‘Simpsons’ Duff Beer Inspired by Duff McKagan

I've always wondered if "Duff Beer" from the Simpsons had anything to do with Duff McKagen of Guns N Roses. Apparently, it absolutely does!

Duff McKagan has penned a tell-all autobiography titled ‘It’s So Easy (And Other Lies),’ and the book is due to hit shelves Oct. 4. An 80-page excerpt has been published online and it includes an interesting bit about how Duff Beer on ‘The Simpsons’ was named after McKagan.

When Guns N’ Roses began to break into the public consciousness, I was known as a big drinker,” writes McKagan in the book. “In 1988, MTV aired a concert in which Axl introduced me — as usual — as Duff  “The King of Beers” McKagan. Soon after a production company working on a new animated series called me to ask if they could use the name “Duff” for a brand of beer in the show.”

“I laughed and said of course, no problem,” McKagan continues. “The whole thing sounded like a low-rent art project or something — I mean, who made cartoons for adults? Little did I know that the show would become ‘The Simpsons’ and that within a few years I would start to see Duff Beer glasses and gear everywhere we toured.”