandmates, including Slash and then manager Alan Niven, forced him to tour during the tail-end of their expansive Use Your Illusion jaunt. "'The Illusions' lineups comments that I've read in the media or in Slash's books were, in my opinion, predominantly public gamesmanship, strategy and politics on their part," he said. "Pretending to be unaware or innocent to the public has been a common deceptive tactic often used in regard to what was happening with the band and our relationship with each other."
"As I've said before, I shouldn't have been on tour when we started in 1991," he added. "That had a lot to do with Alan Niven, our then manager, and Slash. In my opinion Alan wanted money and Slash wanted the touring to get the better of me given my circumstances at the time. My safety and well-being were not their concern."
Rose did not join the band for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, and he wrote a letter to explain that he didn't even want to be inducted. "I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf," the letter read. "Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of 'Guns N' Roses.'"
