Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Sticky Carpet

Andrew Murfett and Patrick Donovan

March 16, 2007

From Guns to Velvet

No band epitomises the 1980s rock 'n' roll decadence of LA like Guns N' Roses. We caught up with the band's former bass player Duff McKagan last week in his management's LA office, in Westwood. With Axl Rose still a sworn enemy, these days Duff plays with former Gunners band mates Slash and Matt Sorum in Velvet Revolver. Former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland is on vocals and Dave Kushner on guitars.

The band have just finished work on their second album, Libertad. The six completed songs Sticky heard last week definitely show promise.

Having survived acute alcohol-inspired pancreatitis in 1994, McKagan says he has been a teetotaller ever since. "Once in a blue moon, if even only for an instance, I'll say to myself, 'I'd love a glass of wine.' The thing is with me, one is too many and a thousand is not enough," he says. "If this whole table was covered in bottles of vodka, I'd say, 'That's not enough.' "

McKagan now attends therapy sessions to keep his cravings - for alcohol, drugs or anything else - at bay.

"There are groups (for) people like me. We help each other out, have each others' back. So, you put all that shit out for what it is and examine it."

McKagan has two daughters: Grace and Mae Marie, aged 9 and 6, respectively. He says they are aware of his Guns N' Roses stories, but still think he is kind of a nerdy dad.

The bassist appeared to be in excellent physical shape last week. He says he works out regularly, and also does kick-boxing and martial arts.

Link to story: http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/sticky-carpet/2007/03/15/1173722606411.html?page=2

That ain't true - as far as I know Duff and Axl ended their professional relationship on somewhat decent terms.  Axl really wanted him to stay and offered him a lot of cash to do so but Duff felt the ride was over.  Other than that its a nice article.  Its one thing to quit booze and maybe have a few relapses before you kick it for good, but Duff doesn't have that luxury.  It would kill him.  Its cool to hear about how he's dealing with that.