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United States Duff McKagan is a highly accomplished musician, songwriter, author, and financial advocate, renowned for his diverse contributions to rock music, primarily as the bassist for Guns N' Roses. He actively works with various musical projects and platforms to share insights on creativity, collaboration, and financial literacy.
McKagan, along with Axl Rose and Slash, are partners in the Guns N' Roses entity, including merchandise and trademarks.
Fender celebrated Duff McKagan with a refreshed Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass, featuring player-friendly additions like instant Drop D tuning and design elements inspired by Guns N' Roses.
Concord Music Publishing inked a new deal with Duff McKagan. McKagan was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Guns N' Roses in 2012 and planned to tour with the band again in 2020.
Duff McKagan and Slash collaborated with Gibson's CEO on a charity single titled “I Can Breathe.”
Michael Andrew “Duff” McKagan was born on February 5, 1964, in Seattle, Washington. Growing up in the University District, he was the youngest of eight children. His brother Bruce taught him to play bass, and he developed his skills by emulating punk bassists. Despite being an honors student, McKagan dropped out of Roosevelt High School in the tenth grade, later earning his GED. He worked as a pastry chef before fully dedicating himself to music. In 1979, at 15, he formed the punk band The Vains, playing bass, and released the single “School Jerks” in 1980. He then joined The Fastbacks as a drummer in 1980, appearing on their 1981 debut single “It’s Your Birthday.” He also played lead guitar in The Living, opening for bands like Hüsker Dü. In 1982, he became the drummer for The Fartz and later played guitar for 10 Minute Warning. These early experiences provided a foundation for his multifaceted career in music.
In late 1984, McKagan moved to Los Angeles, California, and formed the short-lived band Road Crew with Slash and Steven Adler. In March 1985, he joined Guns N’ Roses as bassist, a band that would achieve worldwide success. McKagan, along with Slash and Steven Adler, solidified the core lineup. The band released their debut album, “Appetite for Destruction,” in 1987, selling over 28 million copies globally. This was followed by “G N’ R Lies” in 1988 and the “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” albums in 1991, which topped U.S. charts. During a period of Guns N’ Roses inactivity, McKagan released his solo album “Believe in Me” in 1993 and co-founded the supergroup Neurotic Outsiders in 1995. He departed Guns N’ Roses in 1997, citing the band’s instability in relation to his hopes for parenthood.
Following his initial departure from Guns N’ Roses, McKagan returned to Seattle and reunited with 10 Minute Warning, releasing a self-titled album in 1998. He formed Loaded in 1999, releasing “Episode 1999: Live” and later “Dark Days” in 2001, transitioning to lead vocals and rhythm guitar. From 2002 to 2008, he was the bassist for the Grammy-winning supergroup Velvet Revolver, releasing “Contraband” (2004) and “Libertad” (2007). McKagan briefly performed with Alice in Chains in 2006 and Jane’s Addiction in 2010. He published his autobiography, “It’s So Easy (And Other Lies),” in 2011 and founded the wealth management firm Meridian Rock. In 2012, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Guns N’ Roses, which he rejoined in 2016 for the highly successful “Not in This Lifetime… Tour.” He released his solo album “Tenderness” in 2019.
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