Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses): the autobiography

“It's so easy and other lies”, just released by Il Castello, Chinaski Edizioni series, is the autobiography of Duff McKagan, in which the founding member of Guns N'Roses tells the story of his rise to fame and success, with its ups and downs.

In 1984, at the age of twenty, Duff McKagan left his native Seattle: both to pursue his musical ambitions and to distance himself from a heroin overdose that was decimating his circle of friends in the local punk scene. After a few weeks in Los Angeles, while spending the nights in his car, he responded to an ad posted by an unidentified “Slash” for a role as a bass player. Immediately afterwards, Guns N' Roses was born, of which McKagan recounts the trajectory towards a sequence of multi-platinum albums, dozens and dozens of concerts in stadiums around the world, international glory and the more serious and problematic side of fame.

When the band began to fall apart, the bassist realized that his days were numbered too. Miraculously surviving the devastating effects of alcoholism, his near-death experience will prove to be a watershed, the turning point towards a personal journey made of sobriety and unexpected choices.

Duff McKagan is the original bassist and co-founder of Guns N' Roses and contributed to many of their greatest hits. He formed Velvet Revolver with historic bandmate Slash and played in other successful bands, as well as leading a solo career. Graduated in Marketing and Economics, he started a wealth consultancy company. With numerous colleagues, he does his utmost in various charitable activities. He lives in Seattle with his wife, supermodel Susan Holmes, and their two daughters.