On 21st July 1987 the long awaited Guns N‘ Roses debut „Appetite for Destruction“ hit the stores. The LP became a mega seller and sold over 30 million times worldwide.
Duff was taught playing the bass by his older brother Bruce and during his teenager years, he was in several bands on various intstruments. In 1979, Duff McKagan formed the Punk group The Vains and one year later, the single „School Jerks“ was released. In 1980 he joined the Fastbacks as their drummer, and two years later he became the guitarist of the Hardcore band The Fartz, which evolved into 10 Minute Warning.
In 1983, McKagan moved to Los Angeles, where he met guitarist Slash and drummer Steven Adler. This trio founded the group Road Crew, but it was very difficult to find a good singer so the band called it a day very soon. In June 1985, Duff became the new bass player in Guns N‘ Roses – a Hardrock group, which was founded by singer Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin. Shortly after that, also Slash and Steven Adler joined, and on the 21st July 1987 the legendary debut album „Appetite for Destruction“ was released. This LP became the best-selling debut album of all time in the USA, by selling 18 million units.
Until the big line up change (Axl Rose is the only founding member – Slash left in October 1996) in 1997, Duff McKagan was the bass player for Guns N‘ Roses.
Duff already founded the band Neurotic Outsiders with Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), John Taylor (Duran Duran) and Matt Sorum, before he officially quit the Gunners. The quartet released the self-titled album in 1996. One year later, this supergroup was history and McKagan moved back to Seattle, where he reunited 10 Minute Warning again. In 1998, this band broke-up and Duff concentrated more on his solo career. Beside several projects, McKagan founded with his mates Slash and Matt Sorum the group Velvet Revolver. Guitarist Dave Kushner and singer Scott Weiland completed the line-up and the albums „Contraband“ and „Libertad “ were released. In 2008, Weiland left to reunite his old band Stone Temple Pilots. Until today, Duff is playing in several bands and he also reunited with Guns N‘ Roses for some shows.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 19th November!
Happy birthday to drummer Matt Sorum, who was born on the 19th Novermber 1960 in Mission Viejo, California! Sorum is well known as the drummer of Guns N‘ Roses, with whom he recorded three studio albums. Before joining the Hardrock legends he worked with The Cult and Y Kant Tori Read (a project fronted by Tori Amos).
In 1990 Slash was looking for a new drummer and a replacement for Steven Adler. The Guns N’Roses guitarst saw Matt playing on the Cult tour, supporting the fourth studio album „Sonic Temple„. Slash was very impressed and asked Sorum, if he would like to join. So soon later he became the new drummer in the Gunners line-up and stayed for seven years. His powerful drumming can be heard on the three LPs „Use Your Illusion I„, „Use Your Illusion II“ (both 1991) and „The Spaghetti Incident?“ (1993).
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 7th November!
On the 7th November 1991, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin announced his leaving from Guns N’ Roses. The founding member of the American Hardrock band was replaced by Gilby Clarke, who filled in for the „Use Your Illusion„-worldtour.
Izzy Stradlin, his real name is Jeffrey Dean Isbell, justified his quitting of a combination of Axl Rose’s personal behaviour and the difficulties of being around with the band in general. In an interview with „Rolling Stone„, he later recalled: „Once I quit drugs, I couldn’t help looking around and asking myself, ‚Is this all there is?‘ I was just tired of it; I needed to get out.“
Izzy played his last show with Guns N’Roses on the 31st August 1991 at the Wembley Stadium in London, UK.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 31st October!
On 31st October 1996, guitarist Slash announced that he has left the Hardrock band Guns N‘ Roses.
In his book „Slash“ (2007) he remembers his historic decision:
„After working to make that band all that it could be for the better part of my life, saying good-bye to the institution I helped build was as alien as being launched into space. But once I’d done it, a weight was lifted from my shoulders and the lead was out of my shoes. It was like decompressing after a deepwater dive. The day I made my decision, I woke up early and called the powers that be to deliver the news, and went back to sleep. I don’t remember anything else of theat day aside from the fact that when I woke up again I was refreshed. I felt as if I’d just slept for a week.“
Slash was the lead guitarist in Guns N‘ Roses from June 1985 until October 1996. So after eleven years he was leaving one of the most successful rockbands in the world and started working on his solo career and other projects like Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver.
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Welcome back to my Music Diary – today for the 17th September!
On the 17th September 1991 the Guns N‘ Roses double albums „Use Your Illusion I“ and „Use Your Illusion II“ were simultaneously released for retail sale. This marked the largest ship-out in music history in the US.
„Use Your Illusion I“ reached only in Canada the number one in the charts. „Use Your Illusion II“ topped the charts in USA, Australia, New Zealand and in the UK.
The Estonian-American artist Mark Kostabi did the cover art, which is based on Raphael’s frescoes The School of Athens. Originally painted between 1509 and 1510 in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.
Raphael – The School of Athens (Detail)
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On the 7th November 1991, rhythm guitarist 
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