The youngest of eight children, Duff was born as Michael Andrew McKagan in Seattle, WA, in the spring of 1964. He is probably best known as bass player in Guns n' Roses, Loaded and Velvet Revolver.



In 1980, at the age of 16, Duff McKagan becomes The Fastbacks' second drummer. Before joining The Fastbacks, he had played in the Vains and the Living (with Greg Gilmore). Duff McKagan had lived in San Francisco when he was in the hardcore band Silly Killers (drummer). He also played the drums in Seattle hardcore punk outfit The Fartz.



As The Fartz broke up in 1984, Blaine Cook formed The Accused, while McKagan moved on to 10 Minute Warning and eventually Guns N' Roses. Initially the band 10 Minute Warning had Duff Mckagan on drums, but when drummer Greg Gilmore joined, Duff switched to guitar.



In January 1985 Duff Mckagan and Greg Gilmore, both friends, moved down to LA. They started to answer ads and attending auditions together. Duff decided to start playing the bass instead of guitar.



Through one ad, in the Recycler, Duff met Slash and Steve Adler, the original drummer of Guns n' Roses.



Greg Gilmore attended a few of their practices, but he decided to move back to Seattle. Later he played in Mother Love Bone, which also included Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard, who both showed up in Pearl Jam.