Duff McKagan - Bassist
Age: 62
Country: United States Occupations:
Bassist
Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician, songwriter, and author best known as the longtime bassist for the hard rock band Guns N' Roses.
Early Life & Musical Career
Born on February 5, 1964, in Seattle, Washington, McKagan began his musical journey in the local punk rock scene, playing drums and guitar for bands like The Fartz, Fastbacks, and 10 Minute Warning. After moving to Los Angeles, he joined Guns N' Roses in 1985, bringing a raw, punk-infused rhythm style to the group's classic lineup. He played on iconic albums such as Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion I & II before departing in 1997, later rejoining the group in 2016.
Other Ventures & Writing
Beyond Guns N' Roses, McKagan has led a diverse career:
Supergroups & Projects: Co-founded the hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver alongside Slash and Matt Sorum. He has also performed with bands like Loaded, Neurotic Outsiders, Jane's Addiction, and Hollywood Vampires.
Business & Education: After overcoming severe health issues and achieving sobriety in the 1990s, he attended Seattle University's Albers School of Business and Economics and later co-founded the wealth management firm Meridian Rock.
Writing: He has worked as a columnist for publications such as Seattle Weekly, Playboy, and ESPN.com, and has published autobiographical books detailing his life and career.