Guns N'Roses guitarist Slash (b. Saul Hudson, 23 July 1965, Hampstead, London, England) was not the first of the band's numerous personnel to pursue a solo career, but his results have possibly been the finest. His Snakepit band of rock veterans included fellow Guns N'Roses members Gilby Clarke (b. 17 August 1962, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; guitar) and Matt Sorum (b. Matthew William Sorum, 19 November 1960, Mission Viejo, California, USA; drums), Eric Dover (vocals; ex-Jellyfish), and Michael Inez (b. 14 May 1966, San Fernando, California, USA; bass) from Alice In Chains. The idea first came to Slash when Guns N'Roses had just completed their monumental two-and-a-half-year tour to support the two 1991 Use Your Illusion releases. Having built his own home studio, he invited various parties around to jam, and when he and Axl Rose began to air their differences in public the rehearsal studio became something of an escape. Slash, Clarke and Sorum began to write material, while other visitors included Inez. At this point Dover, out of work owing to Jellyfish's demise, joined the party. Together with Slash he wrote 12 new songs in as many days. When Rose heard of the project he suggested that the songs be donated to the next Guns N'Roses album, but Slash refused, pointing out that he had already turned them down when they were presented to him in demo form. With this level of rancour, Sorum chose not to pursue the Snakepit project any further, leaving Slash to recruit the Pride And Glory rhythm section (ironic, given that their former guitarist, Zakk Wylde, was then inducted, briefly, into Guns N'Roses) of Brian Tichy (b. 18 August 1968, Denville, New Jersey, USA; drums) and James Lomenzo (b, 13 January 1959, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA; bass). After many delays Slash's Snakepit's debut album was finally released in April 1995 to strong reviews, Slash evidently revelling in the creative freedom it afforded him. It was followed by arena tours alongside Bon Jovi as well as a return to smaller, club-sized venues.
After finally leaving Guns N'Roses in 1997, Slash put together the covers outfit Slash's Blues Ball. In 1999, he resurrected Slash's Snakepit with a completely new line-up comprising Rod Jackson (vocals), Ryan Roxie (guitar), Johnny Blackout (b. John Griparic; bass), Matt Laug (b. 17 March 1968, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; drums), and Teddy "Zigzag" Andreadis (b. Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA; keyboards). The band released the disappointingly retro Ain't Life Grand the following autumn. Keri Kelli (b. Kenneth Fear, USA) replaced Roxie on a tour to support the album after which the unit disbanded.
