The Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF) kicked off Thursday, August with a special tribute to the 2010 SSMF Festival Honoree Slash at the House Of Blues.
Synonymous with The Sunset Strip for his contributions to the history of The Strip as well as the music industry, this master axeman is known for his skillful, soulful hard-rock guitar solos.
SLASH’s career has continued to grow from his early days performing at the Whisky A Go-Go with Guns N’ Roses to his collaborations with Michael Jackson (“Black And White,” “Give In To Me”), Ray Charles,
Stevie Wonder and directors Quentin Tarantino and Darren Aronofsky (core contributions to the “Jackie Brown” soundtrack and the signature sound of the score to “The Wrestler”). SLASH has also lent his
talents to bands Slash’s Snakepit and the Grammy Award-winning Velvet Revolver as well as a self-titled solo album, which features guest spots from artists including Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie, Lemmy,
Wolfmother’s Andrew Stockdale and Adam Levine among others, in stores now.
The host of the tribute with Jim Ladd. Speakers included Nikki Sixx, Lemmy Kilmister, Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains. Sixx talked about knowing Slash before he was in Guns n' Roses then how his band Motley Crue took them on the road with them as support for one of their first
tours. He said that Slash was there when he "died" and how they both are still supporting the same hair style for 25 years.
Kilmister talked about knowing and hanging with Slash on the Sunset Strip.
Cantrell spoke about meeting Slash and giving him a demo tape of his band Alice In Chains before they were signed. He added that he saw Slash throw it away, but once they made it on the scene, they became
friends and mentioned how much he admired him.
Members of the West Hollywood City Council and Mayor John Heilman and members of the West Hollywood City Council presented Slash with the official plaque for "Slash Day" in West Hollywood.
Slash watched from the balcony as a video tape of industry members that included Conan O'Brien, George Lopez and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top congratulated him on his honor.
He then took the stage and listed how his life has been connected to West Hollywood.
“Picking up the guitar for the first time in West Hollywood, then learning how to play in West Hollywood, starting a band in West Hollywood, and making it in West Hollywood. Getting a record deal at
Geffen on Sunset which was the same place my dad used to work at when I was a kid. So I never left here. Everything in my life that is of any importance started in West Hollywood. And the Sunset Strip is
like… such a part of me. So to be honored by the Sunset Strip is just a major, major thing for me.”
He then went on to tell how he would try to sneak into the clubs and The Rainbow Bar and Grill on the Sunset Strip and we be thrown out. So one time he put on his mom's clothes and returned and got right in
with no I.D. Tony Maglieri, son of one of The Rainbow Bar and Grill owners, Mario Maglieri, also spoke in honor of Slash.
Also attending the event were the evening’s musical performers THE HEAD CAT, Sunset Strip Music Festival performers Juke Kartel, ACIDIC, Billy Boy On Poison, The Feisty Pirahnas,and Cherri Bomb, musicians Kenny Aronoff, Slim Jim Phantom and Dan Black, actors Boo Boo Stewart,
Kelvin Brown and more.
Hepcat, a band featuring Lemmy of Motorhead and Slim Jim Phantom provided entertainment after the tribute.
The Sunset Strip Music Festival continues today where Slash will perform live with special guests Myles Kennedy and Fergie.
For more information on the festival, please visit: SSMF
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