Tommy Stinson: Duff McKagan Reuniting With Guns N' Roses to 'Help Axl Out'

[LordRazZ]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  DUFF'S BACK!!!!!  I don't even care if it's for a few shows.....

Tommy...you are amazing....you're a great bass player, and there's a reason why my two cats are named Duff and Tommy....

But....dude.....with all due respect....

DUFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BluesGNR]

Jarmo | HTGTH.com ‏@htgth
This just in from @DuffMcKagan: Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil! See y'all in the next few weeks, Si? GNR. pic.twitter.com/Y2OODC8MpJ

Wonder what is written above Crazy on page 1. The right hand page has at least 3 lines at the top of the page cutoff and it looks like another song title is written there (above out ta get me).

[Jayster]

the setlist kinda looks like Axl's writing...has that kinda block ish style his has

[JDA]

This should be a fun treat for us old and newer gnr fans. I remember seeing duff when I was 13( with gnr)and always thinking he was the coolest of the group.  Will be fun to see him in his old spot again, should be epic. That being said, can't wait to you get back, Tommy.

[LordRazZ]

This kind of looks like a "What Duff can play off the top of his head that we can do live" kind of list....not an actual setlist......but....dudes....Attitude?  COME ON!! 

[GNR4L]

I love Tommy and he is The General of the band.  It's good to see past members and GnR get a long. Duff always seemed like a cool guy, this just goes to show, how much respect Tommy and Duff have for each other.  Those who get to see these shows... I envy you.

[rebelhipi]

Wow this is crazy good!

people going to the gigs just got extra lucky.

it will be great to see him play chinese songs.
and no suprises on this tour huh?

i love that of all of the days they decided to announce it on april fools day

viva la bootleg

[Bridge]

South Americans are some lucky bastards!   

It's interesting, because not only will Duff have to learn Chinese Democracy songs, but re-learn old GNR songs he hasn't played in decades.  I mean, check out "Think About You" on that setlist, the original GNR lineup never played that live after 1986!  I believe Izzy played it during the 2000s when performing with Axl, but Duff hasn't played it for 28 years!   

[MR.BROWNSTONE]

Thats cool to see Duff. Nice to see some songs that have not been played in awhile or with this lineup. Like So Fine! Great to see Out Ta Get Me on the set. 

[FunkyMonkey]

Duff McKagan Reuniting With Guns N' Roses to 'Help Axl Out,' Says Tommy Stinson

April 01, 2014

GNR's former bassist is filling in on bass for five shows while Stinson tours with The Replacements. "I'm like, 'Thanks dude, for covering my ass on this one'"

Re-joining Guns N' Roses for five shows in South America is just Duff McKagan's way of being "a good buddy" according to current GNR bassist Tommy Stinson.

After McKagan tweeted a hint to that effect on Monday, the GNR camp confirmed that the group's founding bassist will spell Stinson, who was already locked into Replacements reunion dates, starting April 6 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and for the balance of the South American tour, including shows in Asuncion, Paraguay on April 9, La Paz, Bolivia on April 12, Recife, Brazil on April 15 and Fortaleza, Brazil on April 17. GNR opens the tour on Tuesday in Florianapolis, Brazil, and also plays April 3 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, with Stinson, who will be back in the GNR bass saddle on May 13 in Bethlehem, Pa.

"I had those Replacement shows come up the same time the (South American) tour came up, and it got to be a scheduling issue right out of the gate," Stinson tells Billboard. "I didn't want to fuck anyone up in Guns by saying, 'Hey, I can't do this tour' or anything like that. Luckily someone was able to reach out to Duff and he was amenable to the idea and was into doing it. It's Duff being the kind of good sport he is, trying to help Axl (Rose) out. So I'm like, 'Thanks dude, for covering my ass on this one.' I think people are gonna be really stoked about it. It's gonna be fun for everyone."

For his part, McKagan relayed through GNR's publicist that, "It's pretty great to play these songs again, and looking forward to playing some gigs with my pal again. South America is always a radical place for rock n roll...and I'm honored to be doing this thing, in that place."

McKagan, who was part of GNR from 1985-1993, has always been the member of the original lineup who's kept closest ties to Rose's current incarnation of the band. He joined the group for three songs on Oct. 14, 2010 at London's O2 Arena, and twice again that December when his band Loaded opened two GNR shows in North America. And, of course, McKagan played with other former GNR members during the group's 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, which Rose (and guitarist Izzy Stradlin) skipped.

"I don't know that Duff and Axl ever even had bad blood," Stinson says. "I don't really know the whole story. But he came up and played with us a couple years back, and they got along great. Whatever their history is, they're certainly fine now -- I means, as fine as you can be after knowing someone for 30-plus years."

Stinson says McKagan joined GNR for rehearsals in Los Angeles last month and will likely run through the set again before the Buenos Aires show, but Stinson notes that, "He's a fucking great bass player. It's gonna be a breeze. The only bummer is I don't get to see one of the shows he plays, especially after playing his fucking parts for 17 years. It would be interesting to see how he plays them. There's a couple things I could use some pointers on."

GNR will also be playing at the Rock on the Range festival on May 13 in Columbus, Ohio, then they start a nine-show residency on May 21 at the The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. "There's rumblings of other things to come," Stinson says, "but I'm not sure what those would be at this point." Would one of those be some new GNR music, perhaps a follow-up to 2008's "Chinese Democracy?" "I hope we would fucking throw ourselves in the studio and make another record," the bassist says. "A bunch of us have been writing stuff, so hopefully we'll get something going."

He also doesn't rule out more for the Replacements, who play April 11 and 18 at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and May 10 at the Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta. "We're going to go out there and have fun and play our fucking show and go from there," Stinson says. "Anything at this point could happen. As long as we're having fun doing it, I think we fucking do it for as long as we want. That's kind of our modus operandi right now -- go out and have fun and play our songs and make people happy and have a hoot. I'm just surprised people want it so much; it's a daunting prospect, but then again nobody's really expecting us to be anything better or worse than we were 20 years go, so it's not really that big of a hurdle to jump over."

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6029516/duff-mckagan-reuniting-with-guns-n-roses-to-help-axl-out-says-tommy-stinson

[D-GenerationX]

I thought I had heard something about this, but the conversation just sort of dropped off.

[Rickles]

Both Tommy and Duff are class acts. Kudos to them both.

[JAEBALL]

Both Tommy and Duff are class acts. Kudos to them both.

Fact

Awesome that he rehearsed with the guys

[nick6sic6]

Cool !
Looks like not even April fools works in GN'R universe.aaaand this is the first time Duff plays guns songs sober.
Looking forward to the updates. 

[GnR-NOW]

Good for both of them. I really like Tommy, had a chance to meet him during the last Vegas Residency.  It's good for Duff too. I hope this doesn't get carried away with full blown reunion rumors but it probably will. Axl even said in an interview a few years back he has no problem with Duff, so it should be fun for a few shows.

[Rocket Killer]

@ Duff's twitter account.

[sexkitten]

Wow! I'm so happy for the lucky fans that get to go to those shows! F'ing great!

[NCrazy]

Wow! That's awesome! I was completely floored when Duff appeared a foot in front of us on stage in London with no warning as YCBM Started- it was amazing how many people didn't even notice. Axl's insensity went thru the roof instantly when Duff was on that stage- I couldn't believe how electyfying the xperience was! the concert was brought to a level I had never Experienced before- Axl sang the fuck outta YCBM! I thought his Larynx was gonna fall out! I thought for sure that was a 1 time fluke & never thought they'd b on stage again so I am quite envious of anyone who gets to experience them on stage together again - for some reason the chemistry felt just right with the current lineup as well as where both Axl & Duff are at this point in their lives- I really hope he stays with the band for a while- whereas I don't think it could work with anyone else from the original lineup- just my 2 cents

[LIGuns]

Wonder if axl will introduce him as RNR HOFer Suff Mckagen

[Bridge]

Both Tommy and Duff are class acts.

Indeed.   

McKagan, who was part of GNR from 1985-1993

Actually 1985-1997 there, Billboard dude.

Duff has always been the member of the original lineup who's kept closest ties to Rose's current incarnation of the band. He joined the group for three songs on Oct. 14, 2010 at London's O2 Arena, and twice again that December when his band Loaded opened two GNR shows in North America.

Actually, I'd say Izzy has always had the closest ties with Axl's new band.  He's played numerous shows with Axl over the years beginning in 2006 I believe, and has always stayed in touch with Axl.  Duff didn't reunite until the aforementioned 10/14/10 shows in London.  Izzy and Duff are probably around equal now in terms of being of good terms with Axl.