Why Does Slash Always Wear a Top Hat?

From the moment Guns N’ Roses broke to a mass audience in 1987, one of the more defining characteristics of the band was the curly haired guitarist sporting the top hat. So how did Slash acquire his signature look and why did it become part of his stage performance ritual? Let’s get into that below.

How Did Slash Acquire His Famous Top Hat?

Back in 2010, the guitarist shared with the Associated Press (via CBS News) how he first came across the hat, revealing, “I went into this in store on Melrose in Los Angeles and saw a top hat, and was like, ‘Oh that’s looks cool.’ And we had a show that night,” he said, “so I was definitely looking for something to wear for the show that evening.” With not much money, he decided to walk out with the hat, and he decorated the hat with pieces cut from a “concho” belt he’d just nicked from another store.