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 22nd January!
Steven Adler (Guns N‘ Roses)
Happy birthday to Mr. Michael Coletti aka Steven Adler, who was born on the 22nd January 1965 in Cleveland, Ohio (USA)! Steven is very well known as the drummer of Guns N‘ Roses (from 1985 – 1990).
Adler grew up firstly in San Francisco, but due to his bad behaviour he was sent to his grandparents in Hollywood. At the Bancroft Junior High, Steven became a friend of Saul Hudson, who later changed his name into Slash. During that time he began learning the drums. In 1983, Adler founded with Slash the band Road Crew. Bassist Duff McKagan joined and the trio began to rehearse some songs – one of them should became later the Guns N‘ Roses tune „Rocket Queen„. As they didn’t find an adequate lead singer, the band called it a day one year later. Steven Adler joined then a local band called Hollywood Rose, which featured vocalist Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin. In 1985, Axl, Izzy and several members of the band L.A. Guns founded Guns N‘ Roses. Slash and Duff completed the legendary line-up and the group started to play local nightclubs like the Whisky a Go Go, The Roxy and The Troubadour. In March 1986 the band was signed to Geffen Records. The debut album „Appetite for Destruction“ followed in July 1987 and it has sold over 28 million copies worldwide and it became the best-selling debut album of all time in the USA, by selling 18 million units. During that time, Steven’s drug problem became worse and the band decided to fire him on 11th July 1990. Adler’s last show happened on 7th April 1990 at the charity event Farm Aid IV, in Indianapolis.
After being an ex-Gunner, Steven Adler reformed his old band band Road Crew and briefly joined BulletBoys. In 2003, Steven formed with guitarist Keri Kelli (from Slash’s Snakepit) the band Adler’s Appetite. The line-up was completed by second guitarist Brent Muscat (Faster Pussycat) with bassist Robbie Crane and singer Jizzy Pearl (both formerly members of Ratt). The setlist consisted beside original material also of songs from the legendary Guns N‘ Roses first LP. The group broke up in 2011. Shortly after that, Steve founded his new band simply called Adler. The debut album „Back from the Dead“ was released on 26th November 2012 and it features also guest appearances from Slash and John 5.
Beside his activities as a drummer, Steven Adler appeared also on the second (2008) and fifth season (2011) of the reality TV show „Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew „, as well as on „Sober House“ (2009).
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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 to my Music Diary – today for the 7th October!
On the 7th October 1995 the album „Jagged Little Pill“ by Alanis Morissette topped the US charts. This LP became a huge success for Alanis and the best sellig album every by a female artist – over 30 millions were sold worldwide.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 29th September!
Jerry Lee Lewis
On the 29th September 1935 Mr. Jerry Lee Lewis aka „The Killer“ was born in the town of Ferriday, Louisiana (USA). The singer and pianist is considered as one of the greatest Rock’n’Roll musicians in history. At the age of 21, Jerry Lee Lewis traveled for an audition to the legendary Sun Records studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Jack Clement recorded the cover version of „Crazy Arms“ (formerly recorded by Ray Price) and Lewis‘ own composition „End of the Road“. One month later, in December 1956, Lewis started his solo career and became also a sessions musician for Sun Records. His unique piano playing can be heard on many recordings for artits like Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.
In 1957 Lewis recorded his first hit „Whole Lotta Shakin‘ Going On„. And more chartbreaker followed like „Great Balls of Fire„, „Breathless“ and „High School Confidential„. After his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin Myra in the same year, his popularity was quickly gone due to this scandal. He still recorded all over the years and especially his wild live performances in the sixties became legendary. The live album „Live at the Star Club, Hamburg“ (1964) proves this: „‚Live at the Star Club‘ is extraordinary, the purest, hardest rock & roll ever committed to record“, so music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine (Allmusic).
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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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 16th September!
Riley B. King aka B.B. King (born 16th September 1925)
In 1925 Mr. Riley B. King aka B.B. („Blues Boy“) King was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, USA. King is one of the most outstanding Blues musicians of all time. In 2011 the magzine Rolling Stone ranked him at number six on its year list of the „100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time„. Eight years before B.B. King was ranked on the third position of this poll.
King’s own description: „When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing my guitar Lucille.“
On the 7th November 1991, rhythm guitarist 
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