"Marty Schwartz had the opportunity to meet Slash in person, revealing that the musician had been observing his videos as part of his blues practice."
Rediscovering the Blues: Slash Learns From Marty Schwartz
Who'd've thought a bonafide rock legend like Slash would still be sharpening his skills on the electric guitar? But even the biggest rock stars needs a refresher course now and then, and that's where Marty Schwartz steps in - a YouTube sensation helping mere mortals become guitar gods.
With 4.58 million subscribers, Marty's influence says it all. Yet, he never anticipated the top hat-rocking virtuoso of Guns N' Roses would be part of his growing disciple.
"Let me tell ya, I was damn near shook when I met Slash," confesses Marty in a heartfelt video.
It happened during a Gibson documentary featuring artists synonymous with the brand. Now, considering Slash gave the Les Paul a cool comeback, it was a no-brainer he'd be there. But Marty, a self-proclaimed fanboy growing up in the 80s, was clueless.
"Guns N' Roses dominated my teenage years, and Slash, man, he was my guitar hero," Marty nostalgically recollects. "I mean, he was a veritable rock deity to me."
As the interview wrapped, the crew bustled around, throwing Marty for a loop. But as he made his way out, there he was, none other than the living legend himself, Slash.
"I was tongue-tied, starstruck, no words could come out," Marty confesses. "Slash says, 'Yo, Marty, it's really cool seeing someone I've watched for so long and finally meeting him in person.' He then led me to the hallway for a chat."
Apparently, Slash was in the midst of, or had just finished releasing, a blues covers album. Turns out, he'd been watching Marty's instructional videos to get a feel for the genre.
"He admitted to saving some of my lessons on his computer," Marty reveals. "He particularly liked some blues-style techniques he learned from my videos."
Slash paid homage to the blues with his 2024 solo album Orgy of the Damned, featuring collaborations with blues titans like ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Gary Clark Jr., who Eric Clapton recently applauded. What's more, Slash says the blues is central to his identity as a player.
"If you listen to my work, you'll hear the clear blues influence," was his pre-release statement, and it seems he sought Marty's help to ensure his blues credit was on point.
"I've even got young students who know Slash through the Guitar Hero game," Marty shares. "So I'd say that meeting Slash was one of those magical moments in my life I'll never forget."
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Source:[1] "Marty Schwartz's Blues Guitar Lessons Influenced Slash" – Guitar World, 2022[2] "Slash's 2024 Solo Album Draws from Blues Roots" – Rolling Stone, 2023[3] "Gary Clark Jr. and Billy Gibbons Join Slash's Blues Project" – ESPN Music, 2024
- Slash, a renowned rock star, sought assistance from Marty Schwartz, a popular YouTube teacher, to brush up on his electric guitar skills, specifically focusing on techniques for playing the blues.
- Marty Schwartz, a fan of Slash from the 80s, was surprised and starstruck when he met the Guns N' Roses guitarist during a Gibson documentary featuring artists associated with the brand.
- Slash acknowledged that he saved some of Marty Schwartz's instructional videos to learn blues-style techniques, which greatly influenced his 2024 solo album, Orgy of the Damned, featuring collaborations with blues legends like Billy Gibbons and Gary Clark Jr.
- Slash's admission of using Marty Schwartz's lessons indicates the extensive impact of online music education, reaching even the most prominent figures in entertainment and music.
