The theme for Black History Month 2022 is February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Black community and reflect on experiences and accomplishments. So all month we’re highlighting some of the iconic black artists who’ve changed rock n’ roll.

Today we take a look at one of the greatest guitarists in history: Slash.

“Once you’ve lived a little you will find that whatever you send out into the world comes back to you in one way or another. It may be today, tomorrow, or years from now, but it happens; usually when you least expect it, usually in a form that’s pretty different from the original. Those coincidental moments that change your life seem random at the time but I don’t think they are. At least that’s how it’s worked out in my life. And I know I’m not the only one.” – Slash

Saul “Slash” Hudson was born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, on July 23rd, 1965. At fourteen Slash would form a band with childhood friend and future Guns N’ Roses bandmate, Steven Adler, and learnt how to play bass guitar. He would then switch from bass to guitar after hearing his music teacher play “Brown Sugar” by the Rolling Stones. Slash would recall, “When I heard him do that, I said, ‘That’s what I want to do.'”

In 1985, Slash would be asked by Axl Rose to join his new band Guns N’ Roses, along with Duff McKagan and Steven Adler. They would write some of their biggest hits in this time, such as “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City,” and would be signed to Geffen Records in 1986. In 1987, Guns N’ Roses would release its debut album, Appetite for Destruction, and would have its first number 1 hit with “Sweet Child O’ Mine”. As their success grew so did infighting within the band. Opening up for the Rolling Stones in 1989, Axl Rose threatened to leave the band if certain members of the band wouldn’t stop using heroin, Slash being one of them and he promised to clean up.

Slash would go on to play with Guns N’ Roses until 1993 and after a period of inactivity would announce in 1996 that he was no longer a member of the band. Slash would form a series of bands following his Guns N’ Roses success, including Slash’s Snakepit and a blues cover band called Slash’s Blue Balls. In 2003 he would form Velvet Revolver, which received praise and branded a successful comeback. He would release one solo album and four albums with his touring band, “Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators”. Twenty years after Slash had left band, in 2016 it was announced that Guns N’ Roses would be reuniting and has been touring ever since.

Among his many contributions to society is his role as an honorary board member of Little Kids Rock, an organization that works to restore and revitalize music education programs in disadvantaged public schools. His time and instruments have been donated to Little Kids Rock students, who have visited the school and jammed with him. Slash’s passion for music is evident in his charity as well as his art. “Being a musician is good for the characte because it teaches you a lot about discipline,” Slash said. “I think it’s a great creative outlet.”

Several of Slash’s environmental welfare programs have received recognition for his long-standing efforts. Having long supported the Los Angeles Zoo and many zoos around the world, he is a board trustee of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. For many years, Slash’s love of reptiles was part of his public image-with many of his snakes appearing in music videos and photo shoots-until the birth of his first child in 2002 gave him no choice but to let go of the collection.

Slash was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at the age of 35, a condition caused by years of drug and alcohol use. Despite being given just weeks to live, he had a defibrillator implanted and survived despite the odds. He published his autobiography named simply Slash in 2007, after becoming sober since 2006.