'This song saved my life': Guns N' Roses legend Duff McKagen on music and life ahead of Manchester tour date

Seattle is best known for producing two things: Starbucks, which opened its doors back in 1971, and grunge behemoths Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. What some music fans may not know, however, is that the American city was also the stomping ground of one of Guns N' Roses' founding members, Duff McKagan, pre-worldwide fame.

The Washington native, now 60, spent his formative years in the Seattle scene before moving to Los Angeles, rocketing to fame as the bassist for Guns N' Roses, one of the best-selling groups in history. While Guns N' Roses have been back together since 2016, the rock star is set to embark on his solo US, UK and EU tour of his third studio album, Lighthouse, which will grace Manchester Academy next month.

Lighthouse, which was released in 2023, has a clear Seattle influence, with much more of a punkier vibe than 2019's Tenderness. Ahead of his Manchester tour date, we sat down with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend to discuss the inspiration behind his latest release, his favourite books, and the importance of mental healthy advocacy.

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Recorded in 2020 during the height of the pandemic in a studio 'four minutes away' from his house, the album is a dedication to Duff's wife, Susan Holmes-McKagen, whom he wed in 1999. "The inspiration, lyrically, runs the gamut of things, me being appreciative of my wife and being reflective on life," Duff tells the Manchester Evening News.

"I draw inspiration from real things that happened to me or that I've observed. I really observe when I travel, I'm the guy that sits back and takes notes and appreciate where I'm at and it seems to come out in my lyrics."

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