Duff McKagan Discography

Related Artists

Member Of

The Fartz :: Mad for the Racket :: Neurotic Outsiders :: Velvet Revolver :: Guns N' Roses

Influenced By

Sid Vicious :: Johnny Thunders

Followers

Dexter Holland

Similar Artists

Sebastian Bach :: Dexter Holland :: Matt Cameron :: Jeff Beck`s Guitar Shop :: Johnny Society :: Joe Perry Project

See also Biography Index (D) :: Filmography Index (D) :: Discography Index (D)

Duff McKagan (born Michael Andrew McKagan on February 5, 1964)Michael Andrew McKagan was born in Seattle, Washington, the youngest of eight children born to Elmer (Mac) and Alice (Marie) McKagan, a family with Irish ancestors. They were a musical family with every member playing at least one instrument. It was his brother Bruce who taught him his first bass lines, though he developed his own skills playing along to 1999 by Prince and Black Flag`s Damaged.

Although best known as a bass player, Duff also played drums in several bands, including, most notably, a stint with the legendary Seattle pop-punk band the Fastbacks, which he joined at the age of 16 in 1980. He also played drums in hardcore punk bands such as The Fartz and Silly Killers, and guitar in 10 Minute Warning (he was replaced by Daniel House of Skin Yard). Besides drums and bass, McKagan also has the ability to play other musical instruments — he plays guitar and even played piano on the song "Misery" from the Loaded album Dark Days.

Answering an ad for a bass player in a local magazine, McKagan headed to California, at age nineteen. In California, he met guitar player Slash and drummer Steven Adler of the band Road Crew at L.A.`s legendary 24-hour deli and rock hangout, Canter`s. Duff expected some punk with a penchant for `70s rock, but found two long-haired guys instead.

“ When I met Slash and Steve Adler for the first time," he said, "it was weird, `cause I`d never met guys like this before — L.A. locals. We went out that night and got drunk, and then we had this ill-fated band. It was Slash`s band, Road Crew. ”

He describes his home city as "a rowdy rock `n` roll town with a hip underground."
From the wreckage of the bands L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose, Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin joined Tracii Guns, Ole Beich, and Rob Gardner to form Guns N` Roses. Initially formed to meet booked gigs for the disbanded acts, the new line-up was finalized on June 6, 1985. Duff became the band`s bassist, replacing Ole Beich, and after two days of rehearsal, the newly formed group played their debut gig as GN`R on a Thursday night at the Troubadour. As with ex-rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, McKagan also had his crack at handling lead vocals on GN`R songs such as Use Your Illusion II`s "So Fine" and a handful of songs off of the cover album The Spaghetti Incident?, including live favorite "Attitude," originally by The MisfitsHe married for the first time on May 28, 1988 to Mandy Brix, a hostess in an L.A. Japanese restaurant, who also had her own all female rap-trio, "The Lame Flames." They were divorced in 1990. He married again in September 1992 to Linda Johnson, and divorced in September 1996.

Plagued by drug and alcohol addiction, McKagan survived for 13 years in the highly volatile band before finally resigning in early 1998, due to Axl Rose`s demand that he focus only on Guns N` Roses, and not any other projects, as well as the fact that "Axl was completely taking over." McKagan`s departure left Rose as the sole member left from their classic line-up. He stopped using drugs because of a failing liver.

McKagan is also known for his alcohol induced acceptance at the 1990 American Music Awards. Upon receipt of GN`R`s second award, McKagan and Slash stumbled to the stage appearing very drunk, holding drinks, and smoking cigarettes. Within a span of 20 seconds, Slash managed to curse twice in his slurred speech before being interrupted by a mu

Post a Comment | View All Comments (6)