Duff McKagan’s “It’s So Easy and other lies” (cover art). ©Rainstorm Entertainment.
By a Front Row Features Staff Report
HOLLYWOOD—The life story of former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan will be the subject of a film produced by Rainstorm Entertainment, it was announced Wednesday.
Based on McKagan’s 2011 bestselling autobiography, “It’s So Easy and Other Lies” will be directed and produced by Christopher Duddy (“Cougar Club”).
Producing the film are Steven G. Kaplan (“The Big Empty”, “F*CK” and “Sunset Strip”) and by McKagan. The start date is scheduled for this year. Executive producers include Daniel Zirilli (“Locked Down”), Joe Mundo (“Sunset Strip”), Christopher Shelburne and Kati Thomson (“Sunset Strip”).
It is set to document the remarkable life of one of the founding members of both Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver. It is the story of the Seattle musician’s rise to the pinnacle of fame and fortune, his struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction, his personal crash and burn, and his phoenix-like transformation via a unique path to sobriety and eventual redemption. The book was a bestseller, with the film being targeted at not only McKagan’s fans, but to fans his bands Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver and Loaded.
“We are thrilled to partner with Duff McKagan on this impactful documentary which transcends the rise, fall and redemption of a rock star and delves into real life issues of addiction and sobriety,” said Kaplan.
McKagan co-founded Guns N’ Roses in 1985 with vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler. After their debut album “Appetite for Destruction,” which contained the hit singles “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” the band went on to continued multi-platinum success with such albums such as “G N’ R Lies” and Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II.” All together, the band has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, including 45 million in the United States. McKagan left the band in 1997 and then rejoined in 2010 for a few shows.
For more information on “It’s So Easy and Other Lies,” you can follow the production on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ItsSoEasyAndOtherLies).
