Duff McKagan's Pre-Guns N' Roses Band, The Living, to Release Album from 1982

Duff McKagan’s Pre-Guns N’ Roses Band, The Living, to Release Album from 1982

2021-02-27

The Living press image, featuring Duff McKagan, John Conte, Todd Fleischman and Greg Gilmore.

The Living – Story by Cat Badra, photo by Marty Perez

The Living, a Seattle-based punk band from the early 1980s featuring Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, will released their debut album in April

Before Duff McKagan became a bona fide rock star as the bass player for Guns N’ Roses, he cut his teeth in a Seattle punk band called The Living. The group brought together a 17-year-old McKagan with vocalist John Conte, bassist Todd Fleischman and future Mother Love Bone drummer Greg Gilmore.

Now, The Living is, well, coming back from the dead. Loosegroove Records, the label co-founded by Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard, is set to release their debut album, “The Living: 1982,” on April 16. This marks the first time the album has seen a proper release.

“The Living: 1982” will feature seven original songs penned by McKagan and arrive digitally, plus in three different color options of vinyl, including white, canary yellow and translucent ruby, all available via pre-order. In advance of the album, the band has released the song “Two Generation Stand,” which is available for download and streaming now through digital outlets.

While McKagan, Conte, Fleischman and Gilmore had great musical chemistry together in The Living, the band didn’t last long. McKagan moved to Los Angeles early in his life, where he ended up joining Guns N’ Roses, while other band members dispersed and followed their own musical paths.

“It doesn’t matter what year this music was recorded ’cause it is undeniable,” Gossard said of “The Living: 1982” in a statement. “The fact that Duff, Greg, Todd and John created these fully realized songs in 1982 gives credence to the idea that this band, The Living, are ground zero for the Seattle sound.”

Gilmore added, “The Living was the beginning of all things Seattle for me –a turning point in my life. I joined a band and a community. These guys are still my brothers. I’ve cherished these recordings since the days we made them. This record is a fantastic document of a loaded moment. I love it.”

The Living, “The Living: 1982,” Track List:

“A Promise”
“Two Generation Stand”
“Live By the Gun”
“A Song for You”
“No Thanks”
“Live Is a Terror”
“I Want”