In 1985, long before Guns N' Roses became one of the biggest bands in the world, Slash was a broke young guitarist searching for something to complete his look for a show at the Whisky a Go Go.
While walking along Melrose Avenue, he stopped inside RetailSLUT. Slash already knew the store because Taime Downe, who later became the singer of Faster Pussycat, worked there. Inside, Slash spotted a black top hat that immediately spoke to him.
There was only one problem: he did not have any money.
THE THEFT
According to the story Slash later told Conan O'Brien, he put on the hat and simply walked out of RetailSLUT without paying for it. He then went next door to Leathers and Treasures, where he stole a silver concho belt.
Slash returned to the apartment he shared with Axl Rose, cut up the belt and wrapped it around the base of the hat. That night, he wore his newly created top hat onstage at the Whisky a Go Go for the first time.
"HE NEVER INTENDED TO CREATE A PERMANENT IMAGE. THE HAT SIMPLY FELT RIGHT."
A SHIELD, NOT JUST A LOOK
He never intended to create a permanent image. The hat simply felt right. It also gave the naturally shy guitarist something to hide behind while performing. Pulled low over his eyes, with his hair falling across his face, it became part of how Slash could face an audience without feeling completely exposed.
What began as a spontaneous act by a broke musician became one of the most recognizable looks in rock 'n' roll history. The black top hat followed Slash from the clubs of the Sunset Strip to stadiums around the world, becoming inseparable from his image.
TWO VERSIONS OF THE SAME MYTH
Helen O'Neill remembers the story somewhat differently. She recalls the members of Guns N' Roses visiting RetailSLUT, pooling their money to buy clothing and accessories, and receiving a very generous discount from an employee. Whether Slash escaped with the hat unnoticed or received some underground generosity has become part of RetailSLUT mythology.
Either way, the hat that helped define Slash began at RetailSLUT, a small, rebellious store on Melrose that gave artists, musicians and outsiders a place to discover who they wanted to become.
"A SMALL, REBELLIOUS STORE ON MELROSE THAT GAVE ARTISTS, MUSICIANS AND OUTSIDERS A PLACE TO DISCOVER WHO THEY WANTED TO BECOME."
Sources: Slash recounts the theft on the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast, while Helen O'Neill shares her recollection in LA Weekly.
