Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan has insisted that The Simpsons named Duff Beer after him.The rock n’ roll star first made the claim in his 2011 autobiography It’s So Easy and Other Lies, stating that a “production company working on a new animated series” contacted him in 1988/89 to ask if they could use the name ‘Duff’ for a band of beer in the show,” owing to his reputation as a “big drinker”.Believing it was a low-budget animation project, McKagan laughed off the request and said “no problem”.
However, he began to take notice when Duff became an integral part of the show, and merchandise started popping up all over the world.
A number of writers on the animation have since stated that the bassist’s claim is untrue.In a new interview with Stereogum, McKagan was once again asked about The Simpsons and he reiterated his stance on the story, adding that he was the self-proclaimed “King of Beers”, and even wore a Budweiser belt bearing that motto on stage.“Here’s the deal,” he said. “So I was Duff, the King of Beers.
But this is 1988, 1989 and our management, I remember they called me and said some arthouse-like cartoon wants to use your name as the beer, like a college arthouse cartoon.
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