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Duff McKagan's new memoir, It's So Easy: and other lies, is a brutally honest look at life in rock'n'roll, his massive substance abuse and near destruction from it and ultimate redemption. |
"Nobody dreams of being addicted."
My former colleague forwarded me an email about would I be interested in a new memoir by ex-Guns N' Roses bassist, Duff McKagan. I remember her slyly smiling as if to say, "What will you do with this one, Mr. Lange?"
To be honest, I didn't know either. GN'R weren't exactly my cup of tea back in the day, but on a lark, I sent an email to the publicist saying 'yes' to what I considered was a chance to read what might be a Spinal Tap-ish vanity publication by some empty-headed rocker. Besides, it was free.
Boy, was I wrong.
There is nothing vain or self-congratulatory about this compelling tale of a relentless ambition to first break into the Seattle punk scene and then to form Guns N' Roses, whose meteoric rise came with a heavy personal cost to McKagan.
Note: this cautionary tale pulls no punches and is not for younger readers.
Buy me at Amazon.