Slash Plays Pedal Steel

[Doug Beaumier]

Who knew? Skunk Baxter says Slash reached out to him about learning to play pedal steel and Skunk has been giving him lessons.

[Dave Zirbel]

https://youtu.be/Ej3EcVb83vw?feature=shared

[Paul Sutherland]

Has anyone heard any of his playing? How long has he been at it?

[Jeff Garden]

That's "Forward Slash" reaching out to a new instrument - welcome to the pedal steel jungle!

[Doug Beaumier]

Here's an iPhone video of a live performance of "Rocket Man". It was posted 5 days ago and it says RIO - 2024. The audio quality is not good, but Slash is playing some pretty nice fills in the song. He can be seen and heard more in the second half of the video. The singer introduces the pedal steel as a "bad-ass instrument". He's got that right!

----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGo8unswEHg

[Dave Hopping]

Pretty elementary at this point, but growing fast!

[Paul Sutherland]

Better than the Rolling Stones video with Ron Wood. Slash is closer to being in tune. Not quite there, but closer.

If he really works at it, he could improve a lot in as little as a year.

[Doug Beaumier]

I was thinking the same thing, Paul. He’s mostly in tune. That’s not always the case when a guitarist decides he’s gonna play steel guitar.

I’m just wondering how he can push the pedals and rock on /off the A pedal with those massive boots on?

[Ronald Sikes]

Well , he just introduced a whole new audience to pedal steel. “Bravo”.

[Frank Freniere]

Maybe he’ll bust this one out: viewtopic.php?t=133524&highlight=sweet+child

[Duane Becker]

I am very happy to hear this!!! Hope newer artists like Slash will introduce the pedal steel to their audience, we need it! Steel seems to be declining in the younger generation. Has to be one of two of those fans in the youtube post that might want to take up pedal steel.

[Doug Beaumier]

I agree! Back in the day we had rockers like Rusty Young and Jerry Garcia who brought pedal steel to young audiences. Maybe Slash can do something similar today.

[Dan Rollans]

Yes sir, Slash. In the summer of 2022, I received a phone call from a Saul Hudson aka Slash about ordering a Steelers Choice seat. And like with all my customers, we engaged in conversation about steel guitar. We talked for 20-30 minutes and I took his order not knowing who I had really been speaking with. Very nice fellow. Very easy to talk with and discuss steel topics. Kind of like all other Steelers Choice friends. I built him a Steelers Choice Sidekick and shipped a few weeks later.
The following February, I received another call from Mr. Hudson for a second seat order. We talked again briefly and I thanked him for the order. Still unaware of his musical status. So, I built and shipped him a second Sidekick seat.
Now for a confession, sometimes after taking orders for seats, I will look up customers on social media just to put a face with my customer and possibly hear them play. Well, I looked up Mr. Hudson and was amazed with whom I had been having great conversations with about steel guitar.
The photos in this thread are the first I have ever seen.
Thank you for the post.
I’m almost positive that Slash is a Williams Guitar player also.

[John Larson]

Looks like he's playing a Jackson Maverick HD in that pic.

Speaking of 6 string slingers who play PSG I've always liked the steel flourishes Steve Howe added to Yes's 70s albums and his 70s solo albums.
https://youtu.be/Dsim4exuoi4?si=tDC6DayHUDVisRge

Awesome that Skunk Baxter is Slash's teacher.
Steely Dan - Dallas
https://youtu.be/Euf716oQx-w?si=OVG5Ew9tQ0rqowF1
Steely Dan - Fire in the Hole
https://youtu.be/9PwkU4nsJM8?si=xmgnz9Eg_Kn3X14d

[Dan Rollans]

I believe he has at least one if not to Williams guitars also.

[Doug Beaumier]

Interesting story, Dan. I noticed that he had a high quality seat in that first picture and I was wondering what make it was. Thanks for the information!

[Doug Beaumier]

I got a message on my Instagram account from a guy who says that Slash bought a GFI from the guy’s friend in Ireland. Evidently he has more than one PSG.

[Doug Beaumier]

Looks like he's doing some recording.

[Daniel Flanigan]

Well, you could certainly do a whole lot worse for a teacher than Mr. Baxter. I've been a fan of Skunk's steel playing ever since I bought my first copy of "Can't Buy A Thrill". Some great steel cuts on that record.

[Dean Holman]

Slash just recently bought a late 70’s D10 Franklin from a friend of mine in Stover MO. I believe it was Hal Rugg’s first Franklin. My friend sent the guitar to Mike Cass for a refurbish, and now Slash owns it. So, be on the lookout for Slash playing a black, with the white border, D10 Franklin.

[Brett Day]

Well, you could certainly do a whole lot worse for a teacher than Mr. Baxter. I've been a fan of Skunk's steel playing ever since I bought my first copy of "Can't Buy A Thrill". Some great steel cuts on that record.

Skunk Baxter was also the steel player on "At This Moment" by Billy Vera and the Beaters.

[Doug Beaumier]

Slash just recently bought a late 70’s D10 Franklin from a friend of mine in Stover MO. I believe it was Hal Rugg’s first Franklin.

This might be the beginning of a trend. Rock Stars buying up rare, vintage pedal steels!

[Jerry Overstreet]

So when does he play this pedal steel? I don't follow hard rock or any other music religiously but the latest online stuff I find is Myles Kennedy and the Conspirator with whom I'm also not familiar.

I guess I'm wondering where he is inserting the pedal steel in his current music or is he just learning it because he wants to.

[Doug Beaumier]

He plays it on his shows ----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGo8unswEHg

[Jerry Overstreet]

OK thanks. He has his following so we'll see how influential he is on his fans taking up pedal steel.

Concerning the boots, I think those are just fabric leggings. Looks to me he's just wearing Chucks like a lot of rockers wear.