Slash Says 'Sweet Child O' Mine' is Guns N' Roses' Most Lucrative Song

Slash Says ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ is Guns N’ Roses’ Most Lucrative Song

2014-03-12

Story by Anne Erickson

Slash says he earned a sizable amount of cash off other artists doing covers of ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’

Ask almost any Guns N’ Roses fan, and they’ll likely tell you “Sweet Child O’ Mine” is one of the band’s top tunes. As it turns out, while fans have helped make that song a success by purchasing millions of units of “Sweet Child o Mine,” which first came out in 1988, it’s the cover versions of the song that have earned former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash and the other co-writers of the song tons of cash.

Speaking with the U.K.’s Metro, Slash said “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was his biggest money-making song, simply “because it’s the most covered. There are some really good instrumental versions for the piano or violin but I’ve been horrified by some (music) versions.”

Switching topics to what bands inspired Slash in his early years, the guitarist said he got his first yearnings to do music living in Stoke-On-Trent, England. When Slash turned six, his family packed their bags and moved to the U.S., but during those early years, Slash said living in England molded his early musical influences.

“That’s where it all started for me,” Slash said. “I was raised listening to The Yardbirds, The Stones, The Moody Blues, The Kinks, The Beatles, The Who, all that stuff. I picked up the guitar way later but I had a healthy dose of musical influences growing up.”

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.