Duff McKagan

Duff and his band Loaded have been building a sound full up with earthy ground and pound. Sure there’s an undeniable streak of the platinum level hookery and crookery that took Duff to the very top of the candy mountain. But more so, look for a trashing about with the likes of Johnny Thunders and Hanoi Rocks, rifled through with a cocked ear to what was best about churning hard-edged alt. and indie rock through the ‘90s and noughts.

“What’s the motivation now?” is the multi-million dollar question one might ask the youngest of eight kids, an angry young punk who lived to see all his rock dreams come true. “Well, this is our third record, and man, I just think every band is in search of that perfect album or that perfect song - you’re still chasing it. It doesn’t matter. People will ask me, ‘How come you’re still chasing the perfect song?’ And I think any musician, doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been doing it, is thinking I haven’t written THE song. Loaded are a good band, we like each other and we genuinely love creating and playing music and touring together. So those things combined… there is still a carrot out there and we’re pursuing it.”

“When we play live, I think that’s what sets us apart,” says Duff, belying the importance of that side of the equation. “We’re definitely a hard rock band, and the songwriting is honest. We’re not in it… it’s not just Duff trying to line his pockets - we’re a working rock band. And I don’t know why, but I think this record is harder and even darker than ‘Sick’ was. It might have something to do with the fact that we wrote some of the songs when we were on the road for the ‘Sick’ record. Our band, our bus… you sort of get into this gang mentality, hanging together, thinking the same, watching the same news, witnessing the same things…”

“Still, as with anything I’ve done, with Guns or with Velvet, you’re definitely seeing my mark,” reflects Duff, in closing. “My stamp is on Loaded as much as it is on either of those two bands. But we definitely have our own twist. Sometimes we’re like the heaviest metal band, and sometimes we’re the jangly, poppy, nerdy Seattle band. I’d say we’re kind of a mix of those two extremes. But sure, overall the album is darker and sicker and more twisted. It’s still got our humor - our sort of wink wink, for sure, all over it - but I mean, if you’re listening to our record, you’re in on the joke. But you’re also in on the plot… to overthrow! (laughs). And that’s kind of our thing. Boy, that’s a good quote, huh?! (laughs).”