Why every bassist LOVES Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan is a man of many talents. When he’s not wielding a bass on vast stages in Guns N' Roses, you’ll find him channelling his thoughts into books and newspaper columns, practising martial arts, guesting on A-lister’s albums, advising musicians on wealth management, and - of course - adding to his own catalogue of stellar solo material.
There are some rock ‘n’ roll stories that you just couldn’t make up. We’ve captured as many of them as we can in this film, featuring some of the very biggest names in bass.
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★★★★★
“AN AWESOME INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD OF BASS”
TALKING BASS
★★★★★
“THE MOST INSANE REAL LIFE SPINAL TAP MOMENTS.”
SCOTTSBASSLESSONS
★★★★★
“WILD STORIES THAT YOU SELDOM HEAR FROM YOUR BASS HEROES.”
BASS MAGAZINE

[@trevornever27]

Total Keanu vibes

[@Meatball2022]

That’s true. They’re both pretty mellow guys…

[@Meatball2022]

Cali surfer types.

[@watts18269]

I’ve always thought that too 😂😎

[@trevornever27]

@@argylewinters6447 not so much about being similar musically other than they both play bass… just more so in their demeanor and kindness, low key and likable

[@ondrejkonopasek9363]

Id Keanu went through long term cocaine addiction

[@seiyulyu4854]

Axl and Slash were the obvious headliners, but Duff McKagan is by far my favorite member of Guns n Roses. This guy is a total gem.

[@colinswartz6022]

Whenever I think of Duff McKagen, I think about how he survived his exploding pancreas, replaced booze with mountain biking, and lived to tell the tale.

[@dathorndike4908]

The dude has the constitution of Keith Richards.

[@jaynault]

And attended community college and earned a business degree while he was recovering from pancreatitis!

[@WastedTalent-]

I remember turning on the radio or listen to Howard Stern and he was in the middle of a conversation with someone. I said, "That sounds like Duff, but sober." Then Duff went into how he stopped drinking because of his pancreas.

[@johnbattle7518]

Read his book couldn't put it down.Been a big fan ever since!

[@pentagonoenllamas]

He does have this "wait...I'm alive?" vibe when he talks.

[@Kartoffelkopf242]

I sat next to Duff at an awards dinner about 10 years ago and he was the sweetest most humble guy. I am a nobody but he was warm and friendly and chatted away to us whilst Jimmy Page and Steve Tyler sat at nearby tables. His lady friend was equally as charming.

[@Danny-fs1hk]

You’re not a nobody, and you’re cool for even being at an awards ceremony with all of those Rockers.

[@patrickpowers3850]

@@Danny-fs1hk Kartoffelkopf translates to potatohead.

[@sheridansay8667]

@@Danny-fs1hk If your user name is related to Blackadder, you are NOT a nobody!

[@Danny-fs1hk]

“Hey Duff”. That is so cool!

[@aaronleverton4221]

You almost get the feeling the Sir Paul was thinking of the single coolest way to completely throw Duff on his way to the stage as a troll.

[@tbx59]

@@aaronleverton4221 Maca to his assistant: what's the bloke's name playing bass in whatever band this is? Alright, this will twist his tits...

[@mrmustard4478]

@@aaronleverton4221 Either that or he was just thinking, "Hey Duff."

[@chrisfoster9080]

Can't get enough of that wonderful Duff.

[@chrisk920]

Omg this is a classic stonehenge moment!

[@FYMASMD]

I’m glad he is still alive. Too many guys didn’t make it. Good job Duff!!

[@TheRockinDonkey]

And he's still coherent. A lot of those guys aren't anymore.

[@chrisk920]

Amen to that. When I want to listen to some great no nonsense always in the pocket bass playing, I throw on Appetite. Great tone, great style and not a note out of place. He earned his eat back then. Happy he's alive and well....

[@fredfox3851]

It would be funny if McCartney knew Duffs name because somebody told him the story about his belt getting stuck to the stage.

[@davereloader8837]

😀 I spit out coffee.

[@a.abeyta6237]

A bassist, a kickboxer and an author. There is a second chance for everybody.

[@chrisk920]

Well said!

[@brianbednarek8232]

First time hearing him in 20 Years and his voice doesn't shake even close to how it used to. Really gives you hope; addiction will never go away but it can get better.

[@dominicgibson9529]

He seems like such a down to Earth, humble guy.

[@ROOKTABULA]

Coming within inches of dying gives one perspective, believe me.

[@alexeilindes7507]

Filthy rich too

[@dominicgibson9529]

@@alexeilindes7507 oh I know, but you can’t hold that against him. I watched his interview with the BBC’s “Hardtalk” show. That’s what gave me my positive view on him…check it out, it’s worth the watch.

[@creamwobbly]

No he doesn't. A humble guy doesn't talk about meeting Prints and make an impression on McCartney

[@alexeilindes7507]

@creamwobbly a humble guy doesn't buy entire artists libraries

[@johndinsdale4454]

Mark Lanegan spoken so highly of Duff in his autobiography. Said he really helped him out when he was in a bad way. Top, top bloke. Respect.

[@jenniferloring8112]

RIP Mark Lanegan.

[@dathorndike4908]

He also was one of the very last people to speak to Kurt Cobain. They sat together on that famous flight when Kurt escaped Exodus and flew back to Seattle just a day or so before his death.

[@peterclyde4650]

I love Duff, great man great player and his recovery story is inspiring.

[@EscapedTexan]

Love Duff. He’s the best. Heart of GOLD.

[@acb9896]

"Oh, lads look! That's Doof MaKeegun! 'E's in that band we all like. 'Goonz an Rozies' They remind me of oz wen we was fab!

[@Luigi1980]

All world must love Mr Duff McKagan.

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

I work at a hotel in hollywood. (I've been there a real long time.) he came through a few times some years ago, & he was as real & engaging & kind-natured to me, a regular old service worker dude, as he comes across in this vid here. my hat's all the way off to duff. he's a real one!!

[@NZLatic]

Loved this book. Such an eye opener and this guy deserves a medal for the way he turned his life around

[@marcramlpz]

Very humble, indeed. Great guy.

[@ZapHamburguesa]

Whenever a friend or fellow musician is in time of need or if there's a tribute to them, Duff is always the first one there. He's loved because he's a genuine, solid, and empathetic person. Great dude.

[@christopherweise438]

I'm so happy Duff has turned it around. When G 'n R first hit i thought Duff wasn't gonna live 5 more years. He looked used up already. He's really an articulate, intelligent, empathetic, caring human. I've never heard anybody say anything bad about him.

[@firstnamelastname-yf7zx]

Humble and a great bass player! 2 thumbs up!👍👍

[@timjeffries1555]

Because he rules the GnR basselines.

[@tgirard123]

I got to play with Duff one time at the Coconut teaser in LA for his ex wifes birthday. She was in this band "The Lame Flames" and my childhood friend, Howard, played drums for her. Duff couldn't have been nicer and totally put up with my complete lack of talent.... Wishing you nothing but the best Duff. I'm available if you still have the patience... lol

[@sunnybunnyfeeling7062]

I love the session he did with Jane's Addiction.

[@bzzzz1314]

Legend, and a lovely fella too by the looks of it! love his interviews, they're always so honest and lovely! would love to meet him!

[@user-mn4fy4xs3p]

The question is, why we never hate this coolest person in the world?

[@jtjt210]

What a nice bloke!

[@memyselfundeye]

Ever fly in/out of SEA, you will surely hear “Hey everyone, this is Duff McKagan of Guns n Roses” doing a PSA for the TSA about checking bags. I always have to join in when I hear it. Go Duff!

[@sstaners1234]

I would love to meet Duff McKagen

[@koreyarmstrong456]

He's a nice guy. Gave me a cookie first time I met him

[@frankgile1996]

Dude, I know so little about Duff, but everyone that has ever said anything about Duff, they've all described him as a great dude to hang out with, and a great person in general... Looks like such a cool person.

[@deletebilderberg]

I met Duff at the Roxy in 2019. Totally nice fella.

[@Smart-Alex]

I met Duff once as he was coming out of a gym in Chelsea, NY, and talked to him in a bodega. He's such a cool guy, and I broke the cardinal rule of never "engaging" celebrities. Even got a photo :)

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

Love Duff

[@runningsuperska]

That's a really cool book. Addiction is no joke. Thanks Duff.

[@roncarroll4136]

Duff is a great story teller indeed

[@debonaire_nerd]

I'm surprised Paul didn't say, "Hey, Bowie!"

[@grizelda4526]

Love and respect for Duff.

[@carminelombardi9575]

Any musician would envy that.

[@SolamenteVees]

Not a huge GNR fan but I heard Duff on Jim Rome's show years ago... I have tremendous respect for him and his journey.

[@MystressXOXO]

I love Duff! I had a friend back in the day who reminded me so much of Duff, lol. He had the same neck-to-head equal ratio, or that’s how I called it. 😂 Awesome guys, both of them. I’m glad I saw this because I’ll have to check the book out for sure! 👍🏻🙌🏻❤️

[@Meatball2022]

Seems like such a good dude

[@effess8698]

Confirmed. I'm a bassist and I love Duff McKagan.

[@dspf68]

that must have been mindblowing!!

[@robertfrederick4714]

Cool story!!!

[@noeltedd4298]

imagine reaction videos by famous rockers eg slash , motley crew , Aerosmith etc to the spinal tap movies , could be a whole new you tube genre

[@kingbee1971]

The "mini Stonehenge" belt catastrophe comment had me rolling.

[@williamsaldanah3554]

Love the Duff

[@marksgoogle4360]

Very underrated and unique style bassist

[@bhoqeem1975]

Reprint edition? Good book, that. I've read it a decade ago, and still have it on my Kindle. Duff is awesome!

[@jjmah7]

You played bass in Guns N’ Roses bro. Yes, Paul knows your name!

[@johnhunt1805]

Duf is an under-rated bass player, not least by himself. I steal from him all the time! Seems like the greatest guy.

[@brianf3207]

What a great guy

[@louismalinak5563]

Met him in Seattle a couple times. Nicest celebrity I ever met.

[@paulsimmons5726]

Seems down to earth!

[@ReddyFox73]

Stay humble, Duff .

[@user-nv2gw1tt5o]

Super cool dude. He’s a fan first

[@czipendejs]

one of the best bass composer, his lines are so melodic, so in pocket, so groovy that his not only play rythm but create music on bass. Great musican :)

[@johng2880]

So true. I was never a GnR fan, until some of the bands I was in as a bassist, started doing GnR covers. Holy crap was that shit fun to play. Totally changed my appreciation for the material.

[@bongocharm1332]

What a cool guy.

[@robertjova5400]

Every song he plays on It cuts through the mix Everytime

[@yourcitysleeps]

I was leaving a nice restaurant here in Seattle about 3 weeks back and Duff drove right past me in the parking garage.

[@amytomtan1594]

💚💛from the 206 and RHS

[@mztweety1374]

Great Bassist, great guy, and a true survivor. I still say "exploding pancreas" would make a hell of a punk band name😂😂😂

[@medler2047]

I think what I love so much about this is that he just sort of nonchalantly mentions one of the silliest metal bands ever, Spinal Tap. I love those goofy a' dudes lol.

[@ferox965]

Duff is a killer pick player.

[@peterjani5886]

Not just the bassists.

[@peterbellini6102]

Never forget a comment Duff made during an interview about how the rest of GNR was kind of uneasy about their first gigs in NYC. Duff was so stoked because he thought there was real dangerous passion in their NYC fans...like their leather jackets were real not LA-fake.

[@streamofconsciousness5826]

Duff Man likes his belts. OHYeahh!

[@Banjo_McBanj]

Hahahaha

[@Iconoplastt]

Every one loves Duff, how could you not... Now Axel on the other hand...

[@hoisin75]

It’s duff time

[@HigzyTeflon]

Duff McKagan is the Keanu Reeves of the music industry. Class act!

[@code-bleu3492]

I remember reading somewhere that Duff ended up sitting next to and chatted with Kurt Cobain on a flight to Seattle. Surprising given the earlier animosity Kurt had shown for Guns N' Roses. Duff got the sense that Kurt wasn't doing well and when they landed, he was going to ask if Kurt wanted to stay at his place for awhile. But after they collected their luggage, he turned around and Kurt was gone. Duff may have been one of the last people to see Kurt alive.

[@jimorgain63]

its the hair, like a rock star

[@KennyWright-bv7sr]

People must like you

[@1234drums]

Sweet ❤❤❤❤

[@PATMAN0910]

duff's a really solid musician. that's why the greats appreciate him. and he was in G n R. duhhh.

[@Fred.Carpenter]

I don't remember the circumstances, but my brother said he met Duff in Seattle back in the 80s or 90s. There are (or were) a lot of musicians in the area. Given the number of professional musicians I used to know and jam with, I'm probably one person away from any of them.

[@whatarefriends4]

Yeah see he’s cool. A rock star

[@RetroClassic66]

I know exactly what that feeling is like. I met Steven Spielberg’s mother at her restaurant in West L.A., the Milky Way, and I had called the restaurant a few days before to make reservations for lunch, and she answered the phone and took my information. Then the day of the reservation, we were running a little late, so I called ahead to let them know, and again, she was the one answering the phone; no problem, it’s okay. So we show up, and walk inside, and there she was, this little elfin gray haired lady with big blue eyes, and she looks at me and says “are you Joe?” And it was just like Duff said about meeting Paul McCartney. I said “yes,” and she took us to our table, but I’m thinking “Steven Spielberg’s mom knows my name. Steven Spielberg’s mom SAID my name. To my FACE!” And she was just the loveliest person ever. She spent time talking with us, and I found out that her famous son had actually been to the restaurant for lunch just the day before (which both crushed me and amazed me), and the food was simply outstanding, literally the greatest tuna sandwich I’ve ever eaten, EVER. But it’s a trip when someone you admire and is famous actually acknowledges your existence. It’s hard to describe, but it feels REALLY GOOD.

[@GibsonVienna]

Gunners Fan since 1987, but I never known Duff is left handed 😮

[@SanDiegoHarry1]

so for many years, I had zero respect for McKagan; he had latched himself onto a hair metal band that made it but his playing was "sufficient" at best (to my ears, as a long time bassist). Many years later, I heard an interview with him where I was stunned by how pleasant, humble and intelligent he was. After parking my car at work, I sat and listed to the whole thing and was glad I did. He may be no Jaco, but I decided I really liked old Duff. Good guy.

[@creamwobbly]

Which metal band was that? I know he was in a hard rock / AOR band named after Tracii Guns and Waxl Rose, but I'm struggling to think of a metal band he was in. There weren't even an that many ‘hair metal’ bands, but Manowar, Dio, Ozzy, and Pantry spring to mind.

[@SanDiegoHarry1]

@@creamwobbly in the '80s, GnR was about as metal as it got - for at least my tastes. My guess is that you're one of those "genre" fanatics. Good on you. Just relax. no one cares what you think metal is.

[@callingchristiano]

Rock music don't need Jaco.

[@SanDiegoHarry1]

@@callingchristiano no, but like many rock bassists who attach themselves to these very posuer / guitar forward bands, they all sound like guitar player who decided bass was easier. No swing, no feel and that's what GnR always sounded like to me and so I had little respect for McKagen - until I heard his interview. The dude is a humble sweetheart who seemed to have zero ego NOR did he sound like an '80s burnout like so many of those guys. Hard not to like that.

[@jsullivan2112]

GnR is rock n' roll, not hair metal. And honestly if you listen to Appetite For Destruction, genuinely sit down and listen to it and say it doesn't swing there's something wrong with you.

[@user-om9ix2lh3t]

Duff wants to know why Paul McCartney knows his name?simple you are a good musician And you matter.

[@njw1383]

Duff looking very thin these days. I hope he's ok! God bless you man

[@sandraoyns-wilson6098]

Oh my good god he's just so damn handsome.Seems like a nice and good person as well.So handsome.Not a bad bassist either! LOL!

[@cohokid6936]

3 coolest dudes ever from Seattle: Jimi Hendrix, John Clayton & Duff McKagan

[@lucianogoyenechea8704]

hey Axl, a "GnR" record without Slash & Duff will always be a solo record, u know that now right?

[@gwitch]

When he said, "You know Snake?" I thought he meant from Voivod.

[@thelolguy007]

He knows Duff’s name mainly because Guns n Roses were fuckin Huge. And of course because they covered his song ‘Live and Let Die’. And Paul McCartney actually tells a great story about that

[@Ruperth316]

Duff aged like a fine wine, the coolest member of GNR for sure, cooler than Slash and Axl

[@endlessnameless6494]

Never drink and drive. Never text and drive...stay SAFE and SOBER out there!

[@aussiesurfer805]

man that last but just rambled about all over the place - makes you wonder what question the interviewer asked him .... still he seems like a great guy too, a bit scattered, but a good guy

[@_munkykok_]

I don't get it, where's the punchline??

[@markwilliams7091]

cool

[@stevebradley704]

Part bass, part giraffe.

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

Paul McCartney didn't even know Nirvana until he had to play with the living remaining members. Maybe Macca really liked that rendition of "Live and Let Die." But seriously, "they're around because..." *THEY DIDN'T FRIGGING KILL THEMSELVES OR GET SHOT BY A RANDO.*

[@johnbrown4568]

Who is Paul McClarky?

[@fasteddie4145]

it's nice to see Duff got off the drugs and booze.....that wasn't likely to end well otherwise....25 years sober this August....

[@trikkke11]

Are you his nanny ?

[@MikeJH82]

Alcohol-induced pancreatitis is helpful in a way, because you know that once you've had it, you have to stop drinking or you'll die. Rex from Pantera was in the same boat.

[@SpotWorksLNC]

Close your eyes and picture Dave Grohl talking. They sound alot alike.

[@MM-rr1kp]

duff you play RHanded yes? did you switch from LH as a kid or always played RH?

[@thomaswatkins3686]

GnR was such a cool band. I mean maybe the last that started with The Beatles and stretched to right before Nirvana. When rock stardom was excess and money and clothes and cars. Sadly there’s only a few of those bands left. After Nirvana and a few others, music just kinda implodes.

[@theebadge]

Not really a fan but this dude has aged well.