Duff on Chinese Democracy: "That was the record we started working on in 1994"

[von]

Australia's Time Off magazine recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

On the new VELVET REVOLVER album, "Libertad":

"By the time we came in to write 'Libertad' we really started to float out into areas that maybe we've never been into before, and this record is a lot more musical as a result. There are still the hard moments that will remind you that yes, we can rock better than anybody, but there's also very musical moments that will surprise our fans."

On working with co-producer Brendan O'Brien:

"There are five very strong personalities in the band and very strong egos. We're very proud of the songs we write and what we do, and he really understood that and just did an amazing job of putting us in our place and making a really awesome rock 'n' roll record."

On whether he felt pressured to make "Libertad" a success:

"Think of my career ? how can I ever feel any pressure? I might feel pressured if I'd never had any success, but that's just not the case.

"I heard stuff like, 'Are you afraid of your sophomore record?'. I don't think anyone understands that we really don't give a shit. What we give a shit about is making a good record that's true to what we are and what we feel."

On what he thinks about "Chinese Democracy", Axl Rose's GUNS N' ROSES record that's been in production for over a decade:

"Honestly, you probably know more about it than I do ? I'd bet money that you do. That was the record we started working on in 1994, but that band was so splintered at that point that nothing got started.

"It [GUNS N' ROSES] was too big. I think that's what happened ? we got too big and imploded. That's what's great about VELVET REVOLVER ? we have success but it's not too big. It's manageable."

- Blabbergeist

[GNRreunioneventually]

didn't we all ready know that it was in production in 94?

i wonder how different the demo are from back then to now

[CheapJon]

didn't we all ready know that it was in production in 94?

i wonder how different the demo are from back then to now

he's not talking about the song CD, he's talking about the record

[GNRreunioneventually]

didn't we all ready know that it was in production in 94?

i wonder how different the demo are from back then to now

he's not talking about the song CD, he's talking about the record

i know i was talking about the record.

i ment to say demos (plural)

my bad

i wonder if any one has those if they exist

[Dead N' Bloated]

It wasn't actually called Chinese Democracy back then was it? I thought it was completely different material?


 

[Communist China]

It wasn't actually called Chinese Democracy back then was it? I thought it was completely different material?


 

We don't know exactly when what was written (The name CD came in 99 I think?) but it's widely speculated that songs like Madagascar and This I Love originate from the post-UYI era.

[greendog]

It wasn't actually called Chinese Democracy back then was it? I thought it was completely different material?


 

We don't know exactly when what was written (The name CD came in 99 I think?) but it's widely speculated that songs like Madagascar and This I Love originate from the post-UYI era.

I never knew about Madagascar... but I knew about This I Love been from that period.

[Fingers]

Duff was actually on board until 96 or 97 I think-he mentioned that he played with Robin in GNR, probably when Robin first joined-Axl mentions Duff and Matt weren't interested in workig on Oh My God also, so Duff may know some of the songs

[bart123]

Duff was actually on board until 96 or 97 I think-he mentioned that he played with Robin in GNR, probably when Robin first joined-Axl mentions Duff and Matt weren't interested in workig on Oh My God also, so Duff may know some of the songs

no duff never mentioned workin with robin.show the evidence please??

[Grouse]

Duff was actually on board until 96 or 97 I think-he mentioned that he played with Robin in GNR, probably when Robin first joined-Axl mentions Duff and Matt weren't interested in workig on Oh My God also, so Duff may know some of the songs

no duff never mentioned workin with robin.show the evidence please??

I believe he actually did, since duff left in '97 and robin joined in '97...

[Fingers]

Duff was actually on board until 96 or 97 I think-he mentioned that he played with Robin in GNR, probably when Robin first joined-Axl mentions Duff and Matt weren't interested in workig on Oh My God also, so Duff may know some of the songs

no duff never mentioned workin with robin.show the evidence please??

Duff mentioned it in an interview that he has played with Robin-Slash was the first to go-Matt even mentions when Axl seen Robin play and told Matt he wanted him to play lead-I'll try and find the interview

[bart123]

yes i know matt said sumthing bout robin playing butt duff never did.

[Fingers]

On the HTGTH timeline Duff is listed as quitting GNR in Feb. 1997-I'm pretty sure Robin was in the band by then-Axl mentioned hiring Robin to play lead with Slash which means Robin may have been contacted by then and probably played with Matt, Duff, and Paul in some rehearsals-Duff did mention it in an interiew-I will try and find it-does anyone remember when Robin officially joined?

[Fingers]

MYGNR says Fink joined GNR in 1996, Duff left in 1997

[Jim Bob]

Well not a lot of info came out of the GnR camp in the late 90s, so we can't say exactly when Robin joined or when Duff left because we dont really know.  But I do remember Duff mentioned playing with Robin in an interview once.

[CheapJon]

Well not a lot of info came out of the GnR camp in the late 90s, so we can't say exactly when Robin joined or when Duff left because we dont really know.? But I do remember Duff mentioned playing with Robin in an interview once.

Yeah I'm sure about that too.. it wasn't that long ago either was it? i think it was something about if duff knew who were playing in gnr today and he answered that he had played or jammed with robin or something

[Butch Français]

Well not a lot of info came out of the GnR camp in the late 90s, so we can't say exactly when Robin joined or when Duff left because we dont really know.  But I do remember Duff mentioned playing with Robin in an interview once.

Yeah I'm sure about that too.. it wasn't that long ago either was it? i think it was something about if duff knew who were playing in gnr today and he answered that he had played or jammed with robin or something

yeah, I seem to remember this too.

[badapple81]

I doubt the material on CD has nothing to do with what was even worked on in any 94 sessions.

It's possible there is a cross over on some material that was worked on around 96/97, as didn't Axl say that Matt and Duff had no interest in working on 'Oh My God'..?

Things have changed so much even since then, the line up is different to Oh My God.. so I am doubting a lot of the first material from the new line up sessions won't even make it. Like Oh My God, Catcher in the Rye etc..

So really.. I doubt this is the record which they started making in 1994..

[bart123]

im sick of talking and thinking bout chinease democracy these days.weve covered every topic a million times over.it better fuckin be out this year.