Slash Gnr: Is He Still in Guns N’ Roses? Health, Net Worth & More

Slash’s story is a paradox: the top hat–wearing guitarist nearly died from addiction, yet he survived to reclaim his throne in Guns N’ Roses. This article traces his journey from co-founder to survivor—his current band status, the health crisis that almost killed him, and the friendship many thought was lost for good.

Years active: 1983–present ·
Band: Guns N’ Roses ·
Estimated net worth: $90 million ·
Health condition: Cardiomyopathy (recovered after 2020 surgery) ·
Rejoined GNR: 2016 ·
Real name: Saul Hudson

Is Slash Still Part of Guns N’ Roses?

Yes. Slash has been an active member of Guns N’ Roses since his return in 2016 for the Not in This Lifetime… Tour (South China Morning Post). The tour was a commercial juggernaut, grossing over $584 million worldwide and proving that the classic lineup still had box-office pull. As of 2025, Slash remains a core member, performing with the band and releasing new material.

When did Slash rejoin?

• Slash left Guns N’ Roses in October 1996, citing artistic and personal tensions with Axl Rose (Wikipedia).
• The reunion was publicly confirmed in 2016, when Slash rejoined alongside original bassist Duff McKagan for the Not in This Lifetime… Tour.
• Slash has described his return as being “the luckiest man in rock,” in a 2025 interview with GuitarWorld.

“I’m the luckiest man in rock.” — Slash, GuitarWorld, 2025

The implication: the 20-year rift was not permanent, but it took both parties reaching a point of professional maturity and mutual need to bridge it. The reunion wasn’t a one-off nostalgia — it’s sustained for nearly a decade now.

Are Axl and Slash still friends?

According to multiple interviews, the two have reconciled professionally and personally. Slash told Loudersound in 2026 that he and Axl “get along great now.” The relationship is no longer the hostile standoff it was in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, the exact depth of their friendship beyond the band remains private — both are known to keep personal matters close.

“We get along great now.” — Slash, Loudersound, 2026

What Health Condition Does Slash Have?

Slash was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2001, a condition his doctors described as a form of congestive heart failure directly linked to years of heavy alcohol and drug use (Wikipedia). The diagnosis was bleak: he was reportedly given between six days and six weeks to live at one point. He survived after physical therapy and the implantation of a defibrillator.

What disease did Slash suffer from?

• Cardiomyopathy — a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood.
• Slash has been clean and sober since 2006 (South China Morning Post).
• He quit smoking in 2009 after his mother’s death from lung cancer.

Is Slash in good health now?

Slash’s current health appears stable. He continues to tour with GNR and solo projects, including the release of Orgy of the