DUFF McKAGAN – Believe In Me (1993 Geffen)
In 1993 Duff McKagan was not clean yet, at least not for good. It would take a critical medical emergency for him to get close enough to death and stop drinking. The cover of Believe in Me, a skeletal Duff bathing in a martini glass, reflects the last of the old Duff. It was his solo debut, following Izzy but before Slash. Guns’ own Spaghetti Incident? hit the shelves two months later, as the end of the original band creeped on the horizon.
Fans were probably experiencing a bit of Guns overload. Two albums, two live concert video tapes, loads of touring and music videos…Guns were everywhere from 1991-1993 and then it was the dawn of Guns solo albums.
Duff’s solo debut was a grab bag of different styles: punk, rock, funk, jazz and ballads. It was also loaded with rock star guest shots: Lenny Kravitz and Sebastian Bach sang one song a piece. Dave Sabo and Rob Affuso from Skid Row joined Baz on the album while Slash laid down a couple trademark dirty guitar solos. Jeff Beck dropped by, and just about every Guns member except Axl himself contributed.
Despite Duff’s ambition, the best tracks tend to be the rockers. Opener “Believe in Me” was a very Guns-like single: short, sweet, catchy and with a Slash guitar solo to hit it home. “I Love You” isn’t a ballad despite the title, in fact it’s a rocker and perhaps the best tune on the album. “Just Not There” also rides the GN’R train, normally bound for hitsville. Sebastian Bach’s “Trouble” is plenty of fun, and Lenny Kravitz gets angry on “The Majority”. These songs would have made a fine basis for a Guns album, but Axl wasn’t looking for songs that sounded like Guns N’ Roses.
An angry “(Fucked Up) Beyond Belief” (a song birthed from GN’R rehearsals) is noisy punk-rap, while “Fuck You” itself is basically a rock rap song featuring a guy named Doc. “Punk Rock Song” is exactly what it claims to be, but isn’t particularly memorable. The biggest mis-step is the muted trumpet jazz number, “Lonely Tonight”. At least Duff was trying something different, but his vocals and lyrics leave a lot to be desired.
During the period that Guns N’ Roses were inactive or just working behind closed doors, a lot of these solo albums really represented an alternate universe. “What if the original members didn’t leave and instead recorded a new album?” It’s possible these songs or songs like them could have been on that hypothetical album. Instead, Believe in Me was a launch pad for plenty of Duff projects and albums: Neurotic Outsides, 10 Minute Warning, Loaded, Velvet Revolver and many more. Duff has proven that clean and sober, he can be one hell of a prolific songwriter. Believe in Me is a good introduction to the many stylings of Duff McKagan.
3/5 stars
mikeladano.com 
I will admit I was sick of GNR by this time. I never listened to any of their solo albums until a few years back, but hadn’t made it to this one yet. I will put on my list, but no rush.
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So my theory of GNR burnout in 1993 holds water!
Yeah don’t rush. Neurotic Outsiders though, check them out!
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Will do!
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I just passed on this totally. Remember songs on telly but that’s it. I was already feeling that GnR had shat the bed and never thought Duff was all that key a member anyway. It’s the story of a man… etc.
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Scott I believe it’s pronounced “Stowy of a man.”
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Haha true. Maybe take the spaces out too? “Stowyofaman”
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That’s it exactly. If I were you, I’d start alerting those lyrics sites of the actual words ASAP!
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I will! Gonna contact them all. I’ll work as hard as I can.
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I just don’t get this album. I’ve tried, but no.
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I totally get that KK. I think if anything he tried too hard to prove how diverse his tastes were.
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Yeah i got the album on CD, heard it once and never heard it again in the same way Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds was purchased, heard once and never heard again.
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Of course I bought it but it was a quick listen and a move on….I was supporting my cd habit like a junkie looking for a hit…buy/buy/buy…..
I will dig ths one out and give it a twirl….
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I have an unfinished draft review of this for my GNR series, but I might just link to this instead! Pretty much sums this one up, Mike – spot on.
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Dang I wish I’d know, I would have hung onto it to synchronize. Truth is I forgot to ask because I knew about your series :(
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Ach, I’ve been planning to post about it for, eh, quite a few months now? But I dare say you’d have been waiting another few before mine would have been up anyway!
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I think I still have to review It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere….
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Did I do that one? I may have… did I? Now I need to check!
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I think you did…
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You are correct! I did!
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I wasn’t even aware of this one – sounds like I’d enjoy parts of it though.
Speaking of productivity when clean & sober, I gather he now dabbles in financial advisory, helping fellow musicians make good choices!
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Yes he got an economics degree and writes newspaper columns as well! Though that may have stopped since he’s on tour with Guns!
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Damn, I didn’t know this existed. But I wanna hear it!
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Shouldn’t be too hard to find at a $2 price!
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Man, he looks absolutely F—–d in that clip!
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He probably was!
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To be honest he looked healthier on the front cover.
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Never liked this album but I’m not sure if it was because of the songs themselves or if it was just Duff’s voice that ruined it for me.
Haven’t listened to it since it came out and I never bought it. Maybe I should check it out and see what I think today.
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I think it’s the age thing again, mellowing out as I get older. Been listening to a lot of Duff lately..Read a glowing review of Tenderness and just let it play on repeat a few weeks and then continued to more solo and then Loaded ones. Like them all a lot more these days.
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Duff is great isn’t he? I’m so glad he’s back in GN’R. Axl knows his value doesn’t he?
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