Last Saturday night, the iconic Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood saw a nostalgic and electrifying reunion as former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe welcomed a surprise guest to the stage: legendary guitarist Slash.
Monroe introduced the crowd to “Mr. Slash” before launching into a blistering performance of Steppenwolf’s Magic Carpet Ride. Slash, armed with his signature Gibson Les Paul Standard, thrilled classic rock fans with a series of powerful and expressive guitar solos.
Before the next song, Monroe recalled a memorable moment from decades past: “Last time we were here, in ’89, we played with Slash on this stage. I don’t remember what we did… maybe the same song.” That next number was Monroe’s own rock anthem, Dead, Jail or Rock ’N’ Roll.
While 1989 marked their first time sharing the Whisky stage, the two musicians collaborated more recently on Monroe’s 2022 single I Live Too Fast to Die Young, from the album of the same name. At the time, Monroe praised Slash’s contribution: “Slash is one of the nicest guys that I know and one of rock’s greatest guitarists, as he’s maintained the spontaneity, the human touch, and the heartfelt kick-ass attitude in his playing. I figured this would be a good one for him to play a solo on. He said he loved the song and that it’s super-catchy.”
Slash, known for his collaborative spirit, has made guest appearances on at least 10 tracks in the past two years alone. One of the most talked-about was his surprise appearance at the 2024 Oscars, where he performed I’m Just Ken from the Barbie movie.
Speaking with Guitar World, Slash explained his nonstop drive: “I like playing and I like working, for want of a better word. I’m really not good at just sort of sitting around and spinning my wheels. I can do it for a few hours, or a day, but I can’t go weeks like that. My mind would go crazy.”
Last year, he also launched the first S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival to coincide with the release of his blues album Orgy of the Damned. The event featured a curated lineup that included the Warren Haynes Band, Larkin Poe, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Samantha Fish.
Saturday’s show served as both a celebration of rock history and a reminder that legends like Slash and Monroe still have plenty of fire left to share with the world.
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