Slash's Snakepit was a rock band which was a side-project formed by
then-Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Slash in 1994. Fellow Guns N' Roses
members Matt Sorum (drums), Gilby Clarke (rhythm guitar) were also
members. On bass was Mike Inez of Alice in Chains and Eric Dover (who
had previously played guitar for Jellyfish) sang lead vocals.
GN'R colleagues Teddy Andreadis and Dizzy Reed also appeared on the record
playing harmonica & keyboards respectively.
The album It's Five O'Clock Somewhere was issued in March 1995 almost by
accident.
The story goes that Slash & Sorum were jamming in Slash's home studio
(known as "The Snakepit" due to the guitarist's fondness for snakes, and
the studio being in proximity to his pets) with a view to working on new
GN'R material. Soon, Gilby Clarke (rhythm guitar in Guns at the time) was
joining them and contributing ideas. They demo'd songs together, which
Slash apparently overdubbed some bass parts onto. In some cases, GN'R
bassist Duff McKagan also contributed ideas and he is credited as having
co-written "Beggars & Hangers-On".
According to Axl Rose, in a 1999 interview with MTV's Kurt Loder, these songs
were offered to the rest of Guns N' Roses as prospective future material,
but were flatly turned down by Rose.
Slash recruited Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez to complete the musical side of
the group. Gilby Clarke's drummer, Mark Danziesen, suggested Dover as
vocalist, and after passing the audition, he joined the quintet to complete
recording of what would become "It's 5 o'clock Somewhere".
Up to this point, Slash had always been publicly quite "anti" a solo record,
claiming he had no need for one whilst Guns was in action. In promoting
this album, he remained pragmatic in statements that it wasn't "really" a
solo album, just another band to keep him busy whilst Guns was on hiatus.
He is also on record as stating that he wanted the band to simply be called
"Snakepit" - after his home studio, but the record company insisted they
add his name to it to help increase sales. Hence "Slash's Snakepit".
With a title taken from a passing comment made by an airport attendant, and
artwork provided by Slash's brother, Ash Hudson, the album was released
in March 1995 during a period of downtime for Guns N' Roses.
The irony of Axl Rose's 1999 comments, about the CD, is that in the end, while
Axl's decade in the making album Chinese Democracy has still not seen
the light of day, It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, with its "Not Good Enough
For Rose" songs, went on to multi-platinum success, with little push from
Geffen Records, and garnered rave reviews from critics, all at a time when
Guns N' Roses was a name that was not as popular as it once was, having
been overshadowed by Seattle "Grunge" bands such as Nirvana and Pearl
Jam, and Alternative Rock was the flavor of the day.
Frustrated by Guns' inactivity & Axl's ever erratic moves, not to mention a
certain amount of pressure from Geffen to promote the album, a
six-month tour was arranged. Clarke, Slash & Dover remained the only
members of the recording line up to tour, with Inez committed to Alice in
Chains, and Sorum agreeing to stay behind in the GN'R camp as a
compromise to placate the angered Rose, who saw this side project as an
act of defiance from his lead guitarist. (Gilby had already been sacked
from the band - by Rose - at this point). James Lomenzo & Brian Tichy
filled their shoes for the ensuing tour.
Once off the road, the group soon disbanded, as it was - after all - only a side
project for all involved.
Eric Dover went on to form Imperial Drag with Jellyfish keyboardist Roger
Manning, Slash returned to the GN'R fold & Clarke went on to record more
solo albums.
In '96, however, Slash left Guns citing an inability to continue working with Rose
(McKagan & Sorum left the following year) and went on to cobble together
various projects - including the "jam band" covers band, "Slash's Blues
Ball".
2000 saw more recordings & live shows for Snakepit, but with a completely new
lineup (except for Slash). The band released Ain't Life Grand in October
2000, which, aside from Slash on lead guitar, featured Rod Jackson on
vocals, Johnny Griparic on bass, Matt Laug on drums and Ryan Roxie on
guitar. Keri Kelli later replaced Ryan Roxie. After a tour supporting the
album, Slash again disbanded Snakepit, feeling he was "carrying
everybody (in Snakepit) through that".
Slash has recently announced that he will not be reforming Snakepit unless the
group he currently plays in, Velvet Revolver disbands. Former Slash's
Snakepit member Matt Sorum also plays in Velvet Revolver.
