Sticky Carpet
Andrew Murfett and Patrick Donovan
March 16, 2007
From Guns to VelvetNo 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
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