Review: ‘It’s So Easy and Other Lies’ is a reserved rock doc (Includes first-hand account)

The old saying goes, “Sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.” The third part paved the way for the first and made the second nearly inescapable. Although there can certainly be consequences for indulging one’s libido, they often pale in comparison to the effects of drugs and alcohol on every aspect of someone’s existence as they gradually blot out everything unrelated to the addiction. It also becomes a very public problem with countless celebrities making headlines for their habits and many openly discussing their chemical dependencies in hindsight, while others never get the chance. It’s So Easy and Other Lies is Duff McKagan’s tale of survival.

Growing up in the ‘70s in Seattle, Duff was exposed to a variety of narcotics before even reaching high school. But in between being a delinquent, he found a love for music and a talent for the guitar. Amusingly, he eventually moved to L.A. to escape the growing heroin scene at home. There Duff met Slash, Steven Adler and Axl Rose, joining together to form Guns N’ Roses in 1985. For nearly a decade, they would rule the airwaves. However fame was accompanied by significant alcoholism and like his bandmate, it nearly killed him. The path to sobriety wasn’t a straight one, but Duff found his way through the support of family, friends and an unconventional martial arts instructor (which explains why he became so fit post-GNR).

The documentary is based on Duff’s memoir and is presented with considerable style, which complements his story and personality. The main narrative is supplied by Duff as he reads excerpts from his book at an intimate spoken word/concert at Seattle’s Moore Theatre. He’s accompanied by his band, Loaded, that pairs his recollections with instrumental versions of songs that span his career, including GNR tunes “Paradise City,” “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” “Night Train” and “Patience.” These scenes are intertwined with interviews with Duff, other musicians, including Slash, Matt Sorum and Nikki Sixx, friends, family and his doctor, who confirms the severity of his health not so long ago. Duff even shows posters and photos he retained from his pre-GNR days.

This is an artistic retelling of Duff’s personal history as a musician, addict and father. However anyone that chooses to join the artist as he travels down memory lane should know the film does not disclose any dirty secrets or rehash the already publicized bad blood that developed within and between bands. It’s a brief yet honest overview of how Duff got to where he is today with a complementary soundtrack that enhances the meaning of his words.

You may be wondering how those lucky fans gained entry to such an exclusive, invite-only event — Duff held a contest!

Director: Christopher Duddy

Similar Posts

  • Review: ‘Manchester by the Sea’ delivers greatness via its performances (Includes first-hand account)

    The death of a loved one, even when somewhat expected, is a very difficult experience. On top of all the emotions involved, there are a lot of arrangements to be made, legalities to handle and people to see. If you’re the one that needs to manage all of these things, giving in to grief is not an option. The responsibility can be a blessing and a curse as the need to concentrate on the details can act as a distraction, while the same details can wrench at your heart and bring long buried feelings to the surface. Manchester by the Sea takes place in the wake of a brother and father’s death as his loved ones deal with the particulars of his passing.

  • Review: ‘Alien: Covenant’ gets closer to the truth (Includes first-hand account)

    As many fans learned thanks to George Lucas, going back to reimagine a beloved series’ origin story is a tricky business. While the creators have unrealized ideas regarding where it all could have started, these are not always in line with audience theories nor is it simple to recapture the essence of what drew viewers to the original films to start. Ridley Scott began this journey with 2012’s Prometheus, which now continues with its first sequel, Alien: Covenant.

  • Review: ‘Weapons’ is dangerously creepy

    ‘Weapons’ explores why a group of children secretly ran out of their houses in the middle of the night, but the answer is far from comforting.

  • Review: ‘Once Upon a Deadpool’ is a fun but fleeting experiment (Includes first-hand account)

    Those who grew up watching certain movies on cable — with commercials — before finally watching an uncut, recorded version on VHS/DVD/laser disc/Blu-ray, know what it’s like to discover scenes, coarse dialogue and graphic images they’ve never seen before. It sometimes changed the whole dynamic of a film and made it impossible to ever go back to the shorter, sanitized version to which you’d been accustomed. Of course, the television cut wasn’t really any less good, but it was unquestionably different. This feeling is gaining relic status with the adoption of streaming and video-on-demand, but Fox has decided to recapture the experience with its PG-rated rendering of Once Upon a Deadpool.