10 Most Underrated Band Members
6. Duff McKagen - Guns N Roses
Guns N Roses truly annihilated their competition in the late 80's thanks to their down and dirty attitude. Where many of the bands seemed to have the same type of poodle haircut and power pop image, these guys were taking a more authentic approach to hard rock and giving it a punkish delivery.
No matter how much destruction they left in their wake, many couldn't take their eyes off of frontman Axl Rose and lead guitarist Slash. However, right there alongside that duo was Duff McKagan, whose bass lines gave the band its necessary backbone. While the rest of the band were into more hard rock acts like Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin, McKagan's background in the hardcore punk scene gave the band a greater sonic depth that they wouldn't have had otherwise. McKagan's songwriting contributions also made for some of the band's most jaw-dropping moments like on the sledgehammer tune "It's So Easy."
Even when not playing his own tunes, McKagan's melodic phrasing on songs like "Sweet Child O Mine" are so beautiful that you could unironically sing along to them. Though many fans lost their minds when Axl Rose and Slash made amends for a Guns N Roses reunion, the real heart of the band was not fully healed until McKagan fully returned to the fold.