I never expected this book to be a Giller Award type piece of non-fiction. Stated plainly, the writing was simple and repetitive. However, what this book lacks in style and quality of prose, it makes up for with its intensity and brutally honest portrayal of the life of a rock n'roll guitar god. Slash (and co-writer Anthony Bozza) describe the stereotypical life of a famous guitarist for an all-world rock n'roll band; in this case Guns N' Roses, a definite favorite band of mine growing up and still today. Slash openly, and often, admits to abusing drugs and alcohol and accurately, or so i can only imagine, describes the highs and lows of a junkie. He takes us through the pain of losing friends to heroin overdoses, but then pitifully explains his inability to stop using it himself. He doesn't try to glorify the abuse, but rather just takes us through the many misteps of his life and what it did to make him who he is today. Quite frankly, I am surprised the man is still alive. Add to that the many "ladies" with whom he shared a bed, and the STD's that came with them, I can't imagine why he hasn't given the whole "famous guitar player" gig up yet. However, and here's the catch, Slash is also able to convey his love of music and his desire to play his Les Paul on his deathbed. I still don't know if there is anything worth the tremendous lows the marijuana, heroin, coke, OxyContin and voluminous amount of alcohol must have brought to him, yet, there he stands, claiming to be clean and sober since 2007, a better man. Incredible.

As a fan of reading, and, Guns N' Roses, I figured what better way to spend my time than to read a book about Guns N' Roses! When I began to get more in to their music, I especially enjoyed Slash's exceptional guitar solos which made me interested in reading about his more than chaotic life. I had a feeling this book would be entertaining, and entertaining it was. As a 19 year old who appreciates old classic rock, I really got the opportunity to imagine in depth what the life of a rock star, back in their time, was really like. There are almost shocking facts that you may never have guessed without reading his novel. It’s especially interesting to learn what or who their lyrics are about, or who the people in their videos are. You get to go inside the daily lives of the band that make you truly understand the popular phrase, “sex, drugs, and rock and roll”. This novel takes you through the ups and downs of the wild lives of these young and talented musicians to make it to the top. If what you’re looking for is an entertaining page turner that you will not want to put down, this novel is absolutely for you!

Essentially about excessive alcohol and drug addiction. A good read, but a little boring in the later chapters if you aren't a die-hard Guns N' Roses fanatic. Those wanting to know about rock star debauchery will not be disappointed.

Slash wrote this book to explain some things to his fans. He is very honest about whats in this book. He takes you through his life and tells you everything you have ever wanted to know. His life truly did revolve around Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll. I am sure everyone can relate to something you will read in this book, I can relate to a lot of it. It shows you how much he has really changed, how much he has overcome. He still has his place on top after everything he has been through and personally, I admire that. I think everyone should read this book. Being a rockstar isnt all its cracked up to be according to Slash himself.

I picked up this book and read the first few lines, and couldn't put it down. It's amazing to read about the way GN'R got their start - from humble beginnings to international stardom. A few things stood out for me: Slash's comments at the start of the book about his health now, after all those years of drug use, and the first time he heard Axl Rose sing. I'm almost finished it, but so far it's one of the best biographies I have read to date.

"The guitar is my conscience...whenever I've lost my way, it's brought me back to center; whenever I forget, it reminds me why I'm here." - I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a peek into a life that has been lived extremely differently from mine. - I'm not going to go into detail about Slash's life, if you're a fan you probably know far more than me, and if you don't know much about him, you'd enjoy it a lot more if you read the book. It's very readable and in language that you'd expect to hear if it were Slash himself sitting across the table from you. He does skip around a bit, but that is a matter of keeping to a story line rather than maintaining a strict time line. He mentions a lot of musicians that he's worked with, but as a matter of record and not in the least name dropping. His acknowledging his drug use and drinking is again fact and not boastful or moralizing. I found myself agreeing with him when he said that he couldn't be forced to make rehab work, it had to be his idea and timing. I was glad for him when he did get clean and realized that he could be just as creative and successful without all drugs. - "Drugs stood between where we'd been and where we had to go;" - Before reading this book, if you had asked me who Slash was, I would have said a musician. I wouldn't have been able to name any of the songs from his albums. Yet when he started talking about specific songs, particularly 'Paradise City' the tune and words popped into my head. My kids were quite surprised that someone my age would recognize any of this music. They forget that Guns n Roses was getting big while I was finishing University and their music was everywhere. - I heartily recommend reading this book. It would make a fantastic gift along with an early Guns n Roses album (such as Appetite for Destruction or Use Your Illusion I or II), a Slash's Snakepit album(such as It's Five O'Clock Somewhere) and finally a Velvet Revolver album (such as Liberatad).

I loved this book! Slash's retelling of his life's story include all of what you'd expect - lots of drugs, girls and all around debauchery. The amount of drugs that Slash has taken over the course of his life and the length of time that his addiction has lasted was even more shocking than I had imagined. Having pictures all throughout the book instead of just the standard insert (which is also included) was a good idea. Be prepared to have nothing but GNR songs in your head throughout the whole time you read this book!

This man got more done by the time he was 15, then I've ever done my entire life; nuff said. This book gave me a lot of insite into Gun n' Roses as well. If you're at all a fan, I'd recommend this book it's seriously worth it.

I would highly recommend this book to any fan of Slash or Guns N' Roses back in the day. This is a first hand account of the making of one of the biggest bands ever and how it almost fell apart many times, and how it eventually did fall apart. It also deals with Slash's heroin and drinking addictions, and how he eventually became sober (I know, I almost fell off my chair when I read "Mr. Jack Daniels" was sober!!!!). It is filled with little tidbit facts about his career and most importantly...the style is not flashy or tabloid-ish, despite some of the subject matter

This book was amazing. I have waited many years for Slash to write this book. It was well worth waiting the 20 years for! This will be one of a few books that will be reread by me. And I hope nobody wants to borrow it because it is a non lender!