Samantha Fish: From Slash to the Stones, the blues-rock guitarist reflects on roots, growth and her return to Edinburgh with Paper Doll
For many musicians, jamming with their guitar hero remains a fantasy. For Samantha Fish, it became reality when she appeared on the cover of Guitar World alongside Slash and also shared a stage with him, trading licks in front of live audiences. Add to that a support slot with the Rolling Stones in her home state of Missouri, and it is clear that Fish’s career has been built on more than promise alone.
The American guitarist and singer-songwriter is currently touring her latest album, Paper Doll and will roll into Edinburgh next month for her only Scottish date. Over the years, she has built a loyal following in the capital, drawn by her commanding presence on stage and her vividly charged performances. “I love playing Scotland, and I love Edinburgh, it’s gorgeous,” she says. “I’ve come enough times to build a rapport, and I’ve been up to the castle a handful of times. It’s nice as an American to see an actual castle. The audiences have been full of enthusiasm and vigour, they have a lot of energy, which makes my job a lot easier.”
Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash once described Fish as having “cool swagger” alongside an “incredible blues tone and style.” In 2024, he recruited her and fellow guitarist Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram for a travelling blues festival “I met him on the Guitar World cover shoot with Kingfish. It’s every kid’s dream to be on the cover with Slash,” she recalls. “He said to us, ‘I want you to know I wanted both of you for this tour.’ That was very touching.
He was incredible for the whole tour. His band and crew keep morale going every day. It’s not always like that. Sometimes you are asked to keep away from the headline artist, and you’re walking on eggshells around the crew. We got to share the stage a couple of times and trade licks. It was a dream. He’s a lovely person, I can’t say enough good things about him.” You can hear traces of Slash’s influence on Sweet Southern Sounds from Paper Doll, in its melodic phrasing and grit.
“That song takes you on a journey,” she says. “When we are recording there’s often a song that I think will be the one people grab onto. The record company often thinks something different and then the audience will like something else. I guess they all get picked in the end.”
The album also features country-tinged ballads such as Off in the Blue, which would not feel out of place on a Rolling Stones setlist. Supporting the band remains another standout occasion. “It’s still kind of crazy to think about,” she admits. “It’s the world’s favourite band and I got the opportunity to do that. I’m such a fan and those songs are timeless. I return to them all the time for inspiration and I love that band.”
Of Sticky Fingers, her favourite Stones album, she adds: “Keith (Richards) and Gram (Parsons) were making a country record, but what came out was so unique to them. I don’t think it would be classified as country but you can hear the influence and things they were pulling from. Country and western was a huge influence for them.”
Like Lucinda Williams, Fish moves easily between blues, rock and Americana without losing her centre. Her roots remain firmly planted. “My new record, Paper Doll, leans into rock. I’m not a metal artist or anything, the word rock is so expansive,” she explains. “A lot of my songs start around North Hill Country and Delta Blues riffs. That’s how I learned how to play guitar and express myself. I pay homage to that, even if the genre shifts a little. I grew up in that and appreciate roots and blues music. That’s the basis of my style, and you bring your own personality to that. I’m still growing and playing all the time.”
Music was embedded early growing up in Kansas City. “My mom sang in church. My grandmother and aunts, my dad played guitar, my uncles played guitar too. There was always music happening and a great CD collection,” she says.
Along with her sister, Amanda, also a blues musician, they grew up both writing and learning at home. “We’re close in age. When you’re that close, you’re sharing clothes and everything. We were seeking autonomy, going to our rooms, playing our instruments and writing songs separately. We kind of developed independently but still in the same house. She was always a great singer. She’d run up to her room and start belting. There might have been a wall between us but we were still in the same house.” The church also played its part. “I think so. With musicians, it can be wherever. It’s about community.
“It’s about getting people together and sharing the creation of music. Any time you find that, a jam session in a bar or playing in a church, it’s great. It’s about finding other people who want to play. When I got out of my room at 18, I progressed leaps and bounds. Getting on stage with other musicians, you’re thrown into the fire, and it forces you to grow.”
Samantha Fish “Paper Doll World Tour” 6 March 2026 at The Queens Hall.
