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It's So Easy: And Other lies

by Duff McKagan (Goodreads Author)

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 1,955 ratings · 273 reviews

A founding member of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver shares the story of his rise to the pinnacle of fame and fortune, his struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction, his personal crash and burn, and his phoenix-like transformation via a unique path to sobriety.

In 1984, at the age of twenty, Duff McKagan left his native Seattle—partly to pursue music but mainly to get

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Hardcover, First Edition, 366 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by Touchstone (first published 2011)

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Feb 08, 2013 ♠ Sharon is an emotional book junkie ♠ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013

I'm not going to do a full review for this since it's pretty obvious what it's about. I will say that it was non-stop interesting and a very smooth read. However, 'It's NOT Easy' to read especially about things like the vomit...ugh!!

**On a side note...for all my romance reader friends, I do have to say I don't think we will ever read one of our books about a musician having sex with a girl in a cockroach infested apartment and the girl being okay with it!!

and it's definitely interesting to know...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Anthony rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobio

Interesting book. I've read Slash's book. I've read Adler's book. Both gave unique accounts of their lives and what they went through in GnR. Their books were a bit more salacious than Duff's. Probably because they used professional writers to help them and the publishers wanted to sell books. Since Duff wrote his own book he probably doesn't feel his daughters need to hear the exact details. I respect that. I wish this book was a little more detailed. I would have liked to have found out more a...more

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May 13, 2012 Scott Axsom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“It’s So Easy (and Other Lies)” is the most compelling book I’ve picked up in a while. Duff McKagan is an excellent writer with a highly accessible style and his story is nothing if not riveting. Indeed, McKagan himself comes across as highly accessible and deeply grounded in his art. All of which makes this a very, very enjoyable, if disturbing, read but, as the book progressed, particularly as it described his recovery, I found myself more and more removed from his story, and it took me a whil...more “It’s So Easy (and Other Lies)” is the most compelling book I’ve picked up in a while. Duff McKagan is an excellent writer with a highly accessible style and his story is nothing if not riveting. Indeed, McKagan himself comes across as highly accessible and deeply grounded in his art. All of which makes this a very, very enjoyable, if disturbing, read but, as the book progressed, particularly as it described his recovery, I found myself more and more removed from his story, and it took me a while to discover why that was.

I’m no rock and roll junky - I had never heard of Duff McKagan prior to reading his book – but I found many, many things in his story with which I strongly identified. I think it’s safe to assume that anyone in recovery from, or in the throes of, any addiction will see a lot that they recognize in McKagan, regardless of how deep the insanity reached in his particular case. As with so many addicts, he is a super-achiever; he suffered profound childhood trauma; he’s seen more than his fair share of death. All of these things are exceedingly common among addicts. I also personally related to his love of the outdoors (especially mountain biking) and his dedication to his art. He is an admirable and humble man by any conventional measure, and he's somebody most among us would probably be glad to call a friend.

So what is it that began to turn me off about his story? I guess there were a couple of things: First was, though he emphasized his common-man roots and he has indeed held true to his upbringing despite the temptations of his station, he seems to place an undue emphasis on the stature of those friends with whom he surrounds himself in his recovery. Though McKagan is certainly one of the best at what he does and it makes sense that he would surround himself with people of similar ambition and achievement, his emphasis on this fact made his recovery seem considerably less grounded to me.

Secondly, his story begins to make clear that his initial recovery was actually the replacement of one addiction with another but he writes this section with what seems to be a complete absence of awareness to this fact. Now I may be an idiot for not recognizing the literary device he’s using here (e.g., perhaps this seeming dearth of awareness is really meant to emphasize it), but it really seems that he never acknowledges this rather salient fact. He does briefly mention seeking help after his relapse but it is the briefest of mentions. As such, I never really know whether he finally began to discover the roots of his addiction. As someone in recovery, that would’ve been nice to know.

All-in-all, I enjoyed McKagan’s book on a deep, almost visceral, level - as a writer, his skills are stellar – but I think I hoped for a better story of recovery and redemption. I inferred that his, ultimately, is just such a story but this book doesn’t quite tell that part of the tale. Otherwise, I’d have given it five stars, as it’s really a very good book and he seems like a good, good man – someone from whom we could all learn a lot. (less)

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Nov 06, 2011 Mitchell Caplan rated it 4 of 5 stars

After reading Clapton's book (terrific) and then Keith Richards book (even better) I didn't know what to expect from McKagen. Clapton clearly didn't write his book himself, and Richards read as if he was talking to you. I expected McKagen's book to be a big tell all about the debauchery that was GnR, but instead I found a very well written, well thought out story about his personal journey. I really enjoyed this story, but frankly, would have loved to hear more detail about GnR's amazing run. An...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-non-fiction, memoir

I am NOT a hardcore GNR fan, not even a GNR fan at all, but I really loved this book. I used every spare moment to read it and finished in two days. Sex, drugs, rock n' roll, and an inspirational story! Mostly, I think I was really into it because the writing was surprisingly good. I had heard Duff speak on the radio and could tell that he was intelligent and very articulate, making it likely that he actually wrote his own story.

I highly recommend this book to just about anyone who wants a drama...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Martijn rated it 4 of 5 stars

After reading the stories from Slash and Steven Adler, I think this is my favorite GN'R-biography so far. Maybe Slash's is a bit more spectacular but Duff's story is definitely the most personal and well-written one. Being from Seattle his background offers a different perspective on the L.A. scene and Guns' part in that. Quite inspiring too, reading how he kicked his addiction and changed his life 180 degrees.

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Jun 24, 2012 Amber rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoirs

I liked this rock musician memoir because he doesn't seem to embellish or unnecessarily shit talk the way some other rock musicians who write memoirs (::cough:: Nikki Sixx ::cough::) do. Duff comes across as eloquent and honest and tells his story, and it's a pretty amazing one. Here these guys were, playing in a tiny rehearsal space in Glendale that constantly got raided by cops and then a few years later they have their own private plane and mansions and are playing in countries all over the w...more

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May 13, 2013 Leon rated it 4 of 5 stars

A FOUNDING MEMBER OF GUNS N’ ROSES AND VELVET REVOLVER SHARES THE STORY OF HIS RISE TO THE PINNACLE OF FAME AND FORTUNE, HIS STRUGGLES WITH ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ADDICTION, HIS PERSONAL CRASH AND BURN, AND HIS PHOENIX-LIKE TRANSFORMATION.

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IN 1984, AT THE AGE OF TWENTY, Duff McKagan left his native Seattle—partly to pursue music but mainly to get away from a host of heroin overdoses then decimating his closest group of friends in the local punk scene. In L.A. only a few weeks and still living in his car, he answered a want ad for a bass player placed by someone who identified himself only as “Slash.” Soon after, the most dangerous band in the world was born. Guns N’ Roses went on to sell more than 100 million albums worldwide.

In It’s So Easy, Duff recounts Guns’ unlikely trajectory to a string of multiplatinum albums, sold-out stadium concerts, and global acclaim. But that kind of glory can take its toll, and it did—ultimately—on Duff, as well as on the band itself. As Guns began to splinter, Duff felt that he himself was done, too. But his near death as a direct result of alcoholism proved to be his watershed, the turning point that sent him on a unique path to sobriety and the unexpected choices he has made for himself since.

In a voice that is as honest as it is indelibly his own, Duff—one of rock’s smartest and most articulate personalities—takes readers on a harrowing journey through the dark heart of one of the most notorious bands in rock-and-roll history and out the other side.

Review

"You’ll read this memoir from the former Guns N’ Roses bass player for the sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but you’ll remember it for what comes after—recovery, family, and fulfillment.” (Los Angeles Magazine )

“In a book that mourns friendships and talent lost to drugs, his transformation is a relief and an inspiration. McKagan writes with honesty and even humility, seemingly refreshingly devoid of rock star egomania.” (Shelf Awareness )

“Honest, well-written…McKagan is surprisingly self-aware and candid, and he doesn’t let himself off the hook easily.” (Publishers Weekly )

“In his solid debut, the author…proves himself to be a legit writer.…McKagan has a nice eye for details and a surprisingly good memory. He’s proudly raw and harsh, refusing to hold back in terms of language and content…fans will be thrilled by this honest, detailed memoir."

(Kirkus Reviews )

“Fans will love the descriptions of the struggles and early triumphs of GNR, but McKagan's descriptions of his equally driven efforts at self-transformation are just as compelling (particularly his meditation on the redemptive power of reading and the satisfaction he receives in his intellectual as well as physical revitalization). Verdict: Rock fans—and would-be rockers—will find much to savor here. McKagan has packed a lot into his life and a lot of his life into this book. Readers will enjoy the ride.” (Library Journal

)

“McKagan recounts his (tale) with flamboyance and an engaging wit.” (Booklist )

About the Author

Duff McKagan played bass for Guns N’ Roses for twelve years and co-wrote many of their most iconic songs. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Duff formed Velvet Revolver with his former band mate Slash and fronts his own band, Loaded. He writes weekly columns for Seattleweekly.com and ESPN.com. McKagan lives in Seattle with his wife, supermodel Susan Holmes McKagan, and their two daughters. Visit Duff-ItsSoEasy.com.

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Dec 31, 2012 Missy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great book! I love the GNR story from all perspectives, but Duff McKagan is more than a fabulous musician. I was expecting entertaining stories about the day to day life in GNR and what he has done since. He delivered that in a well written and engaging way. It's a quick read, because you won't want to put it down. This book is about him living life fully- first in massive excess, then in pure discipline to creating something better and healthier for himself. He began to question not only his di...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Nathan Timmel rated it 5 of 5 stars

What I'm about to do is unfair, because I am going to compare art, to art. The reason I hope to get away with it is because when it happened to my book, I enjoyed it. "This book is what the movie `Funny People' should have been!" a reviewer exclaimed, meaning he finally found in my words what he had been searching for in another medium. That out of the way, my proclamation is: This book is what "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir" should have been.

The differences between the two books, and therefore...more What I'm about to do is unfair, because I am going to compare art, to art. The reason I hope to get away with it is because when it happened to my book, I enjoyed it. "This book is what the movie `Funny People' should have been!" a reviewer exclaimed, meaning he finally found in my words what he had been searching for in another medium. That out of the way, my proclamation is: This book is what "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir" should have been.

The differences between the two books, and therefore the two authors, is vast, as stark a contrast as day to night. Where Dave Mustaine is a finger-pointing child, always blaming others for his lot in life and ultimately taking the easiest of paths to justify all his previous behaviors (by finding religion), Duff is a man. He takes responsibility for every single one of his actions. He never blames others, he never makes excuses, Duff always squares his shoulders and does his best to discover and explain why he thinks he acted in any manner he may have. Though a book involving Guns & Roses could contain a vitriolic chapter railing against Axl Rose and his ego, Duff instead exposes his own shortcomings as a band member. Instead of blaming Axl for the downfall of Guns, Duff does what few people are willing to when reflecting upon the past: he examines his own actions at the time. And as he examines, he does so with the clarity of thought that you cannot change the past, you can only improve upon your character and move forward. There is no "I should have..." in this work, there is only "This is what I learned."

Duff employs a simple, yet catchy technique to provide flow to the narrative arc of this book: shifting space and time. Like many memoirs before him--Andy Summers in "One Train Later," Juliana Hatfield in "When I Grow Up"--Duff takes us from past to present occasionally, giving the reader a moment to see where he's at in life while writing his reflections of yesteryear. Duff seems to wrangle the timeline switch a little better than those two books, however, and every time we bounce from the past to the present it is a nice respite from the story at hand. Instead of any bit of the book becoming a drag, the narrative constantly refreshes itself, making you anticipate a return to the interrupted tale.

"It's So Easy" is a book about soul-searching, but it is not done in a whiny or sappy manner. This book is about being thoughtful, and demands focused attention from the reader. Personally, I devoured it in less than two days. Where Dave Mustaine ends his novel still a child, Duff emerges a father, husband, son, and brother... a man willing to continually examine the world around him and interact with it in a way befitting the whole of his friends and family, not just the ego in him.

Absolutely recommended for anyone who enjoys reading, not just those who were fans of the original Guns & Roses.(less)

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Stupidusatmaildotcom Or could the reason be that Mustaine and McKagan differ from one another in more than just one way?

You think they could they even have very different...more
19 hours, 57 min ago

Oct 18, 2012 Eileen rated it 4 of 5 stars

from the other rock n' roller autobigraphies i've read over the past few months, i would list it's so easy: and other lies as one of the most inspiring. But not in the rock n' roll, 'anyone can do this' way. But it applies something to life. Duff may not be a crazy lead singer, he may not be the sexy, swaggering guitar player, or the elusive rhythm guitarist of the original line-up of guns n' roses. But he's human. He's relatable, smart, and a pretty nifty writer at that. Reading this book kept...more from the other rock n' roller autobigraphies i've read over the past few months, i would list it's so easy: and other lies as one of the most inspiring. But not in the rock n' roll, 'anyone can do this' way. But it applies something to life. Duff may not be a crazy lead singer, he may not be the sexy, swaggering guitar player, or the elusive rhythm guitarist of the original line-up of guns n' roses. But he's human. He's relatable, smart, and a pretty nifty writer at that. Reading this book kept me up late into the wee hours at night,(although it was summer, so my 17 year old body can do that) not because i might have been looking for details of scandal, secrets, but because of how positive duff was telling his story, not writing a biography of guns n' roses, but telling it with an appreciative but honest tone, so that it's clear that duff was not lying about who he was, regardless of how he was the 'king of beers'. I do not recall finding anything pompous, bragging, or even bitchy the way that duff wrote, it was like a good friend sharing some memories with you. He has this way of connecting with the reader, so that you go on the same road with him emotionally which is rare in rock biographies, because...well...who the hell could relate to a rockstar? much less in one of the best and most popular rock bands in the whole world? I did feel sympathy when duff wrote about his reaction to the deaths at donington, his anger flare up from fights he'd been in, including one where he managed to break two of some guy's ribs, his embarrassment at attempting to give his two kids 'the talk', and how proud i felt at duff after bouncing back from his pancreas bursting, from going through the self-discipline that martial arts can demand, and the challenges with his biking and kicking his addictions. There's no intense rivalries, no tricks or deceit, but this book doesn't need any of that drama that other authors would complain about but still enforce in their daily lives. no, duff goes on a uplifting journey instead, sharing words of wisdom along the way, talking with pride and love about the women in his life- wife susan, and daughters grace and mae. His mother, whom he spoke of as a woman who can make anyone feel like the most important person in the whole world. Even Chloe, the golden retriever. His bestie Slash, his brother Steven Adler, and his long-time friend Axl Rose. I was not even interested in Axl as soon as I became a huge admirerer of duff, which was pretty early in the book. And not only as a once-smokin' hot bassist of guns n' roses (yes, but everyone was smokin' hot back then), but as an engaging, funny, and honest writer.(less)

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Jun 03, 2012 Manny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. When I first started to read this book, I though, "Here we go, another book about partying like a "rock star", drugs, women, destruction" I was partially right. However this book was gripping, insightful, motivational and truly inspiring.

How this man survived the 80's and is even alive today is beyond me. McKagan takes you into the dark annals of his life story. This man "partied like a rock star". From his early days of his panic attacks to the heavy alcohol induced h...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Christopher rated it 4 of 5 stars

Either whoever ghosted this deserves all the awards, or sobriety and a college degree can really change a man. This is much more thoughtful, contemplative and wise than Slash's blow by blow, shot by shot, blowjob by blowjob account of virtually the same events. While it contains little of the in-and-out nerdery of each song or anecdotes that I typically look for in a rock bio (Slash spent pages on detailing his gear, including a modified Marshall stack used on Appetite for Destruction; Duff disp...more

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Nov 18, 2011 Allison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non, rock

This book is why I love reading rock autobiographies. Duff comes across as intelligent and self-aware, but he doesn't act like he's always been that way. He admits to past mistakes and stupidity while he was living it up with Guns N Roses. He shares embarrassing stories about drugs and drinking, including throwing up, then consuming the vomit because there was alcohol in it. Instead of glorifying his former rock lifestyle, he focuses on how he overcame things. He fell in love, married, and now h...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Lisa Purcell rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. (Warning:Bean-spilling ahead)

I love Guns N'Roses, (and rock memoirs in general) but I never really gave that much thought to Duff (the bass player) as I was/am usually focused on Axl and Slash. But I must say- I am really liking this book (I'm halfway through at present)

I've learned some things along the way. That Duff was the youngest of eight! kids, that he was way into punk and not 'heavy metal' -a plus, since his influence is a big part of why Guns sounded so heavy, but somehow a million lig...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Tamelyn Feinstein rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-know-it-s-only-rock-n-roll-but, memoirs

I have a soft spot for rock and roll memoirs, and I've read quite a few. I've found that, overall, they tend to be quite self-indulgent, salacious, and entertaining; I've also found they tend to NOT be well-written, thoughtful, or deep.

I've never been a big G'n'R fan, although I appreciate their unique contribution to the late 80s - early 90s rock scene. However, when I recently came across an interview with Duff McKagan on an afternoon TV talk show, I was struck by his intelligence, thoughtfuln...more

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May 20, 2013 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall: Great read, even for someone who can only sing along with the chrous on 'Paradise City'.

Main review:
Okay, I'm going to get this out there right away - I am not a G N' R fan. Some of their stuff is okay, I guess, but I put them in a sort of bracket with bands like AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Airbourne; in short, not my musical cup of tea.

That aside, this is a damn good book, and full of surprises. Michael 'Duff' McKagan writes really well, and I know that I shouldn't find that as surprising a...more Overall: Great read, even for someone who can only sing along with the chrous on 'Paradise City'.

Main review:
Okay, I'm going to get this out there right away - I am not a G N' R fan. Some of their stuff is okay, I guess, but I put them in a sort of bracket with bands like AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Airbourne; in short, not my musical cup of tea.

That aside, this is a damn good book, and full of surprises. Michael 'Duff' McKagan writes really well, and I know that I shouldn't find that as surprising as I do, but there you go (He even references 'The Elements of Style'... what the...?). The guy is clearly smart, articulate and as honest as he can be. There is always an element of personal mythologising in any memoir, but at least Duff seems to recognise that (the fact that his ex-band mates have also written books would probably have been a check in that department too). Surprise number two was how into punk rock he was (and is, I suppose) - I know that all rock music stems from a common root, but it was really cool to get the references (I too, in my youth, wore the chain and padlock; just another teenager holding a torch for Sid. Luckily my padlock was just one of those rinky-dink key ones, so I didn't need some guy to cut it off my neck...).

I really like how frank he is about the business side of things, that was really interesting, and something I don't remember from any of the other rock autobiographies or biographies I've read really go into. It's bad manners to assume (and usually just plain stupid), but it's pretty common to assume that guys (and gals) like Duff wouldn't be that great shakes in the financial understanding, but again, I was really surprised. I mean, dude is smart, in a 'going to university and reading books for fun' kind of way. The fact that he went out of his way to get educated about it was really impressive.

Sure, some of the events discussed in this book is pretty 'tales of excess' kind of stuff, but again, compared to some of the other auto/biographies of rock dudes that I've read (I'm thinking of you, Marilyn Manson), it's actually bordering on coy. Which, now that Duff is a happily married-with-children-and-dogs kind of guy, I truly respect - he's not trying to impress you with how many and how much, he's almost trying to use his life as a cautionary tale for others. I think that was actually pretty brave.

I guess I was a little bit disappointed with the fact that he didn't mention his time with Jane's Addiction, but really, that was probably a bit too much wishful thinking, considering his stint with them was so brief. One of the best biographies that I've read of this ilk is the Jane's story, 'Whores: an oral biography of Perry Farrell and Jane's Addiction' by Brendan Mullen, and something that hit me when reading this one too was how small the L.A scene of this time seemed to be - everyone knew each other. Mind you, I suppose that's true of music scenes the world over, you just think that because L.A is so huge it would take an age to get to know even the core players.

I'm not sure how this book compares to the other stories of the members of Guns and Roses, but it was certainly compelling reading. I have to confess that I doubt I'd be rushing out to get Izzy or Slash's story, but if they fall into my lap one day (the books... not the guys, that would be weird and freaky), I'm a little bit more interested to read them.
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Oct 17, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Disclaimer - I may be abit biased as Duff has been my not-so-secret rocker crush for 20 years.

Quite simply, if you're looking for a tell-all and airing of dirty Guns N Roses laundry, you need to look elsewhere. This is the tale of one mans journey that happened to include the greatest rock band of it's time. It's hard to read - I knew Duff was a drinker but had no idea just how deep into a pit he fell - but it felt really inspirational to me. This is a guy that was a member of this HUGE band, li...more

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Apr 30, 2013 William rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, biography

I read this a year after I read Slash's autobiography. While both men told similar stories (and sometimes the same stories), the style was clearly different. Slash told his story as straight forward as possible; he told it as he saw things and tried to be a third person observer on his life. Duff McKagan's writing was much more introspective and emotional, and as such I felt like I had a closer connection to the former bassist of Guns N' Roses. McKagan's time in Guns made up a third of the book,...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Silvia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: musically-speaking

After finishing Slash's biography, I fell into a catatonic state. You know, I'm a huge fan of Guns n' Roses. Like, HUGE. And, well, the break-up part wasn't that easy to read. Probably because I always hoped for a reunion, and finishing Slash's book destroyed all my hopes D:

Duff's biography, though, left me in a catatonic-ly positive state.
He's such sweetheart. He's honest, funny, and..Well, he's kinda hot.

The part that moved me the most, I guess, was the Axl-and-Duff-London-thing. They hugged,...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Tim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Duff McKagan, the bassist in one of my all-time favorite bands, chronicles the good, the bad and the ugly of rock and roll. For many years he poisoned his body relentlessly with drugs and alcohol, yet he survived (barely) to turn his life around and share his first-hand experiences via It's So Easy: And Other Lies.

I'd previously read Watch You Bleed: The Saga of Guns N' Roses. Obviously the accounts and memories of the G N' R days differ at times. But I like to think Duff is using his book as an...more

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Mar 07, 2012 John rated it 4 of 5 stars

This autobio from GNR's bass player follows the band's rise and fall which mirrors Duff's own descent into alcohol poisoning. Duff got clean and sober soon after Kurt Cobain's suicide (they hung out on a flight to WA shortly before Kurt took his own life.) Growing up, Appetite for Destruction was a personal soundtrack. Its raw quality was not accidental and my turning to them at the same time I was listening to vintage Clash and Dead Kennedys now makes sense. Duff grew up in Seattle and arrived...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Rob Jansing rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Honestly, this may have been the best book I have ever read. As a Guns fan it was great to get an inside look at the behind the scenes stuff. It was very interesting to read a third party account of the Axl/Slash drama. But the heart of the book that kept me going was that this was a story of drug and alcohol addiction like I had never imagined. I don't think I ever fully appreciated the phrase "party like a rock star" until reading this book. It involves so much more than a "party" and is certa...more

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May 20, 2012 Joe rated it 4 of 5 stars

When it comes to reading autobiographies from rock stars, I usually try to skip them as they tend to not often remember too much or don't provide enough of the juicy details that is why we actually pick up the book. But Duff McKagan gives just enough to make this a very interesting and well written book.

While he could have named more names and given more details to certain stories, his look into his background and his time in Guns and Roses offer a lot more insight than the average biography wri...more

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Jul 29, 2012 John rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: music, autobiography

I always liked Guns & Roses, but I would never call myself a huge fan. I've had several copies of Appetite for Destruction over the years, and the first concert I ever saw (Ok, first rock concert) was Aerosmith with Guns & Roses as the opener, way back in August of 1988. I never really got into them enough to actually learn about the members other then the negative stuff that one reads in the paper.......the excessive drug and booze, Axl Rose throwing tantrums on stage or not showing up...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Patricia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

Duff--from Guns & Roses (and Velvet Revolver and Loaded)--describes his life as a musician, an addict, and of his life of sobriety. The writing is rough and unpolished, but enthusiastic and interesting, especially the details of the early G&R days. I was particularly interested in his journey to sobriety which I can sum up in three words: become a nerd. How could I not be delighted when someone's path to recovery includes reading, bike riding, martial arts and going to college?

My main qu...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm kind of sick of rock-and-roll memoirs, maybe I've read too many, but this one was really different. Usually after reading about a rock star I end up liking him/her a little less, which makes me sad. After reading this book, I like Duff McKagan a lot more. Yes there's descriptions of total Bacchanalia, but it's the "after" that where the book really takes off. Mr. McKagan pulled himself out of addiction-driven near-death to become and athlete and a financial wunderkind of sorts. I like that h...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Anthony rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am a HUGE Guns N Roses fan, so I was very stoked to read this book. Interesting to hear the perspective of one of the original members. Decent writing, some interesting inside info. Course, Axl has been blamed for the implosion of the group (mostly rightly so, I believe). Duff gives a good account of the crap Axl pulled... but remains friends with Axl. When Duff was in the hospital with a ruptured spleen, apparently Axl was the only Guns' guy to contact him at all.

Overall, I expected a good bo...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Tammy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am big Gn'R fan, I've loved them since the beginning. Duff was always my favourite member and I was so excited when he finally released a biography. I've read Slash and Steven Adler's books, which were great reads, but this one is by far the best. Very well written, and gives you a real and open look into Duff's life. I was truly surprised by his honesty with everything, I was also very inspired by his story. You don't have to be a Gn'R fan to enjoy this book, I think that everyone who reads i...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Alexis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

My friend mentioned that this is an incredibly well written rock bio and I'd have to agree. I think Duff actually wrote a lot of this himself, and he actually writes and reads and writes a financial column, of all things.

He talks about his time with Guns and Roses, and how he actually ended up getting sober. Duff's book is one of the only rock bios that discussed how to build a positive life after addiction. Most of the other rockers just seem to gloss over their sobriety, and then relapse. (He...more

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About Duff McKagan

In 1984, at the age of twenty, Duff left his native Seattle—partly to pursue music but mainly to get away from a host of heroin overdoses then decimating his closest group of friends in the local punk scene. In L.A. only a few weeks and still living in his car, he answered a want ad for a bass player placed by someone who identified himself only as “Slash.” Soon after, the most dangerous band in t...more

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“Yes, confidence was knowing I could do anything. But, I realized, confidence must always be rooted in work. In sweat. In pain-good pain. And in honesty.” — 1 person liked it

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