Velvet Revolver bassist becoming financial wizzard

Velvet Revolver's Duff McKagan does more than play bass for the band, according to an interview with Reuters. The former Guns N' Roses member runs the group's business affairs, saying, "I do everything I can do so this band doesn't get ripped off...We're the last ones to get paid. We work pretty hard for the money we make." McKagan is also described as a "savvy investor," whose portfolio includes everything from property and stocks to vintage guitars.

McKagan is also due to get his degree in finance next year, but told us it's going slow because he's on the road so much and has to do it online: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "I transferred all my credits from Seattle U to a school -- it took me a while to figure out which school I could finish my finance degree at online. But it's twice as hard online, man, I'm telling you. No professor to ask, like, 'Hey, dude, I'm not quite clear on this here,' you know, or other students to study with and stuff. So it's challenging, that's for sure."

McKagan subscribes to the online edition of the Wall Street Journal and checks financial headlines regularly, according to the Reuters article.

Velvet Revolver released its second album, Libertad, on Tuesday (July 3rd). The band will celebrate the release of the CD with a special intimate club show at the famous Whisky-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles on Thursday (July 5th).

The group will also appear on the July 12th/13th edition of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live and begins a North American tour with Alice In Chains on August 5th in Baltimore.
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