Slash Definitely Isn't An Axl Rose Hater

While neither Axl Rose nor former partner-in-crime Slash have displayed any considerable desire to reunite the classic lineup of Guns N’ Roses, the reason isn’t any animosity between the two. At least, none on Slash’s part. In fact, as he recently revealed, there’s quite a bit that Slash admires about Rose.

“Aside from the fact that he’s obviously one of the greatest singer-frontman guys to come along ever, [and] a brilliant lyricist, he’s a super, super intelligent, very astute individual,” the guitarist told Loudwire without hesitation when asked to name a few of Rose’s best qualities. “So, that’s one of the things I’ve always admired about him. [He’s] one of the most honest, straightforward people that I’ve ever met.”

Speaking to The Ottawa Citizen back in July, Slash explained that his reluctance to reunite with GN’R stems from a reluctance to dwell on the past. “I’m an in-the-moment person. I don’t look too far in the future and I definitely don’t draw on past stuff. Whatever it is that you’re doing right this second, just do that and do the best you can at it. And just keep pushing forward, always forward,” Slash told the paper.

So it’s certainly not any bad blood that’s keeping the guitar god out of Gunners. Well, none of Slash’s, anyway. According to Craig Duswalt, Axl Rose’s personal manager during the group’s Use Your Illusion tour, if anyone’s still holding a grudge against the other, it’s Rose against his former guitarist.

“About five years ago, Slash went to Axl’s house one day, and Axl didn’t want to see him,” Duswalt recounted to the US ABC News Radio back in June. “We [had] thought for a while yes [a reunion could happen], but then it just got ugly again and we thought, ‘There’s no way.’”

“Axl is a loyal guy and you get on his bad side and some people don’t come back, but Slash and him were so close,” Duswalt added. “We [in the old-school Guns camp] all have a feeling [a reunion] will happen. It’s gonna happen in the next two years… there’s an opening because of Duff playing with Axl.”