They kicked him out of the band for refusing to wear flashy makeup – but that very refused helped him create the ‘monster’ Guns N’ Roses that destroyed all norms. Before becoming famous, Slash auditioned for the band Poison. Matt Smith (a former member of Poison) recalled that Slash walked into the room and played incredibly well. However, the other members of Poison wanted someone who looked polished, willing to wear colorful clothes and heavy makeup in the Glam Rock style. Slash refused to change his edgy style and was rejected. CC DeVille was chosen instead. If Slash had been accepted that day, Guns N’ Roses would probably never have existed.
The Rejection That Forged a Monster: How Slash’s Refusal to Wear Makeup Created Guns N’ Roses
In the mid-1980s, the Sunset Strip was undeniably ruled by Glam Metal. This was a genre defined by soaring guitar solos, catchy pop hooks, and an extreme visual style of teased hair, flashy clothes, and heavy makeup. The band Poison, led by Bret Michaels, was poised to become one of the scene’s biggest acts, but they were in need of a new guitarist after Matt Smith departed.
This situation led to one of rock history’s greatest “what if” moments: the audition of a young, blues-rock-obsessed guitarist named Slash (Saul Hudson). His staunch refusal to conform to the dominant aesthetic of the scene results in his rejection. This decision gave birth to the raw, visceral counter-movement known as Guns N’ Roses.
The Glam Rock Litmus Test
Slash, who had recently quit the pre-Guns N’ Roses band Hollywood Rose, was encouraged by Smith to try out for Poison, despite his distaste for their sound and look. He went into the audition and, by all accounts, his musical talent was undeniable. As Poison singer Bret Michaels recalled, Slash was “very rock’n’roll” and “played every song we had, note perfect.”
However, Poison was seeking an image that was as polished and colorful as their music. The final selection came down to two candidates: Slash, with his trademark top hat, leather, and gritty, Aerosmith-inspired look, and CC DeVille.
The deal breaker was entirely the image. Slash recounted that when Poison bassist Bobby Dall began asking him about his potential stage wear, asking specifically about the kind of shoes he would wear, he realized the audition was a complete mismatch. He flatly refused to wear the colorful clothes, let alone the required heavy makeup and hairspray that defined the Glam Rock style.
As Slash was leaving the audition, he witnessed his replacement walking in: “As I was walking out of the audition, CC DeVille was walking in. He had on pancake makeup and a ton of hairspray. I actually remember thinking right then, ‘That should be the guy.'” Poison ultimately chose CC DeVille, except that he perfectly fit the glamorous, commercial mold they were building.
The Birth of the “Monster”
The rejection was the essential catalyst that solidified the final line-up and identity of Guns N’ Roses. Freed from the pressures of commercial Glam Rock, Slash joined with Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler. Together, they created a sound that was the complete antithesis of the Sunset Strip’s popular trends.
Destroying Norms: Guns N’ Roses embraces a raw, dirty, punk-infused street rock aesthetic that rejects the frivolousness and polish of their peers. This “monster” sound, epitomized by the 1987 album Appetite for Destruction and hits like the song “Welcome to the Jungle,” was musically darker, lyrically grittier, and visually authentic.
Commercial Data: Appetite for Destruction became one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. It eventually sold over 18 million copies in the US alone. This massive success was a loud declaration that audiences were hungry for something “real.” The inability to fit into Poison’s demand for flashy makeup didn’t destroy Slash’s career; it defines it. His refusal to change his look preserves the authenticity needed to form Guns N’ Roses—the band that would subsequently help spearhead the end of the Glam Metal era by reintroducing raw, unvarnished hard rock to the mainstream.