Duff McKagan Talks About His Exploding Pancreas to the BBC

You know you’ve been drinking too much when one of your internal organs says “Enough!  I’m going to blow this place up!” That’s exactly what happened to Duff McKagan.

Seventeen years ago–he was just 30–his body started sending him some very urgent messages.  After being in the middle of the debauchery that was Guns ‘N Roses, his overworked pancreas swelled up to the size of a football and ruptured.

This is a bad, bad thing since the pancreas produces enzymes that act as highly corrosive acid.  And when these enzymes are let loose, they essentially start melting the body from the inside.  

The pain was so excruciating that even morphine didn’t work.  Duff begged to die.  When they opened him up, smoke actually rose from his abdominal cavity.  F*ckin’ smoke.  His organs were dissolving into mush as they suffered third-degree burns.

Fortunately, doctors were able to save Duff.  The whole incident was a giant wake-up call.  So what did he do with his second chance?  (1)  Mountain biking; (2) A second career in financial management.

Wait.  What?  

Would you take retirement planning advice from a guy who used to drink a gallon of vodka a day? Actually, maybe you should.  The dude has an MBA and is rather savvy when it comes to handing vast sums of money.

Read more about Duff McKagan’s interview with the BBC here.  And Duff has an autobiography where he talks about his pancreas and other vital bits.  Read about it here.