Slash's iconic B.C. Rich Warlock guitar, central to the band's pre-stardom days and featured prominently in seminal recordings such as Appetite for Destruction, is being sold at auction for the second time after being lost for 30 years.
In the world of rock and roll, few guitars hold as much historical significance as Slash's B.C. Rich Warlock. This iconic instrument, used extensively during Guns N' Roses' formative shows around Hollywood, is set to go under the hammer in the Rock and Roll Pop Culture Auction ending on August 8-9, 2025.
The guitar, which can be heard on two live releases - Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide and Lies, was used to chisel out the riffs of Guns N' Roses classics like Welcome to the Jungle and Sweet Child O' Mine. Slash himself ordered the guitar from Hollywood Music Store in Los Angeles in early 1984.
The Warlock was used at significant events, including Guns N' Roses' first show with the classic lineup at the Troubadour on June 6, 1985. For nearly three decades, this guitar was missing, reappearing at auction in 2016.
Despite the lack of a specific estimated price or final sale price in 2023, given its provenance and the fact that it is authenticated and signed by Slash, the B.C. Rich Warlock is likely considered highly valuable. A new auction estimate for the guitar is up to $200,000, with bidding starting at $130,000.
The Warlock comes with an original Anvil hard case and a detailed timeline. It should be noted that Slash has used B.C. Rich Warlocks and Mockingbirds throughout his career, in addition to Gibson Les Pauls.
The Warlock was retired from touring in 1987 but re-emerged at auction in 2016, surpassing its previous auction price of $96,000. The auction for this iconic guitar is open for another 14 days, offering fans and collectors a unique opportunity to own a piece of rock and roll history.
Meanwhile, another Guns N' Roses guitarist, Richard Fortus, experienced a career-first in Saudi Arabia when a gig was so hot it melted his pickups. The Warlock, however, remains a sturdy testament to the band's early days, its body adorned with a sketch of a skull and crossbones wearing a top hat, signed by Slash with a felt-tip pen.
As the auction approaches, the B.C. Rich Warlock guitar remains a symbol of Guns N' Roses' pre-fame era, a time when the band was just starting to make its mark on the world of rock and roll. For fans and collectors alike, this is an opportunity not to be missed.
- Slash, who is known for his iconic B.C. Rich Warlock guitar, ordered the instrument from the Hollywood Music Store in Los Angeles in early 1984.
- In addition to B.C. Rich Warlocks and Mockingbirds, Slash has also used Gibson Les Pauls throughout his career.
- The B.C. Rich Warlock guitar, which can be heard on two live releases, was used to chisel out the riffs of Guns N' Roses classics like 'Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine'.
- The auction for the authenticated and signed B.C. Rich Warlock guitar, which comes with an original Anvil hard case and a detailed timeline, is open for another 14 days, offering fans and collectors a unique opportunity to own a piece of rock and roll history.
- Another Guns N' Roses guitarist, Richard Fortus, had a career-first in Saudi Arabia when a gig was so hot it melted his pickups, while the Warlock, however, remains a sturdy testament to the band's early days.
