Gallagher was an inspiration, says Slash

Hard rock icon Slash was inspired by legendary Cork guitarist Rory Gallagher when writing his latest album, he has told the Irish Examiner.

“The song ‘Avalon’ on the new record is very much influenced by him,” said the former Guns N’ Roses guitarist, who revealed he had met Gallagher in Los Angeles in the mid-80s, in the early days of the band.

“By the times Guns started, I was really well versed in Rory Gallagher,” said Slash (real name Saul Hudson). “He wasn’t a big influence the first time I picked up a guitar. I became familiar with him through other players.”

“Not long afterwards he came to Los Angeles and played at the Roxy. That is where we met. I had no idea he would know who I was. In fact, he did. We got up and jammed at the Roxy, went back to his hotel and jammed on an acoustic. I was really shocked to learn he was no longer with us.”

Gallagher passed away unexpectedly in 1995 aged 47 after contracting an infection exacerbated by liver failure.

Slash has a long affinity with Ireland, with Guns N’ Roses’ 1992 Slane Castle concert among the biggest the band ever played. The guitarist left the group in 1996, having fallen out with frontman Axl Rose. However, he continues to record and perform — his sold-out show at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre last year was attended by friend Charlie Sheen.

Speaking exclusively to the Irish Examiner, Slash addressed his history of drug abuse and addiction, which culminated in an eight-minute seizure during which he was declared legally dead.

“Trust me I have absolutely no interest going down that road any more,” he said. “I wore out on it. I burned through the whole thing. The prospect of going back in that direction — I instantly think about the low points, think back to where I was at before I cleaned my act up. It doesn’t interest me… Ultimately I have no interest in finding myself at the bottom of a bottle of Jack [Daniels] with a needle point in my arm.”

Slash’s new album, featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, is titled World On Fire and comes out in September. He plays Dublin’s O2 on November 10.

* Read the full interview in today’s arts section by clicking here.