Former Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash has issued a statement following the death of his friend and founder of Marshall Amplifications, Jim Marshall. It can be read in its entirety below.
Marshall, who was also known as the ‘Father Of Loud’ is one of the single most important figures in the history of Rock & Roll. He revolutionized the amp industry by releasing high-quality, cheaper alternatives to the other models available at the time. Before long, Marshall became the dominant name on the market, with the Master Volume Marshall amps and the classic JCM800 split channel amps being the go to amps for many of the worlds the most revered axemen.
In recent times, the legendary innovator was diagnosed with cancer and had also been crippled by a series of strokes, some of which were very severe. Marshall passed away yesterday (April 5) in a hospice in England. He was 88 years old.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have known the late Jim Marshall. He was such a fantastic individual.
“Not only did he create the loudest, most effective, brilliant-sounding Rock & Roll amplifier ever designed, but he was a caring, hardworking family man who remained true to his integrity to the very end. His work ethic was unequaled and his passion unrivaled.
“He took great care of me personally, as one of his loyal fans and Marshall Amp enthusiasts, ever since we first met in the early 90s.
“At that time, he did the unprecedented; he had the first-ever Artist Model Marshall series designed for me when my Marshall amps were destroyed in a Guns N Roses concert riot in St. Louis in 1991. We had been friends ever since.
“Jim cared for all his customers like they were his family. He would do whatever it took to make sure an artist was completely satisfied and he made sure his staff did likewise. It was very important to him that Marshall quality and customer care was paramount.
“Jim’s passing marks the end of a very loud and colorful era. From Pete Townshend to Kerry King, Marshall Amplifiers have been behind every great Rock & Roll guitarist since the beginning. Marshall Amplification is one of the most enduring, iconic brands of contemporary music history.
“This industry will likely never see the likes of Jim again. But his legacy will live on forever.”