In a recent episode of the Broken Record Podcast, Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan lauded Axl Rose as the greatest rock singer, placing him at the pinnacle of his personal list of vocal talents.
During the podcast, when asked about who he believes is the best lead singer of all time, McKagan didn’t hesitate to name Axl Rose, saying:
“I mean, you have to put Axl. Just from what I’ve seen him do over all these years. What he does and how hard he works at it, his hour-and-a-half warm-ups and hour-and-a-half warm-downs and where he has to push, and we play a lot of shows. He’s a master. I’ve learned so much from him, singing. So much.”
Learning From Axl Rose
The musician went on to share the specific vocal techniques he’s learned from working closely with Rose:
“Really kind of dynamically how hard to push, where to push from in your body, how to tilt when you need an extra vowel and really like particular shit. Next, you need some more A in your vowel, how to tilt, and just minutia of how to do it because it’s all minutia. It’s from note to note to note. So, people I played with. He’s… I’m in a band with him. So of course I’m going to. He’s my guy. I think he’s just a master.”
Despite placing Rose at the top, McKagan also acknowledged other significant vocalists who have influenced him in the rest of his conversation. He mentioned Robin Zander, Ann Wilson, William DuVall of Alice in Chains, and Henry Rollins of Black Flag.
Duff’s Musical Influences Beyond GNR
In a contrasting perspective shared during a November 2023 interview with Spin, the bassist reflected on his experiences working with other music legends like Iggy Pop, Lemmy Kilmister, and Prince. He particularly highlighted his time playing with Iggy Pop, comparing the intensity of their rehearsals to those with James Brown and expressing his desire to be the best backing band Iggy Pop ever had.
Notably, in this list of influential figures, Axl Rose was absent, suggesting McKagan’s broad spectrum of musical admiration and influence beyond his Guns N’ Roses affiliation.
You can listen to the full podcast below.
