His life almost reads like a Hollywood script-not surprising considering he is the son of suave actor George Hamilton and Texan model-turned-actress Alana Stewart, one time wife of rocker Rod.
A bit part in the now defunct American soap opera, Sunset Beach and a few movies under his belt, Ashley is probably more known for his illustrious and well documented private life than anything else but there is more to the 32 year old than being every gossip columnists wet dream.
Much more.
Forget about the aforementioned acting career that Ashley says was a "way to earn my own money" and a body inked up with tattoos that hints more than heavily at his wild-child past, he has only thing in his sight: Music.
And music means everything to him, melodic blood runs through his veins and he lives and breathes for tunes-after all, he was sent home from a careers lesson for declaring, "I wanna be a rock star so I can sleep all day."
So when did Ashley Hamilton gargle with Preparation Music?
Was it when he met The King himself, Elvis when he was 3 years old-something he lists as one of his earliest memories or was it from living with his one-time step-father Rod Stewart (they broke up years ago) or maybe watching Rod jam with Ronnie Wood in his garage, inspiring him to learn guitar?
Small wonder really that Ashley should find salvation in music.
But it has been a long time coming.
Floating around taking movie parts to pay the bills, Ashley was starving his hunger to play music and for a chunk of time in his life, it was looking like the fire he was burning was slowly dying out, a drugs overdose almost bringing his love for music and life to quick and abrupt end.
"That wasnt so fun", He says. "I was in a coma and lost the use of the left side of my body cos I was on my side for 3 days. My arm got the size of my wrist and they said Id never get it back. The doctor looked at me and he was like, "what a waste". I went into the bathroom and cried and thought: "Im never gonna play guitar again."
This seems to have been the wake up call for Ashley and it was then, he decided to stop trying to kill himself.
"Id rather be dead than not have music." He says.
Addictions and marriages aside, it was time for the music.
Next chapter: The Wondergirls, a band positively oozing with names that could only be a recipe for sheer rock indulgence, a musical family made up of Ashley himself along with Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens Of The Stone Age), Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver and Camp Freddy), Jay Gordon (Orgy), Chris Lloyd (Fine) and Martin LeNoble (Jane's Addiction, Porno For Pyros and The Cult) with an edgy sprinkling of the guest talents of Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath and Shannon Leto and between them all, they churned out edgy, sharp tunes including, "Drop That Baby" and "Lets Go All The Way".
Success was imminent, almost impossible to go wrong with a line up consisting of the Whose Who in the royal family of rock and roll but The Wondergirls didnt have the longevity they hoped for and slowly, the band members drifted back to their own bands and projects leaving Ashley to suffer some more highs and lows.
But soon enough, the same record labels that had once turned Ashley away were now banging down his door and soon he secured an EMI Publishing deal, penning tunes for the likes of Meredith Brooks, Sugar Ray, Hilary Duff, Party Up (as well as working with the likes of Limp Bizkit members, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), Ryan Cabrera and Robi Draco Rosa) and not long after, he would release his own solo assault on the music market.
A chance meeting with Robbie Williams saw the birth of Ashley's first UK top 20 hit, "Wimmin", a catchy, feel good rock/pop song for the summer with a serious dash of tongue and cheek and in return, Ashley heavily co-wrote Robbie's single, "Come Undone".
Talent stomped all over with significance, declining to take itself too serious, is something Ashley is keen to make clear.
"Like Sid and Nancy meets National Lampoons" he is quoted to have said.
An album's worth of songs later, including a cover of the INXS song, "I Need You Tonight", saw Ashley team up with Mötley Crüe's very own Tommy Lee, and Beastie Boy Mix Master Mike and "If I Fall", a sparklingly tender number, and "Melt with You", a clever cover of the Modern English hit, had Ashley joining forces with Velvet Revolver's Matt Sorum and actress Rose McGowan, whose vocals were rented out on the chorus.
Unfortunately, the album never got to see the light of day due to unfortunate circumstances but a few years on and Ashley is optimistic and is putting his heart and soul into his music again.
"I just want to have fun with rock and roll and to do that, I need to bring the fun back. Im not a saviour of rock and roll", He laughs. "But there's something that makes me feel that this is just right. Lots of artists have a hunger-but I feel like I have real fire for this, I'll keep going and going and going. Its just right. It feels right."
And soon enough, his time will come and he will tear up the music world and his sound will be definitive..and thats when the story will REALLY begin..
100% Official site designed and maintained by Lyndsay on behalf of Ashley Hamilton himself. All songs featured are NEW and UNRELEASED Ashley Hamilton material
HEY WE ARE HAVING A GIG JUNE THE 5TH AT THE MBAR IN HOLLYWOOD. WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU , COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. IT'S FREE AND STAY FOR THE AFTER PARTY, SHOULD BE FUN
Ashley Hamilton you fucking gorgeous man!! Working really hard right now for the "Troops" and just had to recharge it with STRIPPER FRIENDS. We are one same thing.....YEAH! You're awesome-never change. ASH
