Review DUFF McKAGAN “Lighthouse: Live from London”

Duff McKagan is best known as the bassist in the legendary band Guns N’ Roses, but his musical career encompasses much more than this. He has been involved in many projects and enjoyed success with bands such as Velvet Revolver and Duff McKagan’s Loaded, leading us on to his solo career.

The singer and bassist has released three solo albums, the most recent of which is “Lighthouse”.
To present the songs to fans, McKagan embarked on a tour, stopping at Islington Assembly Hall, London, on 5 October 2024 for a show. This performance has now been released as a live album in various formats. “Lighthouse: Live from London”, a beautiful rock album.

McKagan and his bandmates performed the entire “Lighthouse” album live that night, and the quality of the songs has been evident since the album’s release. These tunes unfold a warm and emotional rock spirit and are complemented by a few pieces from the “Tenderness” album.

Songs such as “I Saw God on 10th Street” and the acoustic take on “I Just Don’t Know” are touching moments that reflect the greatness of rock music. The combination of these calmer, emotive moments and the infectious power of rock, as heard in “Just Another Shakedown”, creates a wonderful flow, and there are a few more highlights to mention.

The setlist included some cover versions of songs that are important to the bandleader. “I Wanna Be Your Dog”, originally by The Stooges, was a highlight of the night and shines on the live album. There must certainly be a Guns N’ Roses moment on the album too, and that is “You’re Crazy”. It was a smart move to choose not one of the most popular tunes, but one that embodies the rebellious spirit of hard rock.

The encore included “Lighthouse”, after which the show reached another highlight. Steve Jones joined McKagan on stage for two songs, starting with a Johnny Thunders cover. “Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory” was an emotional moment, and the fans were even more excited when “Heroes” by David Bowie was performed. This was the second song to feature Steve Jones, while the eight-minute, highly emotional version of “Don’t Look Behind You” marked the end of a magical night showcasing the beauty of rock. Combined with an excellent sound and an authentic live atmosphere, “Lighthouse”: Live from London’ is a stunning capture of a great moment in rock.