Music

Duff from Guns N' Roses: A computer plays bass guitar

21/03/2017 written by Carlotta Henggeler
23 years after their break-up, Guns N' Roses are returning to the concert stage in their original form. The cult rockers will be stopping off in Zurich this summer. Their own financial expert will also be there: bassist Duff McKagan.

There was no hope for a long time. "Not in this Lifetime in German": "Not in this lifetime" was Axl Rose's annoyed response in an interview to the question of whether there would ever be a Guns N' Roses comeback with the original line-up. Rose was too much of a diva in his heyday, the musical rift was too deep: Guns N' Roses collapsed as an original combo in the mid-nineties. Life in the fast lane, with its huge amounts of drugs, alcohol and wild parties, takes its toll. Everyone goes their own way, only the smart ex-chorus boy from Indiana, Axl Rose, is still allowed to call himself Guns N' Roses. The slimmed-down formation continued to tour for two decades. No wonder, the name works like a magnet. The fans are loyal. Rose's charisma on stage remains, but the set doesn't ignite, the brilliance is missing. Rose doesn't care, he continues to work on his new album "Chinese Democracy" for thirteen years, battling his demons and addictions.

Drugs and alcohol also almost cost bassist Duff McKagan his life. At peak times, the blonde bassist drinks beer, red wine, vodka and takes drugs. The first sip of schnapps in the morning. McKagan says: "I was already known as a big drinker in the mid-eighties. I was also known as the king of beers," says the 52-year-old. In 1988, a cartoon film production came knocking, wanting to know if they could use the name Duff as a label for a beer. They were allowed to: "I had no idea that it would become The Simpsons and that within a few years, Duff beer glasses and clothes would appear everywhere we toured."

Narrowly escaping death

Reunited friends: Duff McKagan, Axl Rose and Slash (from left to right) are back on tour together.
Bottle after bottle, Duff keeps going. Things are going well, "Appetite for Destruction" is one of the most successful albums of all time. Guns N' Roses have reached the rock Olympus. Between 1991 and 1993, they toured 31 countries and played 192 concerts. The band rents a Boeing 727 with a lounge and bedroom for everyone for their tour. Axl Rose cannot cope with the fame. He keeps the fans waiting for a long time or doesn't show up at all. The higher the wave of success, the lower the fall - Duff McKagan experiences this wisdom on his own body. In 1994, his pancreas swells to the size of a football. It is acutely inflamed and causes internal burns. The doctors barely save him. McKagan took the hint, and from then on he gave up alcohol and the like. Back at home, the busy musician is bored and deals with his finances, because: "Young musicians have no idea about wealth planning. They think their career will go on and on. But that's a big mistake." He goes to college and studies economics at university.

Together with two investors, he founded Meridian Rock in 2011, advised showbiz stars and invested in the stock market: "In the early 1990s, I bought Amazon and Microsoft shares, for example," he says in an interview. Since then, further investments have been made, such as in Starbucks shares. McKagan is one of the wealthiest rock stars in the world. How much more does he have in his account thanks to the stock market? "I don't know that. But I've already made good money on the stock market." He is not interested in money: "Just sitting there and doing nothing, that's not my thing. I have to have something to do, then I'm happy." Then the father of two, who writes columns and does martial arts, is happier than ever. He has been touring with Guns N' Roses since April 2015, with a stop in Zurich. Plenty to do for the rock star with a flair for numbers.

GUNS N' ROSES - Not In This Lifetime Tour
7.6.17, Letzigrund Stadium Zurich
TICKETS

Translated with DeepL