A guitar played by Slash during the early days of Guns N’ Roses is expected to fetch up to $80,000 at auction.
The metallic red BC Rich Warlock guitar goes under the hammer at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles on November 5. Slash bought the guitar in 1984 from the Hollywood Music Store in West Hollywood and used it live for the first time at Madame Wong’s West in Santa Monica, California, on June 16 of that year where he performed with pre-GNR group Hollywood Rose alongside Alx Rose and Steven Adler.
He later used it during the first ever Guns N’ Roses show with the classic line up of Rose, Adler, Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan at the Troubadour in West Hollywood on June 6, 1985.
Slash has signed the body of the guitar and also drawn his signature skull and crossbones logo and written “R&Fn R.” It comes with a letter of authenticity also signed by Slash.
During 1985 and 1986, Slash performed publicly with the guitar 18 times on stage with Guns N’ Roses, more than any other guitar he used during this period. It was also the guitar he used during his audition for the band Poison in March 1985.
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It was used to write classic GNR hits Welcome To The Jungle and Sweet Child Of Mine. The Warlock can be heard on the band’s independent EP Live?!*@ Like a Suicide and 1988 release Lies.
The Warlock was last played in January of 1987 by Slash and stored away in its custom Anvil guitar case ever since. It was acquired from the collection of former GNR roadie Jason Solon.
Julien’s Auctions say: “It has never been displayed publicly but is well documented through many photographs from that time period as well as many articles and biographies discussing its importance in Slash’s career and Guns N’ Roses’ formation. Its whereabouts had remained a mystery for the last 30 years until now, which has only added another dimension to its folklore. This is truly an iconic museum quality piece of rock’n’roll history.”
Guns N Roses Not In This Lifetime tour 2016⁄2017
South America
Oct 27: Lima Estadio Monumental, Peru
Oct 29: Santiago Estadio Nacional, Chile
Nov 01: Rosario Estadio Rosario, Argentina
Nov 04: Buenos Aires River Plate Stadium, Argentina
Nov 08: Porto Alegre Estadio Beira-Rio, Brazil
Nov 11: Sao Paulo Allianz Parque, Brazil
Nov 12: Sao Paulo Allianz Parque, Brazil
Nov 15: Rio de Janeiro TBC, Brazil
Nov 17: Curitiba Pedreira Paulo Leminski, Brazil
Nov 20: Brasilia Estadio Nacional, Brazil
Nov 23: Medellin Estadio Atanasio Girardot, Colombia
Nov 26: San Jose Estadio Nacional, Costa Rica
Japan
Jan 21: Osaka Kyocera Dome,
Jan 28: Tokyo Saitama Super Arena
Jan 29: Tokyo Saitama Super Arena
Australia
Feb 07: Brisbane QSAC Stadium
Feb 10: Sydney ANZ Stadium
Feb 14: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Feb 18: Adelaide Oval
Feb 21: Perth Domain Stadium
