DUFF MCKAGAN: 'I'd Love To Play With PRINCE'

TheSunsetStrip.com recently conducted an interview with Duff McKagan (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES, DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

TheSunsetStrip.com: "Married to Rock" [the new reality TV series that follows the lives of three rock star wives, including Duff's wife Susan Holmes], are we going to see a second season? How has that been having cameras in your personal life?

Duff: Well, the things I did with Susan were great and she came off great, and she had a great time doing it. I don't know if there's going to be a second season. They haven't told us anything yet. As far as cameras in my personal life, I think I probably put more stress on myself. Just making sure the contracts were structured correctly… You know, limiting what they could and couldn't use, and you know, I just didn't want to look like a buffoon. I didn't want to be that guy walking down the street and be known as "that reality show guy." I'm a musician first and foremost, and forever, and I don't want to be known later on in my career as a reality show TV guy. So I think I just put stress on myself… It was innocent, if anything a younger audience who may not have recognized me does now. We kept it controlled; we didn't show our kids.

TheSunsetStrip.com: You have a degree in finance. What are your thoughts on the state of the music industry and the market for music?

Duff: Well, there's always going to be a "market" for music… There's always going to be a want for music… You have to learn to budget… How much is gas? You can't just jet across from Seattle to Salt Lake City, and then back up to Portland. The old tours, you would just kind of take whatever was available and not worry too much about gas and expenses. But now you just have to tour tighter and know what you're doing… and cut deals for your T-shirts, that's where you're making your money and keeping the band afloat. This is our job. This is what we do to pay our mortgage, our rent, keep the refrigerator full, support our kids, all that stuff. The general public doesn't really think of that, and I can't expect them to… and there's nothing I can say to you that can change someone's thought process on that. That's just the way it is. Bands are licensing out music to whatever now, and I think the audience understands that. We have to do sponsorships... to tour. Fifteen years ago, if there was a partnership with Toyota or something, people would've cried "fucking sellouts," or whatever, but nowadays the audience doesn't say that. You just got to be smart. You have to be on top of your game. You have to be running a business.

TheSunsetStrip.com: You've played with everyone who's anyone. You've toured the mega-arenas around the world. What's left to do? Do you have any personal musical goals left that you feel you need to accomplish?

Duff: I'd love to play with Prince. I played on the Iggy Pop record, and he's my guy… I played with Steve Jones; he's my guitar hero. Prince is the guy, probably the biggest musical influence all around for me, and I got to meet him one time, but I was so fucking tongue-tied that I didn't know what to say… But to be able to play on a song or something like that; that would be pretty bad-ass, just on a personal level. You know there's a hundred things I could think of I have left to do, but it's been great so far. I've never really sat there and thought about it; about what I've done so far, and how does it feel. I probably should do that one day, but it's not happening yet. Probably a good sign.

Read the entire interview from TheSunsetStrip.com.