From The Archives: Slash and Marc Canter on Guns N’ Roses’ Reckless Road0

by Erin Broadley

[Above: Video Exclusive Part One]

It was the summer of 1976 in Los Angeles and The Ramones were playing second bill to the Flamin’ Groovies at The Roxy. Across the pond, The Sex Pistols were still months away from achieving everlasting infamy by calling their host a “fucking rotter” while live on British TV. Meanwhile, in a Kentucky Fried Chicken parking lot off Third Street in LA’’s Fairfax District, an 11-year-old Marc Canter caught his fellow classmate, Saul Hudson (a.k.a. a just about teenage Slash of Guns N’’ Roses), suspiciously eyeballing Canter’s mini-bike parked outside. “In those days there was a lot of bike stealing. “I was one of the thieves, I know, ” Slash laughs. “”It’’s quite possible I was thinking about taking off with it because I used to be like that back then. Anyhow, that’’s how [Marc and I] met and we’ve been friends ever since.””

By high school, Slash was into guitars and Marc was taking pictures of local rock bands. With a few candid photographs of his best friend, Marc Canter unknowingly began to document the rise of the greatest rock band of its time: Guns N’’ Roses. Over twenty years in the making, Marc’s new book, Reckless Road: Guns N’ Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction, is a collection of exclusive interviews, rare photographs and original memorabilia including show flyers, magazine articles, ticket stubs, set lists, and hand-scrawled song lyrics. From the band’s first gig at the Troubadour in 1985, to signing with Geffen Records, to being dubbed ““The Most Dangerous Band in the World,”” Marc Canter was there, up close and personal, camera and tape recorder in hand. The result is a comprehensive account of the band’’s early days, as well as a portrait of Marc and Slash’’s friendship, which remains strong to this day.

““My goal here,”” Marc says, ““is to let everybody that likes this band -– or even if you don’’t like the band -– see the making of one of the greatest records ever made.””

SuicideGirls met up with both Slash and Marc Canter at legendary rock and roll hangout Canter’’s Deli in the heart of Hollywood, to chat about Reckless Road and the stories behind the photographs. We also got them both in front of the camera for their first-ever, joint video exclusive.

[Above: Video Exclusive Part Two]

Read our exclusive interview with Slash and Marc Canter on SuicideGirls.com.