Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan did not have a smooth journey while making his solo debut project.
In 1993, Mckagan marked his solo debut by dropping his album, "Believe in Me," toward the end of his stint with Guns N' Roses. After his fruitful career, he returned to the band following their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Duff McKagan Recalls Recording Process of Debut Album
On Tuesday, October 17, McKagan recalled the making of his 1993 solo debut project and revealed why it was not an easy process at all.
In his interview with The Guardian, the bassist revealed that he was f----- up when he made it decades ago.
"It's a great snapshot of where I was at in 1992," he said. "I could still play. I played drums and all the s--- on there, but I couldn't sing. I had so much cocaine in my throat, and you can hear it all in my sinuses."
McKagan was eventually hospitalized soon after the album's release due to alcohol-induced pancreatitis. At that time, he was told that he was weeks from death.
The musician has been open about his substance abuse journey, revealing that he started smoking cannabis in fourth grade, consuming his first drink in 5th grade, and using LSD in 6th grade.
When he entered junior high school, he found himself relying on cocaine and stealing cars.
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Duff McKagan Reveals Struggles With Panic Attack
McKagan's revelation about his debut album came after he opened up about his struggles with panic disorder since he was 16. After finding out about the issue, he reportedly started self-medicating.
"You have safe people who can talk you through a panic attack. Slash [of Guns N' Roses] was, and still is [a safe person]," he said. "Having a few rips off a vodka bottle would also stop it. I drank so much in my 20s to self-medicate and that's not the way to do it."
The musician is currently gearing up ahead of the release of his third solo album, "Lighthouse" on October 20 via BFD/Orchard/Sony. It features Iggy Pop, Jerry Cantrell and Slash, among others.
It also includes 10 of the 60 songs he made and recorded amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, his side project Max Creeps released the album "Nein" on May 13.
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