Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan has revealed plans for the band to release new material. Though nothing has been announced regarding a release date, fans will be eager to hear more from the band as McKagan has described his total commitment to his original band despite also focusing on his solo projects. With previous album Chinese Democracy dropping in 2008, it’s been more than 15 years since a new record.
The Pop Cultural Influence of Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses have been a sensation since their debut in the 1980s and their influence has permeated popular culture well beyond their music, extending to art, games, TV shows, and comics. Frontman Axl Rose’s distinct style even had a major influence on fashion in the 80s and 90s that led leather jackets and bandanas to become all the rage.
The band even has an officially licensed slot game that can be played at LeoVegas, one New Zealand’s top 30 sites for local gamers. The Guns N’ Roses slot was created by NetEnt, a game provider that created over 20 of the most popular games. New customers and fans of the band can even claim a welcome bonus to wager on the game. The slot includes popular tracks such as Paradise City and Sweet Child O’ Mine.
Duff McKagan: New Music to Come
Duff McKagan hinted at new material from the Guns N’ Roses while discussing his solo ventures in an interview with Pełna Kulturka: “I’ve got a couple of songs coming out in a couple of weeks… And I have — one other record’s completely already arranged song-wise.”
“And I don’t know when I’ll put it out because there’s more Guns stuff to come here sooner than later. So I don’t wanna put out a record while Guns is doing a thing. I try to stagger all of that stuff. So when that record will come out, the next record, I don’t know. I could just put three records out at one time, but that’d be too much.”
McKagan highlighted the difficult task of balancing solo projects and the commitment to the band but didn’t reveal details of a release date or track lists. Regardless, the revelation has sparked excitement among fans who have eagerly awaited new material since 2008. The Guns N’ Roses toured extensively in 2023, culminating in a concert at the Hell and Heaven Festival in Mexico.
McKagan released his third solo EP Lighthouse in 2023. The album saw McKagan explore an emotional landscape that unveiled a more vulnerable side to the veteran of heavy rock. The album was compiled of his 10 favorite songs of 60 written during the pandemic. It was positively received by critics for its fresh yet familiar sound to fans of the Guns.
More Details on the Horizon
With the current Guns N’ Roses lineup also including original frontman and iconic guitarist Slash, fans continue to await with eager anticipation on more news of an upcoming album. As masters of reinvention, we expect another opus that blends the band’s distinct nostalgic sound with evidence of their maturity.
