Slash Reveals His 4 Picks For Greatest Frontman Ever

Slash, the top-hatted guitar hero from Guns N’ Roses, isn’t just a rock icon—he’s one of the greatest guitarists to ever plug in and shred. With a career that includes monster riffs, countless awards, and five solo studio albums, Slash has earned his place as a living legend. Beyond GNR, he’s worked with some of the best voices in the business, making him more than qualified to weigh in on who truly stands out in the music world. Sure, Axl Rose is a natural mention—despite all the chaos that came with him—but when Slash talks about his favorite singers of all time, the list goes way deeper than just his longtime bandmate.

Axl Rose
When you’ve spent decades making music together, mutual respect is bound to shine through—and that’s exactly how Slash talks about Axl Rose. Despite their ups and downs, Slash has never held back when it comes to praising his longtime bandmate’s impact.

Slash once said about Axl:

“I’d worked with different singers on and off for a while, and then when I met Axl and we started jamming together, he was the only singer that ever brought an emotional content to it that affected me on an emotional level, on an energy level.”

He added:

“A song all of a sudden went to a whole new level, and I felt it. And that’s when I realised where music and vocals really meet. Because prior to that, everybody that I’d worked with sucked and I had no use for it, and I would just rather play instrumentally. But that’s when I first really arrived at that poignant feeling that you get when things connect on a lyrical and the vocal level and the music level.”

That kind of deep creative connection doesn’t happen every day—Slash felt it with Axl, and it clearly changed everything.

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson might seem like an unexpected favorite for Slash—but when you hear the guitarist talk about working with the King of Pop, it all makes perfect sense.

Slash shared:

“Initially, it was a phone call from my manager where he said, ‘Michael is trying to get in touch with you.’ I was like, ‘Wow.’ So I called him back and he wanted me to play on ‘Dangerous.’ We made a date. I went down to the Record Plant in Hollywood and he was there with Brooke Shields. That was very surreal. These were two people that I’d sort of grown up with, in a way.”

Talking about the session, he added:

“So we hung out for two minutes and they went off to dinner and left me with this song. I did my thing, he really dug it and afterwards he kept asking me if I’d be into doing this or doing that. I’d do some shows here and there and it was fun because he was such a pro. He was such a fucking talent from on high. That was the main thing: he was so amazingly musically fluid. Such a treat to be around.”

Jackson wasn’t just a star—he was a pro who made music feel effortless.

Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger—frontman of The Rolling Stones and a rock icon through and through—has clearly had a big impact on Slash. Growing up, Slash was all about that classic British rock scene, and Jagger was right at the center of it.

Back in 2016, Slash shared, “From day one it was all about the Stones, The Yardbirds, Cream and the Kinks.” While he mentioned a few other legendary bands, The Rolling Stones got a special shoutout, showing just how much their music shaped his early days.

Over the years, Slash and Jagger have crossed paths more than once. They’ve been photographed together and even collaborated briefly, proving that Slash’s admiration wasn’t just from a distance. It’s always cool to see legends connect, especially when one grew up listening to the other.

For Slash, Mick Jagger wasn’t just a rock star—he was part of the soundtrack of his youth and a big reason he picked up a guitar in the first place.

James Brown
James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, is a legend who left a massive mark on music—and it’s no surprise he made Slash’s list of favorites. Brown set the bar for funk, soul, and performance, and his influence still echoes through generations.

Slash once posted a clip of “I Feel Good” on Instagram, adding a little backstory to show just how much he admired the iconic singer. That simple gesture said it all—his respect and love for James Brown ran deep.

And yes, before Brown passed away in 2006, he even shared a photo op with Slash and a few other familiar faces. That snapshot alone says a lot about the respect Brown had from fellow musicians.

With this pick, Slash proves that he’s not just a hard rock guitar hero—he’s got wide-ranging taste and a deep appreciation for musical pioneers like James Brown. His playlist spans decades, styles, and legends.