Joe Perry recently shared his admiration for Slash in an interview featured on Guitar Player. He addressed the guitarist’s exceptional talent and work ethic.
Perry reflected on his early encounters with Guns N’ Roses and the band’s rise to prominence. He recalled witnessing their transformation from a developing club band to arena headliners during a summer tour where they opened for his band.
“Slash is one of those guys I’d give the keys to my house to,” Perry said. “When I first heard Guns N’ Roses’ music on Appetite for Destruction, I was like, ‘Okay, this is it. This is a great fucking record.’ They paid their dues, and that summer they opened for us, and we saw them going from learning and being a club band to becoming an arena band.”
Perry emphasized the importance of developing a unique identity in rock music. He drew parallels to other iconic acts like Kiss and Alice Cooper.
“They learned how to carve their own space, because you can do things really differently, like Kiss or Alice [Cooper], you know, by bringing performance art, but still rock out,” he continued. “And I hand it to Kiss — they were fucking amazing, and different. But we just wanted to play rock and roll, and that’s what Guns ‘N’ Roses was all about, too.”
Perry described his personal interactions with Slash and Axl Rose during those formative years. He noted their humility and dedication to their craft.
“Slash and Axl Rose would come into our dressing room, and they’d just rocked the shit out of the audience, and they’d talk with us and ask us questions about this, and that. That’s how I got to know Slash. They were still young, and trying to find their place in the hierarchy, and you’re always wondering if you’re ever gonna be as good as the headliner, you know?”
Perry reflected on the uncertainty that many bands face early in their careers. He praised Slash’s unwavering commitment to excellence.
“I mean, jeez, we opened for so many bands, and a lot of them were bands we really liked. We’d always wonder if we were ever going to be able to keep doing it, thinking, How long will it last? But they were finding their way, and they did, and they came out of that by the end of the summer and were ready to blow the top off the world, which they did, and still do.”
“And a lot of that has to do with Slash and his guitar playing, you know? You can tell that with the kind of guy that he is, he never gives it up. You can never accuse him of phoning it in. I can’t say that about all the people that I’ve bumped into.”
Perry concluded by acknowledging the challenges of sustaining a career in music. He expressed his respect for Slash’s longevity and dedication.
“You gotta have respect for someone who can make it in this business as a career, but the music business is a bitch, man. You can have talent dripping out of your fingers, but you can get passed right by. But getting to know Slash over the years, and finding out what he’s all about, even with their ups and downs, and breaking up and all that, it’s been really cool.”
Perry’s recollection of Guns N’ Roses’ meteoric rise is rooted in a pivotal moment in rock history. The connection between Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses during the late 1980s marked a turning point for the younger band’s career trajectory.
Slash’s Timeline documents that Appetite for Destruction was released on July 21, 1987. The album’s breakthrough came gradually, with real acceleration occurring when Guns N’ Roses opened for established acts like Aerosmith. During this period, the band evolved from a club-level act into a force capable of commanding arena audiences—a transformation Perry witnessed firsthand.
The significance of this opening slot cannot be overstated. Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Appetite for Destruction reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 more than a year after its initial release. This delayed but powerful chart success reflected the organic growth Guns N’ Roses experienced through relentless touring and live performances, particularly during their time as an opening act for veteran bands.
Perry’s respect for Slash extends beyond their initial encounters in the late 1980s. Rock and Roll Garage noted that Joe Perry has named Guns N’ Roses as one of Aerosmith’s best opening acts. This recognition testifies to the impression the band made during those formative years. The mutual respect between the two bands would later manifest in collaborative performances, including a notable 1992 concert in Paris where Steven Tyler and Joe Perry performed alongside Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan.
The enduring relationship between Perry and Slash demonstrates how the music industry’s hierarchies can evolve into genuine friendships and professional respect. What began as a mentorship dynamic—with Aerosmith as the established headliners and Guns N’ Roses as hungry newcomers—blossomed into a lasting connection between two of rock’s most influential guitarists. Perry’s willingness to give Slash the keys to his house reflects not just admiration for his guitar prowess, but recognition of a fellow artist who has maintained his integrity and passion throughout a demanding career in the music business.
