Duff McKagan , bassist for Guns N' Roses , released a Q&A video on his YouTube channel on May 27th, featuring questions submitted by fans.
In one of the questions, fans asked about the new drummer, Isaac Carpenter , and how long he had known him. Duff replied, "I've known Isaac since he was in his first band called Loudermilk . They were in high school."
The bassist continued: “They’re from Washington State, so not too far from Seattle. And I’d heard of the band. They signed with American Records — Def Jam Rick Rubin ’s label . And they made a record. And they were, like, 18 years old. I think I met Isaac when he was 19. And I loved his band Loudermilk.”
“A few years later—a few years later, like nine years later, I needed a drummer for Loaded , and Isaac’s name came up. He was passing through somewhere I was, and he came over and we jammed together. I told him, ‘I have this tour. Would you like to join?’ And he was there. Then he and I made the album “ The Taking .” He and I wrote a lot of the songs for that album together in his garage. And I wrote a good portion of my book, believe it or not…”
“He had a couch in his garage that was really old and hurt my back. And that’s where I discovered I could write the darker parts of my book better, because I was in physical pain. So, I would go to his house just to use the garage and the couch to write. So, I’ve known him for a long time, I think. Now that I think about it—25 years. And it’s great to have him in the band. It’s fucking awesome.”
Duff Mckagan Praises Isaac Carpenter
Duff was also asked what the drummer brought to Guns N' Roses that might have been lacking before, and he said: “I’ll tell you what Isaac brings to the band. No comment on Frank , because Frank is a lovely guy . Isaac has this ability, however, to do swing and groove that only a few drummers have. Steven Adler [former Guns N' Roses drummer] also had it, Matt Sorum [former Guns N' Roses drummer] is a great, solid drummer with incredible fills—and Matt is amazing.”
“They are both incredible drummers. And Isaac somehow blends the two guys and adds his own style. So he adds a new kind of emotion to the songs. And the groove and swing of the songs now with Isaac are super impressive and super fun.”
Frank Ferrer left Guns N' Roses in March 2025, after 19 years with the band. The musician, who held the drummer position the longest, had an amicable departure.
A day after the official announcement, the band announced Isaac as the new drummer . The musician performed his first show with Guns N' Roses last Thursday, May 1st, at the Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon, South Korea.
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