It wasn't quite the Guns N' Roses reunion fans have been pining for -- no Slash, Izzy or Steven Adler -- but last night (Dec. 16) at Seattle's KeyArena, former bassist Duff McKagan shared the stage with singer Axl Rose's latest incarnation of the band.

McKagan, whose group Loaded opened the show and will do likewise tonight in Vancouver, played on the 1991 classic 'You Could Be Mine.' Prior to last night, Duff hadn't rocked with Axl since an October 2010 concert in London, where the duo joined forces for the first time in 17 years.

In addition to being a musician, McKagan is a noted writer, and in his latest column for Seattle Weekly, he expressed some trepidation about supporting Axl at this weekend's gigs.

"I love that dude, but wanted to sort of stay out of the fray, especially after that whirlwind tour of the world we had just done. AND that damn book tour," he writes, referencing his recent memoir, 'It's So Easy (And Other Lies).'

"But this fray is only a fray if I let it be," he continues. "And now I am actually pretty excited to see my old pal. His band is the nicest bunch of fellas, and I will be home after all. The KeyArena will be rocking tomorrow night . . . and I hope you all show up.

While Duff hasn't allowed himself to get too swept up in the excitement surrounding GNR's upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction -- music "has never been a competitive sport," he writes -- he doesn't begrudge fans for celebrating the news.

"All of those fans ARE very important to me, and thus getting this RRHOF nod was a victory for them," he writes. "And so I am deeply honored and feel very good about this whole deal. Thank you all."


Watch Duff McKagan Perform 'You Could Be Mine' with Guns N' Roses in Seattle

Watch 'The History of Guns N' Roses' Video

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