SLASH: 'I Have A Hard Time Accepting Myself As Someone Who Is Influential' As A Guitar Player

Epiphone.com recently conducted an interview with legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Epiphone.com: Tell me about your early influences. Were there specific players that inspired you to pick up a guitar?

Slash: Some guitar players that have inspired me are John Lee, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, the boys from AEROSMITH, Eric Clapton from CREAM, Rick Nielsen from CHEAP TRICK and Ted Nugent.

Epiphone.com: Are there any newer players that inspire you today?

Slash: The guitar players that inspire me today are basically all the same guitar players that inspired me when I first started. That hasn't really changed, but additionally I think that Tom Morello, Jack White and Jerry Cantrell are great and are some of the really inspiring lead guitar players that have come out in the last 20 years.

Epiphone.com: Throughout your entire career you have been associated with the Les Paul. Was there ever a time when you played anything else?

Slash: My first guitar was a Les Paul copy so I was drawn to the Les Paul from the very beginning. I did go through a period of trial and error with a lot of different guitars but I would always gravitate back to the Les Paul. It's almost like the Les Paul picked me. It has a lot to do with the weight of the guitar, the look of the guitar, and obviously, most importantly the sound of the guitar.

Epiphone.com: I know both of your boys are still fairly young... but have either of them shown an interest in playing guitar yet?

Slash: Not really, outside of playing with their little electric guitars and running around the house with those... but as far as musically showing interest in the guitar, no. One of them likes the piano though.

Epiphone.com: If music had not chosen you... what do you think you would be doing with your life today?

Slash: If I wasn't playing guitar, I'd most definitely be doing something in illustration.

Epiphone.com: When I was growing up there were several guitar icons that I related to who inspired me as a player. Then the '90s hit and not so much. You have been one constant and one of a few guys that still make guitar cool. I know players... some in their 50s and others in their early 20s whose eyes light up when your name comes up. How does it make you feel to be an inspiration to such a wide range of players?

Slash: When you say something like that, it's hugely flattering and people come up and remind me of that from time to time... that I have an influence on younger players... but I'm so insecure as a guitar player that I have a hard time accepting myself as someone who is influential. I'm still trying really hard to get my own shit together and get better at what I do so it's really hard for me to say I have an impact on other guitar players because I'm trying so hard to reach my own standards as a player.

Read the entire interview from Epiphone.com.