As the lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses, Slash established himself as one of hard rock's finest and most soulful soloists during the late '80s, technically adept yet always firmly grounded in the gritty Aerosmith and Stones licks he loved. Slash was born Saul Hudson on July 23, 1965, in Stoke-on-Trent, England, to artistic parents both involved in the entertainment industry; his mother was a clothing designer and his father designed album art for such artists as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. The family eventually moved to Hollywood and he eventually joined up with the other members of Guns N' Roses.