Editing Slash's Snakepit (section)

===Slash's Blues Ball and reformation (1996–1999)===
{{Main|Slash's Blues Ball}}
Slash departed Guns N' Roses in 1996,<ref name="Slash AMG"/><ref>{{Cite book | author = Slash | author2 = Bozza, Anthony | author-link2 = Anthony Bozza | title = [[Slash (autobiography)|Slash]] | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2007 | page = [https://archive.org/details/slashautobiograp0000unse/page/394 394] | isbn = 978-0-00-725775-1 }}</ref> due to musical differences between himself and singer Axl Rose.<ref name="Slash AMG"/><ref>{{Cite book | author = Slash | author2 = Bozza, Anthony | author-link2 = Anthony Bozza | title = [[Slash (autobiography)|Slash]] | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2007 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/slashautobiograp0000unse/page/386 386, 388, 391] | isbn = 978-0-00-725775-1 }}</ref> Following his departure, Slash toured Japan for two weeks with [[Chic (band)|Chic]],<ref>{{Cite book | author = Slash | author2 = Bozza, Anthony | author-link2 = Anthony Bozza | title = [[Slash (autobiography)|Slash]] | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2007 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/slashautobiograp0000unse/page/397 397] | isbn = 978-0-00-725775-1 }}</ref> and worked on the soundtrack to the film ''[[Curdled (film)|Curdled]]''.<ref>{{Cite book | author = Slash | author2 = Bozza, Anthony | author-link2 = Anthony Bozza | title = [[Slash (autobiography)|Slash]] | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2007 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/slashautobiograp0000unse/page/399 399] | isbn = 978-0-00-725775-1 }}</ref> He later began touring in a blues cover band that eventually became [[Slash's Blues Ball]].<ref name="Slash's Snakepit AMG"/><ref name="Slash AMG"/><ref name="Slash p.404">{{Cite book | author = Slash | author2 = Bozza, Anthony | author-link2 = Anthony Bozza | title = [[Slash (autobiography)|Slash]] | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2007 | page = [https://archive.org/details/slashautobiograp0000unse/page/404 404] | isbn = 978-0-00-725775-1 }}</ref> Aside from Slash, the band consisted of Teddy Andreadis, guitarist Bobby Schneck, bassist Johnny Griparic, saxophonist Dave McClarem and drummer Alvino Bennett.<ref name="Slash AMG"/><ref name="Slash p.404"/> The band toured on and off until 1998,<ref name="Slash AMG"/> which included a headline slot at a jazz festival in Budapest.<ref name="Slash p.404"/> They covered various artists and bands such as [[B.B. King]], [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf]], [[Otis Redding]], as well as Guns N' Roses and early Slash's Snakepit material.<ref name="Slash AMG"/><ref name="Slash p.404"/>

Following a tour in 1997,<ref name="MTV June 1997">{{Cite web | title = Slash: Making His Mark Without Guns | publisher = [[MTV]] | date = June 30, 1997 | access-date = 2011-03-14 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429813/slash-making-his-mark-without-guns.jhtml| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714130246/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429813/slash-making-his-mark-without-guns.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = July 14, 2011}}</ref> Slash approached Griparic about forming a new lineup of Slash's Snakepit<ref name="Slash p.404"/> They began looking for a singer,<ref name="MTV June 1997"/> receiving over 300 audition tapes<ref name="Slash p.404"/> from mostly unknown singers.<ref name="MTV June 1997"/> [[Jon Stevens]] of [[Noiseworks]], who had been recording with Slash, was seen as a potential singer in early 1998.<ref name="MTV July 2000">{{Cite web | last = Saidman | first = Sorelle | title = INXS To Tour Down Under | publisher = [[MTV]] | date = July 17, 2000 | access-date = 2011-03-14 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430339/inxs-tour-down-under.jhtml| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714130825/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430339/inxs-tour-down-under.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = July 14, 2011}}</ref> However, he returned to Australia to continue his solo career.<ref name="MTV July 2000"/> They eventually chose Rod Jackson (earlier of Virginia-based band Ragdoll) after Griparic played a tape of him for Slash.<ref>{{Cite book | author = Slash | author2 = Bozza, Anthony | author-link2 = Anthony Bozza | title = [[Slash (autobiography)|Slash]] | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2007 | page = [https://archive.org/details/slashautobiograp0000unse/page/405 405] | isbn = 978-0-00-725775-1 }}</ref> Completing the lineup were guitarist [[Ryan Roxie]], formerly of [[Alice Cooper]], and drummer [[Matt Laug]], also from Alice Cooper and the band [[Venice (band)|Venice]].<ref name="Classic Rock Snakepit"/><ref name="Slash's Snakepit AMG"/><ref name="Slash AMG"/><ref name="Slash p.406">{{Cite book | author = Slash | author2 = Bozza, Anthony | author-link2 = Anthony Bozza | title = [[Slash (autobiography)|Slash]] | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2007 | page = [https://archive.org/details/slashautobiograp0000unse/page/406 406] | isbn = 978-0-00-725775-1 }}</ref> They began rehearsing at Mates Studio before rehearsing and recording in Slash's new home studio in Beverly Hills.<ref name="MTV July 2000"/><ref name="Slash p.406"/>