Last week, Slash released – his first-ever solo blues cover record, which saw the Guns N’ Roses rocker team up with a string of high-profile artists to tackle a string of blues classics. The release marked the completion of a career goal for the loyalist, whose own playing style and music has been deeply influenced by the blues – and, specifically, one of the genre’s biggest legends, B.B.
King. In Slash’s own words, B.B.
King has had an incalculable impact on his playing. In fact, Slash was first introduced to his music long before he even thought about picking up the . Speaking in the latest issue of , Slash discusses all things B.
B. King, reflecting on the times he was fortunate enough to jam with the late blues great, and revealing the biggest lesson he learned from the Lucille master. “He was the guy, when I was a kid, way, way before I ever thought of picking up a guitar, he was the first traditional blues artist that I was exposed to,” Slash says.
“My grandmother played me B.B. King and it stuck with me.
“I heard a lot of blues artists after that, all around the family and stuff, but B.B. King, the first time I ever heard it, it really stuck with me, and so he ended up being my favourite blues guitar player out of all the greats that I really dig.
” Over his career, Slash has performed alongside King on a handful of occasions. One key encounter took place at the Royal Albert Hall, when the two Gibson players shared the stage with Ronnie Wood, Derek Tr.