You read that right. Slash’s first autograph as a member of Guns N’ Roses. The date of this autograph is May 31, 1985. I know what you’re thinking: “Can you prove it’s Slash’s first GNR autograph?” & “What’s the catch?” Yes, I can. And of course there’s a catch!

The top signature is from Black Sheep’s leader and founder, Willie Basse. He famously hired legendary, world-class musicians for his band. The likes of Randy Castillo, Paul Gilbert, and Kurt James, to name but a few. In May of 1985, Slash joined Black Sheep on stage at the Country Club in Reseda, California. The gig was on May 31, 1985

First: The Compelling Evidence of Why This is Slash’s Earliest Autograph as a Member of Guns N’ Roses.

The Date: May 31, 1985, nineteen days after Tracii Guns was fired from GNR. A few days after Tracii got sacked, Rob Gardner quit GNR. About ten days after Axl and Izzy fired Tracii Guns, Slash joined Guns N’ Roses. He, along with Steven Adler, began practicing with GNR at Willpower Studios, Willie Basse’s hourly rehearsal studio located in North Hollywood, CA. This is where Guns N’ Roses had practiced since their inception. The studio was where the only photos of the original five GNR members, including Ole Beich, were taken. I am not entirely clear about how Slash ended up doing the Black Sheep Show.

Willie Basse was an early supporter of GNR. He would hook them up with a super cheap rehearsal rate and let them jam longer than booked if no bands were coming in after them, or let them throw after-show parties at his studio. He was nothing but supportive of Slash banding together with Axl and the guys.

I wrote about this timeline in my memoir The Days of Guns & Raz’s. Below you can see the timeline spelled out in flyers.

I was still Guns N’ Roses’ manager when Axl Rose and I attended the Black Sheep show to see Slash. I even mentioned in my memoir that I saw Vickey Hamilton at the show. She was still managing Poison at the time, and I told her that Slash had replaced Tracii Guns in Guns N’ Roses.

The Days of Guns & Raz’s was first released in 2017. And until recently, I had no idea that I owned this valuable autograph. I stumbled across the Willie Basse equipment loan receipt in 2025, and within a few days I realized its historical significance. Slash’s timeline for joining GNR was set in my memoir almost a decade before I found this autograph. You see, I used to loan/rent equipment to many local bands like GNR, Poison, and many others. At the time of the Black Sheep show, all the gear I had was still solely for Guns N’ Roses’ use. Once we were no longer working together, my rental agreement contracts became more formal.

My most popular rental item was a state-of-the-art Nady wireless microphone. A wireless microphone system that a band could get nowadays for under three hundred bucks retailed for just shy of three grand in 1985. So it was rented out at least once a week. It was always a same-day pickup from my house in North Hollywood, and usually returned the morning after a band’s show. I often see that very microphone in live band photos from the era, especially Axl Rose photos from 1984 – 1986. The microphone was auctioned off in 2022, and it fetched way more than I expected.

Now, here are the Hoops to Jump Through for a Chance to own a Piece of Rock ‘n’ Roll History.

This is a promotion to raise funds for the Ada Macy Foundation. An organization I founded in 2024, originally to allow the spinal injury community to stand up while playing pinball. That foundation’s focus changed in March of 2026, after a series of medical mishaps led to my two-day hospital stay morphing into three weeks. Click the link above to see Ada Macy’s new and improved mission.

SORRY WORLD! THIS PROMOTION IS ONLY OPEN TO LEGAL U.S. RESIDENTS.

So, how do we decide who gets Slash’s Autograph? Here are the official rules. But in plain English, you need to make a tax-deductible donation to the Ada Macy Foundation. A 501 (c) (3). Here is how to receive a free entry.

To be eligible, you must set up an account here at RazCue.com. I absolutely will not share your info with any third party. With the exception, of course, of complying with a subpoena from law enforcement because some sorry ass fucker committed a felony on my site.

During the promotion period, RazCue.com will regularly give away original memorabilia from the early GNR era. The giveaway items include flyers, magazines, posters, and other vintage promotional items. The available items for each period will be posted on the RazCue.com home page. I’m shooting for about a one-in-forty chance of someone receiving memorabilia, but the ratio will vary. Slash’s first autograph as a member of Guns N’ Roses will be the last prize awarded on July 21, 2027, the 40^th anniversary of Appetite for Destruction.

Even if you win a lesser memorabilia item, YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRAND PRIZE AUTOGRAPH.

I hope to give away more than ninety percent of my memorabilia collection. The reason is two-fold. My main goal, of course, is to fund my nonprofit. But also, I’m not getting any younger. And sooner rather than later, a family member will be sorting through all my left-behind junk, tossing most of it, and getting lowballed on anything of value. By doing it this way, I get all these cool collectibles distributed amongst the true fans without deep pockets. And as a bonus, I will clear off the shelves in my office. To help with my goal of clearing shelves, there will be some cool -not junk- random throw-ins on an occasional donation gift shipment.

The method of choosing winners will use the unique donation/order number. For every twenty-five dollars donated, you will receive an entry. For example, say a person donates $100; the donation receipt order number will be entered four separate times into the drawing. Equaling four entries. Once again, here are the FULL RULES

My promise to you all: I will be unreasonably honest & trustworthy while providing complete transparency in the awarding of these prizes. I’m truly not the – Trust me, the check is in the mail, and just the tip, I promise – type of person.

Visit RazCue.com often for new and exciting announcements. By mid September, 2026, I will post a YouTube video showcasing all the items to be given away, and a link to that video on my homepage. Thanks for your patience. I’m a one-man show, and this is a work in progress. I will answer all non-retarded questions from the comments below! Check the Q&A post here.

To kick off this giveaway, we will give away the three items below when the 1st fundraising goal – fifteen hundred dollars – is met. Winners will be notified, verified, and then the first three memorabilia items will be sent out. Every donation receives a gift valued around the suggested donation ammount. Good news: Winners will still be eligible for the Grand Prize of Slash’s First GNR Autograph. You can track the fundraising progress at AdaMacy.org.

GO STRAIGHT TO Gift Shop/Donation Page!

P.S. I’d love some Amazon Book Reviews: Love’em or Hate’em…tell the world!