Happy Birthday today (July 23) to Slash. The Guns N’ Roses guitarist is 53. Also celebrating today is rocker David Essex (71). In remembrance today, former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza would have been 54.

Slash ranked number 65 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Guns N’ Roses reunited in 2016 with the classic lineup featuring Axl Rose on vocals along with Slash on guitar and Duff McKagan on bass. The band also features longtime G n’R keyboardist Dizzy Reed, along with guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer, and newcomer Melissa Reese on keyboards. The original band formed in 1985 and the band had great success in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Their first album Appetite for Destruction is the best-selling debut album in U.S. with sales of 18 million. The album has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. The successful Use Your Illusion albums were released in 1991. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. In addition to a solo career, Slash also co-founded the supergroup Velvet Revolver Guns N Roses members Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums), along with guitarist Dave Kushner and Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland. The band was active from 2002-2008.

Slash will release a new album with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators called Living the Dream on Sept. 21 and will be hitting the road. More info at Slash' official website here. Cheers to Slash! One badass guitarist on his birthday today.

David Essex
Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Nick Menza
Nick Menza/Youtube
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