Slash's Snakepit
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| Slash's Snakepit | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | United States |
| Genre(s) | Hard rock, Blues-rock |
| Years active | 1994 – 1995; 1998 – 2001 |
| Label(s) | Geffen Records Koch Records |
| Associated acts | Velvet Revolver Megadeth Alice in Chains Guns N' Roses Jellyfish Alice Cooper White Lion Black Label Society |
| Former members | |
| Saul "Slash" Hudson Rod Jackson Ryan Roxie Johnny Griparic Matt Laug Keri Kelli Matt Sorum Gilby Clarke Mike Inez Eric Dover Brian Tichy James Lomenzo |
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Slash's Snakepit was a rock band formed by then-Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Slash in 1994. Fellow Guns N' Roses members Matt Sorum (drums), Gilby Clarke (rhythm guitar) were among the original members. On bass was Mike Inez of Alice in Chains. 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 first, and more notable lineup, sometimes regarded as the "true" Slash's Snakepit (the 2000 line-up with Rod Jackson was not as well-received by fans and critics as the original line-up) released the album It's Five O'Clock Somewhere which was issued in March 1995 almost by accident.
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[edit] History
The legend 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 a project that had come together by accident, and morphed into another band which was now keeping 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.
Shortly after the album's release, a local all-girl San Diego band named simply "Snakepit" filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Slash to limit his use of the "Snakepit" name. The lawsuit was settled on confidential terms.
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 Clarke had already been fired 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".
[edit] Reunion
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 for the tour, as Roxie was committed to work with Alice Cooper. After a tour supporting the album, Slash again disbanded Snakepit, feeling he was "carrying everybody (in Snakepit) through that".
[edit] Discography
- It's Five O'Clock Somewhere (1995)
- Ain't Life Grand (2000)
[edit] Lineups
Note: Does not include session musicians
[edit] 1994
Performed initial jams, recruited rest of lineup
- Slash - lead guitar
- Gilby Clarke - rhythm guitar
- Duff McKagan - bass guitar
- Matt Sorum - drums
[edit] 1994 - 1995
Wrote first/recorded first album together
- Eric Dover - lead vocals
- Slash - lead guitar
- Gilby Clarke - rhythm guitar
- Mike Inez - bass guitar
- Matt Sorum - drums
[edit] 1995
Toured in support of the first album
- Eric Dover - lead vocals
- Slash - lead guitar
- Gilby Clarke - rhythm guitar
- James Lomenzo - bass guitar
- Brian Tichy - drums
[edit] 1996-1998
Disbanded
[edit] 1998-2000
Performed in the pre-album tour of 1999, and recorded the second Snakepit album
- Rod Jackson - lead vocals
- Slash - lead guitar
- Ryan Roxie - rhythm guitar
- Johnny Griparic - bass guitar
- Matt Laug - drums
- Teddy Andreadis - keyboards
[edit] 2000-2001
Toured in support of the second Snakepit album
- Rod Jackson - lead vocals
- Slash - lead guitar
- Keri Kelli - rhythm guitar
- Johnny Griparic - bass guitar
- Matt Laug - drums
- Beathoven - keyboards
