Slash's hilarious reaction as Robbie Williams shouts: 'You’re Slash! From Stoke! I’m from Stoke!'
Slash has recalled his hilarious first encounter with Stoke-on-Trent's very own Robbie Williams. The Guns N' Roses guitarist - real name Saul Hudson - was born in London but moved to the Potteries as a baby.
He then spent the fist six years of his life in Consett Street, Blurton, before leaving for LA with his family in 1971. But despite his Stokie roots, Slash admits he had no idea who Robbie was when they first met at a hotel thousands of miles away from North Staffordshire.
Recalling the moment, Slash told the Sunday Times: "I was in LA at the Sunset Marquis [hotel], which is a favourite haunt of musicians. I was walking by the pool and this guy yelled out, ‘You’re Slash! From Stoke! I’m from Stoke!’ I didn’t know who the f**k he was.
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“But that night I got on stage with this all-star covers band to do Queen songs and somebody started singing the lyrics so well. I turned around and it was that f**king guy. And that’s how Robbie and I got to know each other.”
Slash and Robbie - who grew up down the road in Burslem and Tunstall - have since gone on to become great pals, often bonding over their shared heritage.
As one of the most recognisable rock stars of all time and a true Potteries hero, Slash has built an iconic look over the years and is rarely seen without his top hat. Back in 2010, the rocker revealed why he has donned his unique headgear for over three decades.
When asked about the hat by Associated Press, he replied: "You can pull it down, pull your hair down over your face and just sort of hide behind that. I've always been a little nervous in front of crowds," he added. "And that made it - made me - feel a lot more comfortable."
His trop hat dates back to 1985 and he actually stole one on the day he was set to play a show with Guns N' Roses. He then chose to customise the accessory with a 'conch' belt which also nicked from a shop next door.
Slash revealed: "I went into this in store on Melrose (Place) in Los Angeles and saw a top hat, and was like, 'Oh that's looks cool.' And we had a show that night. So I was definitely looking for something to wear for the show that evening." The rocker concluded: "I wore it for that show and it just became the hat I felt really cool in."
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