While, obviously, every birthday is worth celebrating, turning 43 isn't traditionally seen as one of those red letter day 'special' birthdays to make a fuss about. Which didn't stop Slash for throwing a massive two-day party in Las Vegas in July 2008 with members of Jane's Addiction, ZZ Top, Alice In Chains, Rage Against The Machine, Spacehog, Cypress Hill and Black Eyed Peas in attendance.
Then again, given that the guitarist technically 'died' for 8 minutes in 1992 following a drug overdose in a San Francisco hotel room, who could begrudge him wanting to celebrate life with his besties, whatever the reason?
The guitarist clearly had a blast on the night of his birthday, convening a succession of impromptu 'supergroups' to knock out a set of covers at the Bare pool lounge at The Mirage hotel.
One combination saw Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell (vocals), Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell (guitar) and Jason 'son of John' Bonham (drums) join forces with the Guns N' Roses guitarist for a filthy romp through Led Zeppelin classic Whole Lotta Love.
"Let's see if we can't get cool," teases Farrell as Slash and Cantrell launch into Jimmy Page's iconic riff, initiating one of the coolest 7 minute performances you could dare to imagine.
Watch the footage below:
The evening's set-list also featured:
Stone Free (Jimi Hendrix) with Spacehog's Royston Langdon
Jean Genie (David Bowie) with Royston Langdon
It’s So Easy (Guns N’ Roses) with Royston Langdon
In the Meantime (Spacehog) with Royston Langdon
Rooster (Alice In Chains) with Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, and Royston Langdon
Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd) with Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez
La Grange (ZZ Top) with Billy Gibbons
Gimme All Your Loving (ZZ Top) with Billy Gibbons
Superstition (Stevie Wonder) with Perry Farrell
The Mountain Song (Janes Addiction) with Perry Farrell
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan) with Perry Farrell
Barracuda (Heart) with Fergie, Inez and Cantrell
Sweet Child O’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses) with Fergie
How I Could Just Kill A Man (Cypress Hill) with Tom Morello, Sen Dog, will.i.am
Paradise City (Guns N’ Roses) with Fergie, Perry Farrell, Sen Dog, Jerry Cantrell
As a bonus, you can check out Slash's impressive birthday cake below, ahead of the all-star jam on How I Could Just Kill A Man.
The party would continue the following evening at the JET Nightclub.
