Slash's Snakepit
American rock supergroup formed by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash.
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Slash's Snakepit started as a band in Los Angeles in 1994, put together by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Even though people often called it a solo or side project, Slash insisted it was a real band where everyone had an equal say. The first members included Slash, two other Guns N' Roses players—drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Gilby Clarke—plus Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez and former Jellyfish guitarist Eric Dover on lead vocals. Their first album, *It's Five O'Clock Somewhere*, came out in 1995. For the tour that followed, Slash brought in James LoMenzo and Brian Tichy from Pride & Glory to replace Inez and Sorum, who had other plans. The band played shows across the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia until Geffen Records stopped funding the tour. Slash then went back to Guns N' Roses, and Snakepit broke up. After leaving Guns N' Roses in 1996, Slash put together a cover band called Slash's Blues Ball. Following a tour in 1997, he asked Blues Ball bassist Johnny Griparic to help form a new version of Slash's Snakepit. This lineup had Slash, Griparic, singer Rod Jackson, guitarist Ryan Roxie, and drummer Matt Laug—both Roxie and Laug had played in Alice Cooper's solo band. They recorded and put out a second album, *Ain't Life Grand*, in 2000. Before that album dropped, they toured with AC/DC, and afterward they did their own headlining tour. For that tour, Keri Kelli joined after Ryan Roxie left following the album's completion. After the final show, Slash ended Snakepit because he felt his bandmates weren't committed enough. Not long after, in 2002, Slash formed Velvet Revolver with former Guns N' Roses members Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan. After a two-and-a-half-year world tour supporting *Use Your Illusion I* and *II*, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash went back to Los Angeles. He sold his house, the Walnut House, moved to Mulholland Drive, and built a small home studio over his garage called The Snakepit. There he started working on demos of songs he'd written during the tour. Slash worked on these demos with Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum. Later, fellow Guns N' Roses member Gilby Clarke and Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez joined in, jamming and recording most nights. Slash played the demos for Axl Rose, who turned them down—though later he wanted to use them for the next Guns N' Roses album.
- Formed
- 1994
- Origin
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Genre
- Rock
- Years active
- 1994–1996, 1999–2001
- Labels
- Geffen Records, Koch Records
Lore & Background
Slash's Snakepit began in 1994 after Slash returned from a two-and-a-half-year world tour with Guns N' Roses. He built a home studio nicknamed The Snakepit and worked on demos with drummer Matt Sorum, guitarist Gilby Clarke, and bassist Mike Inez. After Guns N' Roses went on hiatus, Slash added vocalist Eric Dover and recorded the debut album It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, released in 1995. The album charted at number 70 on the Billboard 200 and number 15 on the UK Albums Chart. For the supporting tour, James LoMenzo and Brian Tichy replaced Inez and Sorum. Geffen Records pulled financial support for the tour, and Slash returned to Guns N' Roses, disbanding Snakepit.
Following his departure from Guns N' Roses in 1996, Slash formed the cover band Slash's Blues Ball. In 1997, he approached Blues Ball bassist Johnny Griparic about reforming Snakepit. The new lineup included singer Rod Jackson, guitarist Ryan Roxie, and drummer Matt Laug. They released the second album Ain't Life Grand in 2000 through Koch Records. For the tour, Keri Kelli replaced Roxie. After the final show, Slash disbanded Snakepit due to a lack of commitment from band members. Slash formed Velvet Revolver in 2002 with Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan.
Reader's Guide
Slash's Snakepit represents a transitional period in Slash's career between his tenures in Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver. The band's debut album, It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, received mainly positive reviews and allowed Slash to explore songwriting outside of Guns N' Roses. The second album, Ain't Life Grand, received mixed reviews and did not sell as well as its predecessor. The group's significance lies in its demonstration of Slash's desire to work collaboratively outside of his main band, though internal disagreements and label issues prevented long-term stability. The band's legacy is primarily as a footnote in Slash's discography, with its music occasionally revisited by fans of hard rock.
Did You Know?
- The debut album title It's Five O'Clock Somewhere was taken from a phrase Slash overheard at an airport.
- Slash's brother, Ash Hudson, designed the cover of the debut album.
- The band's second album Ain't Life Grand was released on Koch Records after Geffen folded into Interscope and declined to release it.
- Slash's Snakepit toured with Metallica in support of their debut album.
More in Band Members & Collaborators
Elsewhere in Guns N Roses
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