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Re: Latest Duff Interview
Steve Bell of Australia's Time Off magazine recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan. A few excerpts from the chat follow:
On the fact that their collective pasts may put more pressure on them to produce the goods, and opens them to more public scrutiny than the average band:
"I don't think any of us pay any attention to that at all. I've never, ever felt pressure '” I've never felt pressure to follow up one record with a better record. It's just about keeping it real, and if people dig it then that's cool, and if they don't that's cool too.
"Once you start trying to make music a product and start following a formula '” and I know bands who do this, they follow the formula of their hit record instead of just following their instinct of what a good song is to them '” then it's all over. You've got to write for yourself first."
On how the material from the band's second album, "Libertad", is being received:
"It's been going over good. We've done a lot of South American dates, and that was pretty unreal. It's a great place to start a tour if you're us. We didn't know how many fans we had down there, and it was fucking insane.
"Then we went to Europe '” that was great. We did a couple of North American runs, which were also cool '” we had ALICE IN CHAINS opening on the last one. They're fucking awesome and really good friends of ours, so it was cool. It's a fun record to play live, and it's great now that we have obviously a couple of records worth of material to play.
"We're doing a cool thing in the middle of our set where we strip everything down and do some old songs from our collective bands '” some STP and GN'R songs. Songs that you might not expect us to play, and we sort of sit on stools and do them semi-acoustically. It's pretty cool. It's worked really well, I think it's powerful."
On being able to embrace their incredible pasts:
"It's better than having a past that you're fucking trying to hide from '” maybe if I'd been in WINGER we wouldn't be so open to it. Nothing against WINGER, of course, but you know what I'm saying. I mean it's true '” the songs we wrote in GUNS N' ROSES were fucking killer songs, and they're great to do live, so why not?"
On whether the former members of GUNS N' ROSES feel that Axl Rose is tarnishing the amazing legacy that they left behind:
"I haven't really paid attention to it '” maybe part of me doesn't want to. Probably a large part of me doesn't want to. I haven't tried to analyze it too much. As far as the name being tarnished, I think that's for the fans to figure out on their own.
"I have my own feelings about it and I keep them pretty private, but I hope that one day Axl and I can at least talk and be friends. Because we did a lot together. We did some pretty amazing things, and it's kind of a shame. He's always talking trash, and it's kind of goofy at this point, I think."
On the the biggest change that McKagan has noticed in the music industry between the '80s and now:
"The biggest difference now '” and this is really over the last, like, seven years '” is back when Gunners was doing it a tour was still thought of as something to promote your record. That's the way it had been since the 50s, but now with record sales slumping everywhere bands are figuring out other ways to make money on the road.
"So now, really, a record is sort of like advertising for your tour. That's where bands are getting smarter about touring economically, and paying more attention to merchandise and T-shirts and all that shit. Doing 'meet-and-greet' packages '” all kinds of shit. And it's now not a bad thing to have your song on a commercial, or in a movie or on a ringtone '” that's just the way it is now.
"Whereas ten years ago that would have been fucking 'selling out!' It's not even considered selling out any more, it's just good business. So really the biggest change in the music industry is actually the business of music. Not much has changed as far as songwriting or the attitude towards playing music live '” you keep it real and you keep it honest, and the rest will follow."
On having had some pretty incredible adventures over the last 20-plus years:
"I guess so, man. I wish I remembered more of them. There's a period from '90 to '93 that I don't remember, but for the most part it's been great. I'm alive to tell some of the stories anyhow, and I look back and know that I have had a pretty great run.
"I'm 43 now and I'm still out doing it, and still kind of looked at as a semi-viable proposition as a musician. And I think I've fucking earned that by now. Obviously the most fun thing for me is having a great family, and being a father that my girls look up to, and leading for them by example. For me that's the most important thing '” this rock music is all sort of just frilly extra stuff."
Re: Latest Duff Interview
"I haven't really paid attention to it '” maybe part of me doesn't want to. Probably a large part of me doesn't want to. I haven't tried to analyze it too much. As far as the name being tarnished, I think that's for the fans to figure out on their own.
"I have my own feelings about it and I keep them pretty private, but I hope that one day Axl and I can at least talk and be friends. Because we did a lot together. We did some pretty amazing things, and it's kind of a shame. He's always talking trash, and it's kind of goofy at this point, I think."
I'm tellin ya, I really don't think these guys are as gung ho for a reunion as alot of people seem to think. They clearly have issues with what Axl has done with the name and legacy. Whether you agree with them or not, none of that can be repaired. Time machines don't exist. Sure, they could eventually be on speaking terms at some point(Axl and Izzy), but anything they consider damaging to the name and/or legacy is permanent.
- Communist China
- Rep: 130
Re: Latest Duff Interview
Yeah, the reunion does seem less likely, but not out of the picture. It is beginning to look as though GN'R will fade away without that last bookend of CD or reunion.
- Jimmy Zig Zag Bobiadis
- Rep: 25
Re: Latest Duff Interview
duff is such a great dude, he'd be so cool to meet and talk to, seems pretty grounded, and its good to see him take the high road on the gnr questions
agreed
On whether the former members of GUNS N' ROSES feel that Axl Rose is tarnishing the amazing legacy that they left behind:
"I haven't really paid attention to it '” maybe part of me doesn't want to. Probably a large part of me doesn't want to. I haven't tried to analyze it too much. As far as the name being tarnished, I think that's for the fans to figure out on their own.
"I have my own feelings about it and I keep them pretty private, but I hope that one day Axl and I can at least talk and be friends. Because we did a lot together. We did some pretty amazing things, and it's kind of a shame. He's always talking trash, and it's kind of goofy at this point, I think."
When was the last time Axl has even mentioned Duff? He talked about the former members a lot at RIR 3 in 2001, there was a press release in 2002, a couple comments on stage in 2002, and then the whole Slash meeting Beta thing. As far as I can tell him and Slash have had way way way more to say about Axl then he has about them. (edit: none of what Axl has said is recent at all)
On the the biggest change that McKagan has noticed in the music industry between the '80s and now:
"The biggest difference now '” and this is really over the last, like, seven years '” is back when Gunners was doing it a tour was still thought of as something to promote your record. That's the way it had been since the 50s, but now with record sales slumping everywhere bands are figuring out other ways to make money on the road.
"So now, really, a record is sort of like advertising for your tour. That's where bands are getting smarter about touring economically, and paying more attention to merchandise and T-shirts and all that shit. Doing 'meet-and-greet' packages '” all kinds of shit. And it's now not a bad thing to have your song on a commercial, or in a movie or on a ringtone '” that's just the way it is now.
"Whereas ten years ago that would have been fucking 'selling out!' It's not even considered selling out any more, it's just good business. So really the biggest change in the music industry is actually the business of music. Not much has changed as far as songwriting or the attitude towards playing music live '” you keep it real and you keep it honest, and the rest will follow."
pretty interesting, you can tell Duff has a good handle on the business aspect of all this. Record sales are shitty, so they do whatever else they can do. People bitch that the meet-and-greets were over priced, but I think its a great way to get a chance to meet the band without worrying about fighting crowds and bugging them when they dont' want to be bothered. And if they can make up some of the lost revenue from album sales that way, cool.
Re: Latest Duff Interview
JB, its certainly possible that Duff is referring to things going on behind the scenes that isn't on the forums. We already know by some of the actions by Beta and the official site that they sure seem a little too concentrated on Slash and the past, so its not far fetched that they are talking shit behind closed doors.
I agree about Duff's business sense. He definitely didn't waste his time in college.
Re: Latest Duff Interview
JB, its certainly possible that Duff is referring to things going on behind the scenes that isn't on the forums. We already know by some of the actions by Beta and the official site that they sure seem a little too concentrated on Slash and the past, so its not far fetched that they are talking shit behind closed doors.
Exactly. Obviously, "The Letter" had quite a bit of 40something millionaire trash talking in it for one. And these guys all live, work & sue one another in such close proximity, that there's bound to be gossip shared that never makes it into print. For all we know, Izzy could be a double agent. 
- DoubleTalkingJive
- Rep: 74
Re: Latest Duff Interview
Duff does seem like he'd be great to talk to. Great interview, I enjoyed it. James you are probably right because Axl doesn't talk anywhere that we would find out about it. As much as a reunion is unlikely, I do think it's cool that he wants to talk to Axl and try to be friends considering their past together.
I wonder if Axl is thinking...now this is a long shot but you never know...if I let these guys in, I just might like it and I just might want to play with them again. Then he'd be caught in the middle of his feelings, being loyal to his current band and how much time they put into it, opposed to reconnecting with his old band. Look how he was with Izzy on stage in 06, it seemed emotional for them both, they really enjoyed each other and you could see it.
