Slash’s long lost B.C. Rich Warlock that was used to write many of Guns N’ Roses’ earliest hits has been discovered and is now up for auction!
The guitar is listed with Julien’s Auctions and is included in their Icons & Idols: Rock n’ Roll 2016 auction, which takes place November 4. The auction also includes property from the Estate of Frank and Gail Zappa.
A red B.C. Rich Warlock guitar owned and played by Slash during the early days of Guns N’ Roses. The guitar is signed on the body in black felt pen "Slash" with his signature drawing of a skull and crossbones wearing a top hat above a banner that reads “R & Fn R.” Serial number 88414.
Slash custom ordered this guitar from B.C. Rich through the Hollywood Music Store in Los Angeles, California, in the early half of 1984. His first performance with the guitar was at Madame Wong's West in Santa Monica, California, on June 16, 1984, where he performed for the first time with Hollywood Rose, which featured future members of Guns N’ Roses W. Axl Rose and Steven Adler. Another notable performance with the B.C. Rich Warlock was at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California, on June 6, 1985, when Slash performed in the first Guns N’ Roses show with the classic lineup of Rose, Adler, Izzy Stradlin, and Duff McKagan. This guitar was one of Slash's main guitars during the formative Hollywood era of Guns N' Roses and was one of his favorites at the time. Between 1984 and 1987, Slash performed with the guitar 18 times on stage with Guns N’ Roses, more than any other guitar he used during this period. He also used the guitar during his audition for Bret Michaels' band, Poison, in March 1985.
Slash used this guitar to write and perform some of Guns N’ Roses’ most famous early recordings, including “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sweet Child of Mine.” Both were on the 1987 debut album Appetite for Destruction . The guitar was also used on the original Guns N’ Roses demo recordings as well as on the 1986 independent release Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide and the 1988 multi-platinum album LIES , which was recorded in 1986.
Slash played this B.C. Rich Warlock during early recording sessions, including at Sound City Studios, Pasha Studios, Mystic Sound Studio and Sunset Sound Studios (where the first demo tapes were recorded) and Rumbo Studios (for pre-production of Appetite for Destruction ). The guitar was last played in January 1987 by Slash and stored away; it has never been displayed publicly but is well documented through many photographs from that time period as well as in articles and biographies discussing its importance in Slash's career and in Guns N' Roses' formation. Its whereabouts had remained a mystery for the last 30 years.
The guitar was acquired from Slash's original guitar technician and roadie, Jason Solon, who is credited on the first three Guns N’ Roses albums. Accompanied by a signed letter of authenticity from Slash and Solon, the original Anvil hard case, and a timeline of the performances where this guitar was played.