Slash's Snakepit

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Slash's Snakepit

Origin	USA
Years active	1994 – 1996 1998 – 2001
Genres	Rock
Labels	Geffen Records Koch Records

Slash's Snakepit was a rock band which was a side-project formed by then-Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Slash in 1994. Fellow Guns N' Roses members Matt Sorum (drums), Gilby Clarke (rhythm guitar) were also members. On bass was Mike Inez of Alice in Chains and Eric Dover (who had previously played guitar for Jellyfish) sang lead vocals.

GN'R colleagues Teddy Andreadis and Dizzy Reed also appeared on the record playing harmonica & keyboards respectively.

The album It's Five O'Clock Somewhere was issued in March 1995 almost by accident.

The story goes that Slash & Sorum were jamming in Slash's home studio (known as "The Snakepit" due to the guitarist's fondness for snakes, and the studio being in proximity to his pets) with a view to working on new GN'R material. Soon, Gilby Clarke (rhythm guitar in Guns at the time) was joining them and contributing ideas. They demo'd songs together, which Slash apparently overdubbed some bass parts onto. In some cases, GN'R bassist Duff McKagan also contributed ideas and he is credited as having co-written "Beggars & Hangers-On".

According to Axl Rose, in a 1999 interview with MTV's Kurt Loder, these songs were offered to the rest of Guns N' Roses as prospective future material, but were flatly turned down by Rose.

Slash recruited Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez to complete the musical side of the group. Gilby Clarke's drummer, Mark Danziesen, suggested Dover as vocalist, and after passing the audition, he joined the quintet to complete recording of what would become "It's 5 o'clock Somewhere".

Up to this point, Slash had always been publicly quite "anti" a solo record, claiming he had no need for one whilst Guns was in action. In promoting this album, he remained pragmatic in statements that it wasn't "really" a solo album, just another band to keep him busy whilst Guns was on hiatus. He is also on record as stating that he wanted the band to simply be called "Snakepit" - after his home studio, but the record company insisted they add his name to it to help increase sales. Hence "Slash's Snakepit".

With a title taken from a passing comment made by an airport attendant, and artwork provided by Slash's brother, Ash Hudson, the album was released in March 1995 during a period of downtime for Guns N' Roses.

The irony of Axl Rose's 1999 comments, about the CD, is that in the end, while Axl's decade in the making album Chinese Democracy has still not seen the light of day, It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, with its "Not Good Enough For Rose" songs, went on to multi-platinum success, with little push from Geffen Records, and garnered rave reviews from critics, all at a time when Guns N' Roses was a name that was not as popular as it once was, having been overshadowed by Seattle "Grunge" bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and Alternative Rock was the flavor of the day.

Frustrated by Guns' inactivity & Axl's ever erratic moves, not to mention a certain amount of pressure from Geffen to promote the album, a six-month tour was arranged. Clarke, Slash & Dover remained the only members of the recording line up to tour, with Inez committed to Alice in Chains, and Sorum agreeing to stay behind in the GN'R camp as a compromise to placate the angered Rose, who saw this side project as an act of defiance from his lead guitarist. (Gilby had already been sacked from the band - by Rose - at this point). James Lomenzo & Brian Tichy filled their shoes for the ensuing tour.

Once off the road, the group soon disbanded, as it was - after all - only a side project for all involved.

Eric Dover went on to form Imperial Drag with Jellyfish keyboardist Roger Manning, Slash returned to the GN'R fold & Clarke went on to record more solo albums.

In '96, however, Slash left Guns citing an inability to continue working with Rose (McKagan & Sorum left the following year) and went on to cobble together various projects - including the "jam band" covers band, "Slash's Blues Ball".

2000 saw more recordings & live shows for Snakepit, but with a completely new lineup (except for Slash). The band released Ain't Life Grand in October 2000, which, aside from Slash on lead guitar, featured Rod Jackson on vocals, Johnny Griparic on bass, Matt Laug on drums and Ryan Roxie on guitar. Keri Kelli later replaced Ryan Roxie. After a tour supporting the album, Slash again disbanded Snakepit, feeling he was "carrying everybody (in Snakepit) through that".

Slash has recently announced that he will not be reforming Snakepit unless the group he currently plays in, Velvet Revolver disbands. Former Slash's Snakepit member Matt Sorum also plays in Velvet Revolver.

[edit] Discography

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere (1995)
Ain't Life Grand (2000)

[edit] External links

v • d • e Guns N' Roses

Axl Rose • Dizzy Reed • Robin Finck • Tommy Stinson • Chris Pitman • Bryan Mantia • Richard Fortus • Bumblefoot • Frank Ferrer

Ole Beich • Rob Gardner • Tracii Guns • Steven Adler • Izzy Stradlin • Gilby Clarke • Slash • Matt Sorum • Duff McKagan • Josh Freese • Paul Tobias • Buckethead