Duff McKagan Admits He Wanted to Emulate Iggy Pop

Duff McKagan was inspired to become a musician after dreaming that he was Iggy Pop.

The Guns N’ Roses bassist had already been curious about making music, but the dream intensified his passion, leaving him feeling “all-empowered.”

Asked if he ever wanted to be another artist, he told MOJO magazine: “Iggy Pop. I had a dream that I was Iggy when I was 12 or 13.

“I was on stage in the church basement rolling around and losing my s*** and felt all-empowered.

“The dream really flavoured my burgeoning intensity of making music – my ‘thing’ in life.”

Another musical experience around the same time also influenced Duff’s tastes.

Talking about the first record he ever bought, he said: “Kiss’ Alive!, from Peaches Records in Seattle.

“That cover blew my 12-year-old mind away.

“The three-chord songs would lead me to punk rock within the next 12 months.

“The groove of Strutter or Firehouse is just a short stone’s throw to Bodies by the Pistols.”

The Paradise City rocker admits it is hard to pick his all-time favourite album.

He reflected: “If I said Motorhead’s Ace of Spades… I guess I could sleep at night! So many good records… Led Zeppelin II or Sly and the Family Stone’s Greatest Hits? Refused’s The Shape of Punk To Come? Exile On Main St.? 1999? And on and on!”

However, there are some classic albums Duff revisits regularly.

He said: “The McKagan family party record is Sound Of Silver by LCD Soundsystem. We went as a family to see them at Coachella.

“[My Sunday morning record is] Mark Lanegan, Whiskey For The Holy Ghost.

“Everyone would do well to start their everyday with The River Rise.

“Mark’s voice envelopes the room when you listen to this record and all is right in the world.”