Slash’s 10 best songs outside Guns N’ Roses

Posted On May 27, 2024May 27, 2024

When people think of Slash, they think of Guns N’ Roses, and rightly so. The work he did for that band has landed him in conversations of ‘Who is the best guitarist?’ for decades now. As with the group, he has shown his versatility as a songwriter, delivering hard rock numbers, ballads, and slow jams throughout their discography.

While people’s admiration for him as the Guns N’ Roses guitarist is well-placed, it also shouldn’t define him as a musician. His work for the rebellious band is only a small reflection of what he has written during his career, and his time away from the band spurred further musical outfits and an extensive solo career, where some of his best work has been created.

Whether it was during his time writing with Velvet Revolver, working as a solo artist, or during his partnership with Myles Kennedy, good songs have followed Slash like the shadow of a top hat. With his most recent album coming out on May 17th, it doesn’t look like the guitarist intends to slow down. The fact that some of his work outside of Guns N’ Roses isn’t held in higher regard is genuinely criminal, and it’s about time it was recognised more.

Here, we will talk about Slash’s best work outside of the band that propelled him to fame. Yes, Guns N’ Roses might have put him in the spotlight, but his relentlessness and creativity as a songwriter has kept him there.

Slash’s best songs that aren’t Guns N’ Roses:

‘Neither Can I’

Shortly before officially leaving Guns N’ Roses, Slash formed a mini rock supergroup under the name Slash’s Snakepit. The band was made up of Matt Sorum, the drummer for Guns N’ Roses, Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez, and Jellyfish guitarist Eric Dover. Their album, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, is filled with hard rock and twisted blues, but the standout track is the opener, ‘Neither Can I’.

It starts off as if the song was written for the opening scene of a Midwestern horror but soon erupts into an exciting, riff-laden banger with a sporadic vocal rhythm and face-melting guitar solos. Every musician is given room to flex on the tune, and the product comes out as something easy to latch onto rather than a chaotic blend of instrumentalists trying to one-up each other.

‘Beautiful Dangerous’

When Slash announced he was releasing a solo album with several guest singers in 2010, many of the team-ups made perfect sense and got fans excited. Names like Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, and Iggy Pop all had rock lovers itching for the solo release; however, some names on the setlist prompted confusion, one of which was Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie.

It turns out the two are a match made in heaven, as Fergie has one of the perfect voices for rock’ n roll, with her feature on the track ‘Beautiful Dangerous’ proving it. Slash recalled the first time he heard Fergie sing, saying, “Fergie did a medley of ‘Live and Let Die’, ‘Black Dog’, and ‘Barracuda’, and she just sang, and it blew my mind… She’s got this killer rock n roll voice, and that stuck in my mind.”

‘Back from Cali’

Slash and Myles Kennedy have toured for years together and released albums as a duo on multiple occasions now, but it all started with his work on the guitarist’s self-titled solo album. He performs twice on the record, once on the song ‘Starlight’ and again on ‘Back From Cali’. Both tracks sound exceptional, but the latter is one of the most rock-n-roll pieces on the record.

With a catchy chorus, simple yet effective opening riff, and distortion so layered that it almost drowns the listener, it’s impossible to hear this track and not get your head nodding. The production led to one of the greatest partnerships in modern rock n roll, too, so hearing the track feels like a real sliding doors moment.

‘One Last Thrill’

On Slash’s second solo album, Apocalyptic Love, which he did with Myles Kennedy, many of the leading tracks were enough to prick the listener’s ears; however, ‘One Last Thrill’ really stood out. The song is completely unrelenting, as Kennedy never seems to stop for breath while singing, and Slash’s guitar playing is on top form.

The track set the pace for the whole album, which departed from the mixed bag we got on Slash’s first solo outing and was much keener to fully embrace the hard rock sound the Guns N’ Roses guitarist was most familiar with.

‘Anastasia’

On the same album, we see Slash at his most unhinged as he delivers some of the most persistent and shredding guitars he has ever played. This is a pinch-me moment akin to ‘Sweet Child O Mine’, as the opening guitar lick is so catchy and such a display of musical talent that it’s hard not to be won over within the first few seconds of the track.

The track remains a favourite amongst Slash fans as people at the solo gigs wait for that opening riff so they can sing along to what has become a cult classic. The sweetly sung chorus and elongated solo only add to the listening experience.

‘Saint is a Sinner Too’

If you ever need proof that Slash is a versatile guitarist, look no further than his first solo album. Given the eclectic mix of vocalists on that LP, we are also treated to an eclectic range of songs, nihilistic and heart-felt, slow and fast. The biggest anomaly in the track list is ‘Saint is a Sinner Too’.

With an emotive vocal performance by Rocco DeLuca, this song uses parts of classical guitar playing and a string section to build a monumental atmosphere incredibly far removed from anything Slash has done in the past. He shows his range with this number, and it’s excellent to hear.

‘Bent To Fly’

Another track done with Myles Kennedy from the 2014 album World On Fire, ‘Bent To Fly’ is one of the biggest ballads present throughout Slash’s solo career. He and Kennedy show why they are such a great duo, as the singer manages to hold his own even with the big sound Slash makes on ‘Bent to Fly’.

The solo is one of the most powerful Slash has ever done. His guitar doubles as an extra voice, creating sweet sounds that demand hands in the air and tears in your eyes. It’s hard to get a much better song than this.

‘World On Fire’

The final song on this list features Slash and Myles Kennedy. The truth is, there are many tracks that the two have worked together on that could have made their way here, but once you listen to this number and experience it live, it’s hard to think of anything else that deserves to be in its place.

‘World On Fire’ is the titular track from the 2014 solo album, and it is rocket fuel in the form of rock. This song doesn’t give you a moment to breathe as you embark on a roller coaster ride of noise that would spiral out of control were it not for the fact it’s in the capable hands of Slash.

‘Fall To Pieces’

Between taking time away from Guns N Roses and embarking on his solo career, Slash joined the band Velvet Revolver and helped them climb the ranks in the world of rock by giving them a good mixture of songs. Some were slower and sincere; some were upbeat and easy to mosh to. ‘Fall To Pieces’ is the former.

Starting with a running plucking sequence in the key of D, this track takes the basic formula of those runs and repurposes them consistently throughout this track. Whether it is providing a sweet-sounding backdrop to sing over or a hard-hitting guitar solo, Slash has it covered.

‘Slither’

Finally, what is most likely the biggest track on this list, Slash delivers the inescapable sound that initially made him famous. ‘Slither’ could rival many Guns N’ Roses tracks, represented by the fact that during their reunion tours, the band managed to squeeze it into the setlist even though it was never written for Guns N Roses.

The riff that accompanies this song’s chorus personifies Slash’s style better than anything on this list. It is hard and heavy, difficult to play but made to sound easy and reserved for, well and truly, one of the greatest of all time.

Related Topics