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Exclusive Interview: Chatting With Loaded’s Duff McKagan

Published

15 years ago

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Bloody-Disgusting has scored an exclusive interview with Duff McKagan (ex-Guns N Roses, Velvet Revolver) of Loaded! Check after the jump for the skinny on the new album, the Loaded film, Duff’s opinion of horror, and a lot about Foo Fighters! Oh yeah, there’s a bit about goat f*cking. Seriously. 

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Photo Courtesy (link NSFW)
Don’t forget to snag the new Loaded album on iTunes.

How are you doing?
I’m good, thanks!
With ‘The Taking’ having come out a few weeks ago, what’s new with Loaded? What’s the main focus now?
Besides being fucking killer? [laughs] No, we’re done. We put the record out. We’re done. We’re gonna make another record. Just kidding. Just joking. [laughs] We’re about to go to Europe in a couple of weeks. We played a bunch of shows our release week and we did the Golden Gods award show the night after our record came out. And that will come out soon. That’s kind of as good as touring the States, because that’s going to air a ton of times and that goes a long way to explaining what is Loaded to the American eye. It’s kind of tough for a band like us to break in the States. We’re a little left of center. People in Europe and South America could give a shit about that. 
What’s the story with the documentary done by Jamie Chamberlain? Do you know a release date?
If it was just a simple documentary, it would be out by now. However, it’s a movie. There’s a lot of performance. The album is the soundtrack for the movie, but there is also almost a madcap, comedic storyline to the movie. It looks amazing! There are some hilarious parts. I think he’ll be done editing in June. Let’s just say this summer. 
So, I have to ask; what’s with the cover of ‘The Taking’? That picture is kind of creepy!
It will all be unveiled when the movie comes out. Patience, my son! Patience! [laughs] The movie is about our drummer getting kidnapped by a former Soviet State. There’s a ransom, and we’re trying to raise the money to our drummer, Isaac, back. So, the cover of the record is kind of a two-fold thing. 
The record was an accidently concept record. After we had record 16 or 17 songs, we had to pick 11 songs for the album. We were putting those 11 songs together and only then was it unveiled that the record had this concept. And that’s how records usually work; one song goes into the next song, which goes into the next song. 
In the movie, we went to the absurd. Our drummer gets kidnapped for fucking goats or doing something untoward to goats. [laughs] That’s why he’s held for ransom. 
But the record has this dark, heavy, twisted feel to it. 
Speaking of creepy and eerie, are you into horror films at all? If so, what are some of your favorites?
I am! [laughs] Have you seen the movie Drag Me To Hell?
Of course!
That kind of shit! I’m a bit of a latecomer to horror, but that sense of humor and zombie movies. Maybe I missed out when I was a kid and Rob Zombie had it right the whole time. I wasn’t exposed to it. When I watched Drag Me To Hell with my wife a couple of years ago, I was thinking, “This is the best fucking movie ever!”. And now we rent movies like Piranha 3D. Basically, anything that is as dumb as it can get, we go for it. I’m not a latecomer to smart yet twisted shit. I’ll go towards things like Blood Meridian, the book by Cormack McCarthy. But yeah, it’s never too late to say, “It’s never too late.” I may be a latecomer but I’m also a newcomer to the horror genre.
If you don’t mind my asking, can you give me any update on Velvet Revolver? The fans are on the edge of their seats jumping at any bit of news!
Umm, no. Nothing I can really say about that. [laughs]
You know, I read a few weeks ago a quote from Dave Grohl where he said that he thinks that Foo Fighters is finally out from the shadow of Nirvana. And that nagged at me because, for instance, at the Superbowl, when Slash rose up out of the stage playing ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, I remember thinking, “When will these guys be recognized for what they’re doing now, for Velvet Revolver and Loaded and not have Guns N Roses constantly looming overhead?”. What’s your take on the situation?
By Slash doing that, he knows that he’s putting himself squarely back at step number one. With Velvet Revolver….I know what Dave’s talking about, he does all the interviews for the Foo Fighters. That’s a band, a killer band too, that for all creative purposes and touring purposes, it acts like a solo project regarding all the interviews. And since he was a member of Nirvana, I’m sure he’s had to field all those dumb questions. “Do you miss being in Nirvana?” “Do you miss Kurt?” God knows! I can make up a million questions that he’s probably been asked. And with this latest record, he probably feels like he’s gotten the least of those questions. I’m only assuming, but it’s an educated assumption because I know what that’s like. 
Being from a big band is great because you can do other bands. We wouldn’t be talking about Loaded if I wasn’t in Velvet Revolver or Guns N Roses before that. I’m proud of my past. It’s fucking killer! Sometimes, the art that you make, you hope that the interviewer doesn’t bring those up. But I can dig it. 
But I think that the Foo Fighters have been well out of the shadow for a while. They’ve eclipsed all things a long time ago. I think they’re a great band. 
Left to my own devices, I tend to go darker and weirder and it’s fun. There is a bit of humor to the whole thing, but Loaded is a serious rock band. 
Duff, thank you so much for your time and best of luck!
Thanks a lot! Cheers!
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Music

‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ Celebrates 60 Years with Limited Zoetrope Vinyl Release

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1 week ago

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June 10, 2026

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A Halloween classic turns 60 this October, and Craft Recordings is celebrating with a special limited edition vinyl release for Peanuts special “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”.

Arriving August 7 and available to pre-order today, this anniversary reissue comes pressed on an eye-catching 45 RPM zoetrope LP, featuring memorable scenes from the special on each side, plus a new essay from Sean Mendelson.

Get a peek at the cool new release below.

The release features Vince Guaraldi‘s jazzy score, including favorites like “The Great Pumpkin Waltz,” “Graveyard Theme,” and, of course, the iconic “Linus and Lucy.”

After its first official release in 2018 and rerelease upon the discovery of the original master tapes in 2022, the soundtrack returns to vinyl in its entirety, alongside a selection of rare outtakes.

If the zoetrope LP isn’t enticing enough, look for a variety of limited-edition Halloween treats that can be found at exclusive retail partners, including an Orange 4-inch Tiny Vinyl (Target) available starting July 17, featuring “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” on Side A and “Graveyard Theme” on Side B. Pumpkin-shaped pressings will also be available in exclusive colorways from August 21st, including Electric Pumpkin Patch (Barnes & Noble), Pumpkin Spice (Walmart), Ghost White (Target), and Candy Corn (Craft Recordings). Additionally, the Orange Pumpkin pressing will be back by popular demand at all major retailers.

In the 1966 animated special, the Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween. Linus hopes that he will finally be visited by The Great Pumpkin, while Charlie Brown is invited to a Halloween party.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown tracklist:

Side A:

1. Linus and Lucy

2. Graveyard Theme

3. Snoopy and the Leaf/Frieda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)

4. The Great Pumpkin Waltz

5. Linus and Lucy (Reprise)

6. Charlie Brown Theme/Charlie Brown Theme (Minor Theme)/Graveyard Theme (Reprise)

7. The Great Pumpkin Waltz (Reprise)

8. The Red Baron/Military Drum March

9. The Great Pumpkin Waltz (2nd Reprise)/The Great Pumpkin Waltz (3rd Reprise)

10. Graveyard Theme (Trick or Treat) (2nd Reprise)

11. Fanfare/Breathless/Graveyard Theme (Trick or Treat) (3rd Reprise)

12. Charlie Brown Theme (Reprise)

 

Side B:

1. Breathless (2nd Reprise)

2. It’s a Long Way to Tipperary/There’s a Long, Long Trail A-Winding/Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag/Roses of Picardy

3. Graveyard Theme (Trick or Treat) (4th Reprise)

4. Linus and Lucy (2nd Reprise)/Linus and Lucy (3rd Reprise)

5. Charlie Brown Theme (2nd Reprise)

6. Linus and Lucy (Alternate Take 1)

7. Graveyard Theme (Alternate Take 1)

8. Charlie Brown Theme (Alternate Reprise Take 1)

9. Linus and Lucy (Alternate Take 2)

10. The Great Pumpkin Waltz (Alternate Reprise Take 2)

 

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