The Guns N’ Roses guitarist acquired the original in 1988 and it has been his main stage guitar ever since
Introducing the Slash “Jessica” Les Paul Standard from Gibson, celebrating one of the most iconic and influential guitarists in history with one of his favorite stage guitars for three decades.
As it celebrates 130 years of music history, Gibson, the iconic global instrument brand, has shaped sound across generations and genres of music for over a century, becoming one of the most relevant, played, and loved music brands around the world. With a partnership that has lasted over three decades, the iconic, GRAMMY®-winning guitarist and songwriter Slash, and Gibson luthiers have teamed up to create one of his favorite stage guitars for 30 years. Introducing the Slash “Jessica” Les Paul Standard from Gibson. Made in close collaboration and with significant input from Slash, the guitar is available via authorized Gibson dealers and onwww.gibson.com.
Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, and Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspiratorsfans will undoubtedly be familiar with the guitar that Slash named “Jessica.” Jessica has been Slash’s main stage guitar since 1988 and is still on the road with him to this day. The original Jessica is a factory second and one of two Les Paul™ guitars that Gibson sent to Slash in the late 80s. Now, Gibson is proud to introduce a new model based on Slash’s old favorite. Jessica features a three-piece plain maple top on a non-weight-relieved mahogany body and a mahogany neck with a 50s Vintage neck profile. Jessica is powered by a pair of Custom Burstbucker™ pickups with Alnico 2 magnets that are hand-wired to Orange Drop® capacitors. Originally a bright Cherry Sunburst, Slash had Jessica refinished, which is reflected, minus the considerable road wear on the original, in the gloss nitrocellulose Honey Burst with Red Back finish used on the new model. Slash’s signature is reproduced on the truss rod cover, the rear of the headstock features Slash’s familiar ‘Skully’ logo, and Schaller Strap Locks are preinstalled on the guitar. Other extras include a Slash guitar pick set, a Gibson USA leather strap, a multi-tool, and a blank truss rod cover inside the included hardshell case.
Jessica is also heavily featured in the stunning coffee-table book, The Collection: Slash, which marked the first book release from Gibson Publishing. At over 300 pages in length, The Collection: Slash is a lavishly illustrated, rare and collectible book in large format with numerous photos of the guitarist and his impressive guitar collection.
On the road with Guns in the late 1980s, Slash decided to retire his Kris Derrig and Max Baranet Les Paul replicas. He called Gibson and they sent two guitars with three-piece tops that were factory seconds. In The Collection: Slash, the legendary guitarist describes Jessica.
“This guitar has been with me since 1988,” says Slash when asked about Jessica, the Les Paul Standard that’s been his number-one live guitar for more than three decades. “It’s faded, I fucking dropped a cigarette on it. I named it when I was drunk, but I don’t remember what the catalyst for that was!”
“Both of ’em were pretty identical, with a bright Cherry Sunburst,” Slash recalls. “I started using those on the road for a while, then I had them refinished so that they were a little duller. And that became my main stage guitar and the backup all the way through Guns N’ Roses and on through Velvet Revolver, and now with Guns again.”
Mostly used live for Appetite For Destruction songs and a handful from the Use Your Illusion era, Slash says Jessica is a great and unique-sounding instrument: “I take a lot of guitars out on the road, but this still has a very specific sound compared to all the other Les Pauls I have out there.”
Slash recently confirmed his forthcoming solo album, Orgy of the Damned. It is the highly anticipated follow-up to his self-title 2010 album. The record, which arrives on May 17 through Gibson Records, will be comprised of covers of Slash’s favorite blues songs. The lead single, a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor,” features AC/DC’s Brian Johnson on vocals, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler on harmonica.
The upcoming Orgy of the Damned will be available on double black vinyl, CD, and digital download, with an album cover t-shirt available as well.
To round out his band in the studio and on the road, Slash reunited with two of his bandmates from his Blues Ball outfit in the 90s, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and brought on drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.
After confirming his new blues covers album, Slash bringing the blues out on the road. With the help of an all-start cast that includes the Warren Haynes Band, Keb’ Mo’, Larkin Poe, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Samantha Fish, ZZ Ward, Robert Randolph, Eric Gales, and Jackie Venson, the inaugural Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival will tour across the United States this summer. The trek kicks off on July 5 in Bonner, Montana and wraps up on August 17 in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Slash formed the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival, which stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance, to bring fans together to celebrate the spirit of the Blues, and to perform with other Blues artists he admires who share his love of the genre. Slash also has a strong desire to give back to charities that he has supported over the years, as well as to help lift marginalized communities that share his restorative focus of elevating lives for the benefit of all. A portion of the proceeds from each VIP package and S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival ticket sold will directly benefit the following charities that Slash has selected The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute, and War Child. S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival has partnered with PLUS1.ORG to support these charitable endeavors.
“The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Tour is a celebration of blues and rock ‘n’ roll music, and a celebration of unity and togetherness in these uncertain and divisive times,” says Slash. “S.E.R.P.E.N.T is a vehicle to help support and uplift people and communities suffering from the injustices of racism and equal rights violations, as well as to support children adversely affected by war and poverty across the world. So, we are contributing a portion of every ticket and VIP package sold from the tour to those ends. S.E.R.P.E.N.T. will also provide an environment where folks can get together for a day of great music and hang out and have a good time.”
Slash hasn’t released a true solo album since 2010. Since then, he has been recording and touring as Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators. Starting with 2012’s Apocalyptic Love, the group has released four studio albums and toured significantly. Their last release, 2022’s 4, hit No. 1 on the UK’s Rock & Metal Albums chart. While the group has enjoyed much success, their biggest commercial achievement remains their 2012 debut, which hit No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the UK’s Rock & Metal Albums chart and Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums.
Slash’s 2010 self-titled LP featured original songs written by the guitarist. The record was stacked with special guest appearances by rock royalty including Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, M. Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden), Lemmy Kilmister (Mötorhead), and more. For this upcoming release, Slash collaborated once again with storied producer Mike Clink. In addition to Brian Johnson and Steven Tyler, Slash enlisted the likes of Gary Clark Jr, Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top), Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers (Bad Company), Demi Lovato, Tash Neal (The London Souls), Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), and Beth Hart to perform on the album.
Recently, Slash lent his talents to The Dandy Warhols’ new single, “I’d Like to Help You with Your Problem.” The Guns N’ Roses guitarist lets it rip in the preview of The Dandy Warhols’ forthcoming album, Rockmaker, which arrives on March 15. In addition to Slash, the upcoming Rockmaker also features appearances by Pixies’ Black Francis and Blondie’s Debbie Harry.
