Loaded

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Band Members:
Duff McKagan (bass and vocals)
Michael Barragan (guitar)
Dez Cadena (guitar)
Taz (drums)

Biography:
Bassist and singer Duff McKagan has bidden farewell to Guns N' Roses, overcome a record company layoff, established a new band, Loaded, and returned with maximum excitement to the world of rock 'n' roll.

"Loaded is another challenge and I think life should be full of challenges," he said. " Look I've played in front of millions and millions of people and it was amazing, but now I've got a challenge like, well, lets see what you've got Duff."

To leave Guns N' Roses, one of the worlds biggest rock bands ever, was not easy for McKagan. But his passion for music, his feet on the ground as a player put him ahead of the band's uncertain future, caused by continuing line-up changes and constant delays in the recording of a new album.

Putting his career on track, Mckagan spent 1998 and part of 1997 at his home studio in Los Angeles working on "Beautiful Disease", his second solo album since 1993's "Believe In Me". However, due to the merger between Geffen and Universal records, he was told in February the album would no longer be released.

"I worked for a year and a half straight every day except for Sundays, "McKagan remembered." Put yourself in my shoes -imagine me getting that phone call! So I had to regroup and the people who helped me are the guys in my band now."

McKagans's helping hands were guitarist Michael Barragan (Plexi), Dez Cadena (Black Flag) and drummer Taz (Reverend Horton Heat). They found the perfect musical chemistry and formed Loaded- a powerful rock band with a punk edge.

"We're more of a band than just Duff McKagan," McKagan reflected. As always when there is a band name not just one guy's name. It really isn't just me anymore. That's all I ever wanted in the first place."

Loaded finished in May a one month West Coast tour. The overwhelming response from the audience inspired the band to go right back into the studio and contlnue writing songs for it's debut album, to be released in the late fall.

"I'm not gonna look too far ahead. but the feeling to me is great," I've got aband and we've got people coming after us. It's good to be hungry!"

Discography:
Episode 1999:Live (1999)
Dark Days (2001)