It's So Easy: and other lies - Duff McKagan

[HMW]

Let's get it clear first that I am not, and have never been, a big fan of Guns n' Roses. There is no denying that Appetite for Destruction is a hell of an album, and I sure listened a lot to it back in the days. But apart from that I never really cared what they were up to, the following albums simply didn't appeal to me.

Here's the thing: you don't have to be a fan of, or even like, Guns n' Roses to enjoy this book (it helps if you are into music though). McKagan has an interesting story to tell, and as opposed to a lot of other biographies from worn out ”rock stars”, he can write really well.

The same factors that made Appetite for Destruction a great album are true for this book. It feels honest, ballsy, and to the point. As suspected, it tells a by now well known story of a struggling artist who cannot handle fame, the pitfalls into addiction, and later the recovery. Yeah, we've heard it before, but unlike other books you actually really care for this guy, there is no whining, just brutal truths.

If you know and care a little about rock n' roll history, this is a truly positive ride. Dig in!

 

[skimom2]

Sounds interesting! Do you know if he had a co-writer (or ghost writer)? I just finished Paul Stanley's autobiography last week. He's honest about his and the rest of the band's strengths and weaknesses, both personally and professionally, and it was just a lot of fun to read, whether you're a KISS fan or not. I ended up liking him a lot as a person.

 

[mustangclaire]

That sounds really interesting, I was a big fan back in the day.

 

[SutterKane]

I might be interested in reading this. Unlike you I actually loved Guns N Roses when I was a kid. One of the first actual concerts I went to in 1992 was a GNR/Metallica double bill. I was like 9 years old, my moms boyfriend at the time took me. They had that song "You Could Be Mine" from Terminator 2 that I use to play to death on my old cassette player. I actually heard Duff recently played a show with Axl's horrid new GNR line up, out of all of them he always seemed like the one with the least negative things to say around the break up, while Slash, Axl & Izzy were acting like middle schoolers. I'm curious to read his take on the whole thing.

 

[doowopgirl]

Let's get it clear first that I am not, and have never been, a big fan of Guns n' Roses. There is no denying that Appetite for Destruction is a hell of an album, and I sure listened a lot to it back in the days. But apart from that I never really cared what they were up to, the following albums simply didn't appeal to me.

Here's the thing: you don't have to be a fan of, or even like, Guns n' Roses to enjoy this book (it helps if you are into music though). McKagan has an interesting story to tell, and as opposed to a lot of other biographies from worn out ”rock stars”, he can write really well.

The same factors that made Appetite for Destruction a great album are true for this book. It feels honest, ballsy, and to the point. As suspected, it tells a by now well known story of a struggling artist who cannot handle fame, the pitfalls into addiction, and later the recovery. Yeah, we've heard it before, but unlike other books you actually really care for this guy, there is no whining, just brutal truths.

If you know and care a little about rock n' roll history, this is a truly positive ride. Dig in!

Thanks for the review. I do get tired of whiney ex rock stars.

 

[Rrty]

Out of curiosity, in the Stanley and McKagan books, is there mention of how much money these guys made and the economics behind the types of deals they made? That's what always interests me when I'm reading these kinds of biographies, it's fascinating when the subjects take us behind the scenes of their financial world. (I loved the introduction to "Skeleton Crew" for that reason.)

 

[HMW]

Out of curiosity, in the Stanley and McKagan books, is there mention of how much money these guys made and the economics behind the types of deals they made?

Haven't read Stanley's book, but there are a lot of talk about money, and the mechanics behind the ”music business” in Duff's book. He went on to study... finance after he left Guns n' Roses!

 

[HMW]

One of the first actual concerts I went to in 1992 was a GNR/Metallica double bill.

Did you have to wait three hours for Axl to show up?

 

[SutterKane]

Did you have to wait three hours for Axl to show up?

No, I remember it being a great show from both bands.

 

[HMW]

No, I remember it being a great show from both bands.

Awesome!