SLASH was born in Hampstead (London), England on July 23, 1965, and he was raised in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England. His given name is Saul Hudson. His mother was a Black American, and his father is a white Englishman. Both artistic parents worked in the entertainment field. His mother was a clothing designer for entertainers. She designed some of David Bowie's unforgettable costumes. His father provides art direction for record albums. Two notable clients are Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. On Friday, June 5, 2009, SLASH's mother Ola Hudson died of lung cancer in Los Angeles.
At age 11 SLASH moved to Los Angeles with his mother while his father remained based in England. Born in the UK, SLASH was an immigrant in the United States and was to remain one for many years. The family eventually lived together again in L.A. where SLASH had a rough transition to conservative Southern California. The long hair, jeans and t-shirts that he wore even then didn't exactly fit with the other kids. An outsider at school, he lived a bohemian life at home. Surrounded by artistic friends of his parents, SLASH grew accustomed to the moods and eccentricities of those in the music world. Frequent visitors at the Hudson household included Joni Mitchell, David Geffen, David Bowie, Ron Wood and Iggy Pop. SLASH has said that these surroundings prepared him for coping with the stress of the music industry, the conflict between artistry and business.
In the mid-1970's, his parents separated. SLASH moved in
with his beloved grandmother until he could sort out
the situation at home. About this time SLASH discovered
BMX (bicycle motorcrossing), joined up with a group of
kids, and rode with a passion. It's not surprising to
hear that SLASH would ride without brakes! SLASH eventually
became a professional BMX biker winning awards and money for
his great riding.
Soon the bike was put aside. SLASH devoted at least 12 hours a day to playing guitar. His schoolwork suffered when he skipped classes and sat in the bleachers all day playing guitar. School may have suffered, but his social life got better! The other kids now thought SLASH was cool, and he was no longer a social outcast. SLASH joined band after band jamming with other young musicians. Eventually, SLASH gave up on school and dropped out in eleventh grade. Another education was waiting for him in the L.A. band scene. SLASH met Steven Adler, formed the band Road Crew, and was looking for a good singer. Then he met Izzy Stradlin who played him a tape of W. Axl Rose singing. SLASH went to see Axl perform and immediately wanted to steal him from Izzy, but the two Indiana natives were fast friends. SLASH found his bass player in Duff McKagan when Duff answered an ad SLASH had placed in the paper. All the players changed combinations, but the result was Guns N'Roses! With a lot of talent and a lot of drive, the band became an international success story.
After the Illusions tours, Guns N'Roses went on a well-deserved hiatus, and SLASH became a U.S citizen. He decided that immigration hassles, lost green cards, etc. were just too timeconsuming for his lifestyle. So SLASH became a citizen of the United States. Welcome, SLASH! About this time, SLASH became restless and decided to form a new band as a side project to his GNR work which seemed to be taking forever to get started. Matt Sorum, Gilby Clarke, Mike Inez, Eric Dover, and SLASH formed SLASH's Snakepit and recorded the album IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE. Never content to stay home and smell the roses, SLASH went on the road with his touring band: Gilby Clarke, Brian Tichy, James Lomenso, Eric Dover. Playing to small venues, SLASH was able to get back to playing in clubs and being toe-to-toe with the audience. IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE went platinum worldwide, and SLASH promised that Snakepit would be back again.
SLASH's life once seemed a symbol of rock and roll
decadence, but things have calmed down with him in
some ways. Once a heroin addict, SLASH has been off
drugs for several years. His astounding
drinking habits are sometimes in evidence, and he still
smokes his Marlboros and Galitanos. A major change occurred when SLASH
fell in love with Renee Suran. They were married October 10, 1992 in Marina Del Ray, California. Renee
stayed out of the rock spotlight but was described as beautiful,
sweet, and very much in love with SLASH. She pursued
her own career as model and actress. Renee and SLASH both
appeared in Howard Stern's movie "Private Parts". The
two separated and divorced in the fall of 1997. They remain
friends. After his divorce, SLASH was in Las Vegas when he ran into a young woman he had known
for many years. Her name was Perla Ferrer, and the couple soon began
dating seriously. Perla and SLASH eventually started living together,
and fans started seeing Perla on the SLASH's Snakepit tours and his
appearances in clubs or on TV. It became clear that Perla was someone
very special to SLASH, and in 2000, the two became engaged to be married.
Perla's beautiful, sparkling diamond ring was designed by SLASH himself.
On October 15, Saul Hudson married Perla Ferrar in Maui in a solemn
relgious service there. The bride wore a strapless, pleated white wedding
gown and carried a beautiful floral bouquet that matched those in her long
brown hair. SLASH wore new black leather pants, a white shirt, his faithful
black leather jacket and a floral lei matching Perla's flowers. All their
fans and friends and families wish Mr. and Mrs. Hudson a wonderful married
life. The Hudsons returned to Los Angeles where they will buy a new home.
In February 2002, SLASH and Perla announced that they are expecting their
first child in September! On August 28, 2002 little London Hudson made his
appearance! Despite some problems Perla had with the pregnancy, London
was in excellent condition. He is a beautiful baby and the center of the
family. SLASH just loves him so much, and he always has a sweet story about
his son. As London approaches his second birthday in the summer of 2004, the
Hudson's were also looking forward to the birth of their second child at the end
of April. Cash Anthony Hudson was born on April 22, a healthy baby boy.
SLASH's lifestyle has changed over the years. From being a wild rocker, SLASH has
settled into a role of husband and father.
Some things about SLASH don't change - his love for his music, his wife, his fans and
his friends as well as the California climate and the Los Angeles
setting.
If you are in the Sunset Boulevard area, you
might run into SLASH hanging out with Perla and his friends or jamming with a band
on the Strip. He looks healthy and happy and a little more settled, but you can still see a little of
that devilish rocker in his eyes!
About his small tv and movie parts, SLASH says
that he is not looking to become an actor. He loves
music and plays with a lot of artists. He seems not to have changed from the
young musician who formed band after band, always
looking for another chance to play. It was a family
friend who nicknamed Saul Hudson "SLASH". He said
SLASH was always in a hurry, zipping around from one
thing to another. He named SLASH well!