Slash Ethnicity, Race & Heritage: Is He Mixed Race? Full Background Explained

Quick answer: Slash (Saul Hudson) is biracial — his mother, Ola J. Hudson, was African American, and his father, Anthony Hudson, is English (British). He was born in London and raised in Los Angeles.

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Is Slash Mixed Race?

Yes — Slash is biracial. His mother, Ola J. Hudson, was a celebrated African American fashion designer who dressed David Bowie and designed costumes for films including Ladies Man (1978). His father, Anthony Hudson, is a white English artist. Slash was born in London and moved to Los Angeles at age 11. He has spoken with characteristic amusement about his bicultural background, noting that being both British and Black places him at an interesting intersection in rock and roll history.

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What Is Slash's Ethnicity?

Slash is of African American and English heritage. His mother, Ola J. Hudson, was a prominent African American fashion designer; his father, Anthony Hudson, is English and works as an artist (he designed album covers for Neil Young and Joni Mitchell). Slash was named after cartoonist Saul Steinberg. He has categorically refuted suggestions that his father is Jewish. His mixed background has been a notable aspect of his public identity throughout his career with Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, and his solo work.

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Father's Side: English Heritage

Slash's father, Anthony Hudson, is English and has worked as a visual artist, producing album cover artwork for major rock artists including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. He is white British, with English and Scottish ancestry reported in some genealogical sources.

Paternal grandfather: [Unknown Hudson] — English/British. Paternal grandmother: [Unknown Hudson] — English/British.

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Mother's Side: African American Heritage

Slash's mother, Ola J. Hudson (née Oliver, February 5, 1946 – August 29, 2009), was a pioneering African American fashion designer and costumier based in Los Angeles. She dressed David Bowie, Diana Ross, and other major stars, and designed costumes for films. Her death in 2009 was a significant loss to Slash and the fashion world. She was born in America and was of African American descent.

Maternal grandfather: [Unknown Oliver] — African American. Maternal grandmother: [Unknown Oliver] — African American.

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Grandparents: A Complete Picture

• Paternal grandfather: [Unknown Hudson] — English/British.
• Paternal grandmother: [Unknown Hudson] — English/British.
• Maternal grandfather: [Unknown Oliver] — African American.
• Maternal grandmother: [Unknown Oliver] — African American.

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Spouse & Children

Slash married Meegan Hodges in 2012. They have no children together. Slash has two sons from his previous marriage to Perla Ferrer (m. 2001–div. 2014): London Hudson (born 2002) and Cash Hudson (born 2004). Perla Ferrer is of Colombian and Peruvian heritage, so Slash's sons carry African American, English, Colombian, and Peruvian heritage.

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Slash in His Own Words

"As a musician, I've always been amused that I'm both British and Black; particularly because so many American musicians seem to aspire to be British while so many British musicians, in the '60s in particular, went to [Africa]." — Slash, various interviews

This quote captures Slash's wry self-awareness about his dual heritage. As the iconic lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses — a band whose music draws heavily from American blues and rock traditions — the son of an African American woman and an English man represents a living embodiment of the transatlantic musical exchange he describes.

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Is Slash Alive?

Yes. Slash is alive as of 2026, aged 60. He continues to perform and record with Guns N' Roses and on solo projects.

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Visual Family Tree

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Sources

Biography & Interviews

• Slash — Wikipedia
• Slash — Biography.com
• Slash — Britannica

Genealogy & Ethnicity Research

• Slash — EthniCelebs.com
• [Is Slash Black? — Quora