Slash

Arguably one of the most successful and recognizable figures in rock music from the late 1980s through the 21st century, Slash provided the driving guitar sound for the hard-rocking, hard-living Guns N' Roses, from its inception in the early 1980s until his departure in the late 1990s. Slash's aggressive, blues-and-metal-streaked guitar gave the band its backbone and swagger, while singer Axl Rose provided the vocal fire and fury; together, they dominated the hard rock scene with songs like "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City," "Sweet Child O'Mine" and "It's So Easy" for nearly a decade. Inter-group tensions led to Slash quitting the band in 1996. After fronting various minor groups, he roared back onto the charts as part of Velvet Revolver, a super group featuring ex-Guns bassist Duff McKagan and Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland. The group immediately filled the void left by Guns N' Roses for hard rock fans, but the group eventually dissolved. Slash finally stepped into the solo spot in 2008 with his solo debut, which broke the Top 10 on the Billboard charts and firmly established the former wild card as a beloved figure in mainstream rock-n-roll. His classic catalog with Guns N' Roses, as well as his acclaimed solo work, established Slash as one of music's genuine guitar heroes.