Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan is open about his mental health struggles – and the help he gets from one of his Guns N’ Roses bandmates.
McKagan says he suffers from panic attacks, and that Slash is one of the people he turns to for support: “I had plenty around him, and he knows just to talk to me about something – anything but the panic attack.”
Aside from Slash, McKagan also grabs his acoustic guitar as a “refuge” when he’s struggling. He recently released a three-song EP, This Is The Song, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month.
“This Is the Song was written in the middle of a panic attack,” said McKagan. “I couldn’t breathe and couldn’t see straight, and lately, I have thankfully found my acoustic guitar as a refuge. If I just hold on to that guitar, play chords, and hum melodies, I can start to climb my way out of that hole.”
“For those of you who have never experienced something like this, count yourselves blessed. To those of you who recognize what I am talking about: You are not alone!”
Listen to This Is The Song here.