It was sad and gross times for Slash and the rest of the passengers on a Delta flight last evening when a toilet backed up in the air, according to TMZ. more ›

On Apr 12, 1861, one hundred and fifty years ago today, the bloodiest four years in American history began with the first shots of the Civil War. In the early 90s, Slash, Axl Rose, and Duff McKagan wrote this video lunch selection before Guns N' Roses had their own personal version in the coming years. more ›

What would Guns N' Roses have been without Slash? No windy "November Rain" solo, no classic strains at the beginning of "Sweet Child O' Mine"... And yet, in a lawsuit, former GN'R frontman Axl Rose claims that he was wronged by Activision Blizzard Inc., the makers of Guitar Hero III, when they reneged on a promise to leave out the legendary guitar player in images of the band used during the video game's depiction of the song "Welcome to the Jungle." more ›

The Halloween hijinx keep coming with today's installment of TMZ celebrity pumpkin stencils! The gossip goblins are offering downloadable images to trace and cut and illuminate this day of candy-filled fear. Slash-o-lanterns! Ozzy-o-lanterns! Chuck Norris-o-lanterns! Ice-T-o-lanterns! Really, who among us wouldn't like to carve up Paris Hilton's face into the side of a tufted gourd? Angelenos, ready your scalpels. more ›

When the film Anvil!: The True Story of Anvil debuted at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, it was instantly acclaimed as the true-life version of This is Spinal Tap. Sacha Gervasi's documentary detailed the story of 50-something rockers from Canada who were still plugging away and trying to get their big break after all these years. The resonance that such an effort had on the audience was obvious: so many of them had once pursued similar dreams only to watch them slip away when "real life" beckoned. more ›

The LA City Council is fielding general public comment right now, but behind them in a packed council chambers is are animal lovers, activists and experts waiting to speak on whether the six acre pachyderm forest exhibit for LA Zoo's lone elephant, Billy, should stay continue construction or continue to be on hold. more ›

It's all on now! The zoo and others, who want to keep Billy from being ousted to some elephant sanctuary or elsewhere, just enlisted Slash from Guns n Roses for this video (and most recently got Jack Hanna on their side, too). And to make it a Happy Gilmore moment, the "Free Billy" folks have Bob Barker. Now, tap gloves.. go! more ›

Between our Gift Guide That Rocks, our Gift Guide For Classical Music Lovers and our Independent Music Store Guide, you’d think that LAist has already covered all there is to know for your Rock and Roll Christmas shopping. However, if you need some more rocking for your stocking, here are a few music books that came out this year that were enjoyed by LAist contributors. more ›

In 2004, ESPN launched a network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day in the Spanish language - ESPN Deportes. To celebrate the its five year anniversary, the network recently announced the launch of ESPN Deportes Replay, a multimedia campaign that will give fans the opportunity to program the network for three consecutive weeks. more ›

DEBATE*: The second McCain v. Obama presidential debate takes place tonight at 6 pm. There are a number of debate-watching parties including one at Boulevard 3 in LA organized by pro-Obama groups. There’s a $10 donation at the door. There are a few McCain-Palin parties out there, too. more ›

Did you catch these guys and gals in full Slash regalia making the 26.2 mile trek through the city today? Here's the official explanation of the eccentric marathon attire and attitude:

Today's LA Marathon was invaded by rocker Slash look-a-likes, who competed in the race for Gibson Guitar as part of a worldwide launch for the Velvet Revolver guitarist's new signature model Gibson and Epiphone guitars which will go on sale in limited quantities on April 1, 2008. Fifty Slash look-a-likes donned wigs, top hats, t-shirts, sunglasses and even the signature cigarette prop in the "Dash for Slash," encouraging onlookers to "Shred like Slash" on April 1st.

LAist recently got the opportunity to sit down with Marc Canter, author of "Reckless Road; Guns n' Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction." Not only is he still best friends with Slash, but his family owns the infamous Canter's Deli on Fairfax. Over a cup of coffee and some delicious treats from the bakery, we talked with Marc for almost three hours about L.A. in the 80's, his amazing collection of memorabilia, and the rise of one of the best rock bands to come out of Los Angeles. more ›

We just received an unbelievable e-mail from friend-of-LAist and local indie troubadour Matthew Moon and wanted to share. Some amazing and surprising things really do happen at Sundance. Read on:

Two days ago I was performing at a Sundance Film Festival event in Salt Lake City, UT. After my performance at Rose Wagner Theater, I began driving the 25 minutes it takes to get back up to Park City. more ›

I almost didn’t go to see Ann Summa’s Los Angeles punk photo exhibition at Track 16 Gallery in Santa Monica. No offense to the once, raw obscure photographers who happened to be at the right place at the right time 30 years ago, snapping amazing images of once, raw obscure bands. Your recognition is well past due. It’s just that there’s been a plethora of punk picture/art/flyer/book exhibitions in the past few years and I’ve seen most of them and on the night in question, I was running late from an earlier art opening and thought, “maybe I’ll just skip this one.” Thankfully, I came to my senses and hauled my lazy ass over to Bergamot Station. On the way in, I was greeted by the nostalgic sight of a drunk-off-her-butt teenager being half carried through the parking lot by friends. I took it as a sign from the gods of punk rock. more ›

I'm thankful for so much this Thanksgiving that I don't even know where to begin, so let's start with the basics: I'm thankful of you, my family, my friends, loose women, cheap vices, Guitar Hero, and the Good Lord. I'm thankful for something that you probably don't have, the greatest bosses alive and the coolest gig. For example can you say fuck to tens of thousands of people today? Fuck. I'm thankful to live... more ›

With lines wrapping around the Borders bookstore in Torrance, yesterday Slash signed autographs and stoked fans of all ages excited and holding a copy of his new aptly titled book, "Slash". Arriving at 7:45, I saw that if i wanted to get a signed copy of Slash's book, i was going to have to wait in a line to get into the line that zig-zagged through the bookstore. I am not that patient, and... more ›

Monday Shalom Auslander presents Foreskin's Lament 7pm @ Vroman's Valerie Plame Wilson presents Fair Game 7pm @ Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Long Beach Barbara Firestone presents Autism Heroes 7pm @ Dutton's Slash presents Slash 7pm @ Borders, Torrance Lawrence Wright presents The Looming Tower 7:30pm @ UCLA Tuesday David Plante, with host Mark Danielewski, presents ABC 7pm @ Book Soup Michael Lent presents Christmas Letters from Hell 7pm @ Vroman's Tommy Lasorda & Bill Plaschke... more ›

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Watching Nip/Tuck has always been a dirty and guilty pleasure. Season five of the show returns tonight on FX and McNamara/Troy are moving the business to our own Los Angeles (as if you haven't been pummeled incessantly by the promos for the last month, and particularly during the World Series). The overpromotion irritates me a bit because it can set up what has been a pretty good show for a fall. Since Nip/Tuck has always... more ›

We* have just returned from the front lines of the of the cutthroat video gaming industry (okay, maybe it was just the GameStop at the Burbank mall) and I'm proud to report we have arrived home in triumph, bearing before us the brand new Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. It's here, and yes, it rocks. more ›

Blackberry Smoke w/Slash - "Highway to Hell" Stevie Wonder @ The Greek B.B. King @ Hollywood Bowl Lucinda Williams @ El Rey Subhumans, 50 Cent Haircut @ The Knitting Factory Blackberry Smoke, Roses on her Grave @ Viper Room Ben Kweller @ The Echo Sage Francis @ Ivar Theater Kittie, It Dies Today, Silent Civilian, Bring Me the Horizon @ Key Club The Monolators, Kissing Cousins, Ghost Kings @ Silverlake Lounge Gran Ronde, A... more ›

I have never in my life thought that the following words would ever escape my lips: "Wow! That Flock of Seagulls song is AWESOME!!!" But that day has come: and so too has Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the Eighties, the latest installment in the worldwide gaming phenomenon/franchise. You now have thirty more classic songs to RAWK OUT on, including such favorites as Skid Row's "Eighteen and Life," White Lion's "Radar Love," and of course,... more ›

The Posh and Becks welcome party is still going strong, with a welcome party thrown by their new besties Tom and Katie - Daily Mail more ›

- We get a lot of press releases. We get lots of music. We got lots of invites. And lately we have been getting a lot of eCards. We appreciate all of it, but what we most appreciate is when something rules. Not only does Ruby Isle's version of the classic Sonic Youth tune, "Teenage Riot" rule, but so does the bio that describes the band (after the jump). - Snoop Dogg is getting... more ›

Now that I have recovered from nine days and nights at SXSW, I can tell you that it's all downhill from here for the world's greatest music festival. No way could anything top that. 1750 bands and hardly any of them sucked. How does that happen? Plenty of free food, beer, no lines if you had a badge. Stalwarts like The Stooges, Pete Townshend, Robyn Hitchcock, Public Enemy, Peter Case, Rickie Lee Jones, and... more ›

When I die I want to go to Austin. I had no business being at the Hi Lo Club Thursday evening when Slash walked on stage to join the southern rock Georgia quartet Blackberry Smoke, but sometimes you're precisely in the right place at the right time. Last year I was working with Buzznet who co-sponsored a few parties with Red Bull as part of their legendary Red Bull House. This year the Red... more ›

Nothing says I love you, quite like poor compression. Here to express how I feel about this week’s On The Charts, using only this week’s Billboard No.1s, is a video diary of my deepest sentiments. more ›

STARTERS & DIPS Was the MTV President NEXT-ed? Mutiny at Music Television. [via Gawker] 50 Cent condoms will cover your wankster. [via Stereogum] Slash loses his hat. Big whoop. [via Idolator] EARLY BIRD SPECIAL The Shins' new album, "Wincing the Night Away" + iTunes glitch = download early. [via Retro Music Snob] ENTREES Money talks. And now it spies on you too. [via BoingBoing] eBay buys scalper website. This article comes w/ a side... more ›

For all the email blasts that just annoy us and clutter our inbox, every once in a blue moon there is a gem. We jumped at the chance to see Jet at Spaceland, well maybe not jump, more like press the "confirm sale" button on Ticketweb at exactly 10AM, but you catch our drift. more ›

San Francisco: Check. San Diego: Check. Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield: check, check, check. Los Angeles: _________ That's right folks, Guns N' Roses announced their West Coast tour dates and LA was not on it. Surf it down to San Diego or ride it up over the Grapevine because there is no jungle in this town of bogus palm trees. But wait, wait, don't tell me! They are indeed playing nearby at KROQ's Inland Invasion in... more ›