Why Slash Hated Guns N’ Roses’ Most Popular Song—”Sweet Child O’ Mine”

Getting sick of a catchy song is a phenomenon everyone has endured. One likes the song, listens to the song too many times, and then hates it when it’s all said and done. Given that we fans feel this, could you even begin to imagine what the artists who wrote the songs feel? Sadly, not in totality, however, we can try to empathize with them vicariously. That said, one great example we can go off of is Slash’s hate for Guns N’ Roses biggest hit “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”

Slash began to grow a dislike for the song not only because of its redundancy but also because of the quality of the music. Listening to it over and over led Slash to realize the song just wasn’t all that good. Matter of fact, Slash went so far as to say, “I hated it for years,” per Far Out.

Slash’s “Happy” Accident

“Sweet Child O’ Mine” was the byproduct of a fool-around jam session in a rehearsal. Though, this “happy” accident would cause Slash years of creative suffering. “You know, Guns N’ Roses was always a real hardcore, sort of, AC/DC kind of hard rock band with a lot of attitude,” Slash told Kidd Chris in 2014. It was the song’s lack of punk attitude and surplus of pop sentimentality that Slash seemingly despised.

The guitarist also stated to Chris, “If we did any kind of ballads, it was bluesy. This was an uptempo ballad. That’s one of the g— things you can write.” Even though the track garnered Slash and the band their biggest success of all time, he wouldn’t let his need for popularity compromise his musical values.

A Change of Heart

Despite raking it over the coals and hating it for years, Slash had a change of heart about the song. According to Far Out Slash absolved his hate saying, “But it would cause such a reaction, so I’ve finally gotten to appreciate it.” In other words—if the fans love it, then why can’t Slash muster up the strength to like it as well.

This “happy” accident of Slash’s is the song that makes him one of the most decorated guitar players of all time. Regardless, he’s not the first nor will be he the last, to look back on his past music and have regrets about it. It’s the name of the game, and that’s why they go on to write hundreds of more.

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