In a recent interview with Classic Rock, Guns N’ Roses’ bassist Duff McKagan opened up about his personal struggles and the comfort he found in his bandmate, Slash. He dove into his battle with panic attacks and depression and how Slash became his ‘safe space’ through their shared journey in the music world.
Duff and Slash’s bond extends beyond just music. In the face of his ongoing struggle with mental health issues, McKagan found an unexpected pillar of support in Slash. With a calm demeanor, Slash was always there for McKagan and became someone he could rely on when he had his moments.
McKagan’s issues with panic attacks and depression weren’t easy to navigate, especially in the high-pressure world of rock and roll. The bassist confessed that these episodes were a recurring ordeal for him. But amidst the chaos, Slash was able to draw McKagan’s focus away from his panic attacks, steering their conversations towards other topics, such as music trivia or the intricate details of a particular Led Zeppelin record.
Duff McKagan’s words about Slash read:
“Guns N’ Roses get back together, and the relationships are wonderful. We’re communicating as grown men, and it’s like, ‘This is perfect. I’m sober. I get to experience this thing again as a grown man and really appreciate what’s going on, appreciate how good Axl is, appreciate how good Slash is….'”
He added:
“Slash has kind of been a safe person for me throughout this. I met him when I first moved to LA. I told him I had these panic attacks. He listened. He’s like, ‘Okay, well, if it happens, we’ll deal with it.’ I had plenty around him, and he knew just to talk to me about something – anything but the panic attack. He’ll start talking about, ‘Hey, that first Led Zeppelin record, did you notice they went into a-‘ whatever.”
It’s clear that the relationship between McKagan and Slash goes beyond the stage. In Slash, McKagan found not just a bandmate but a friend who was there for him, ready to listen and lend a hand when needed. Through all the fame and the challenges that came with it, this connection will remain a powerful part of their shared story.
