Duff McKagan Officially Joins Jane’s Addiction on Bass

The rumors are true: former Guns N' Roses/current Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan has joined Jane's Addiction, becoming the fifth bassist to join the band since it first formed in 1985. The news was revealed in a series of pictures this week. McKagan is working with Jane's on a record that's tentatively scheduled to drop in the winter of 2011.

For months, rumors have been circulating suggesting McKagan had taken over for original bassist Eric Avery, who rejoined the band only to bolt earlier this year. McKagan has time for Jane's Addiction, seeing as Velvet Revolver is currently on hiatus. McKagan's other band Loaded is also said to be working on new material, meaning McKagan will be pulling double duty for the next year or so.

On Tuesday night, Jane's Addiction appeared live for the first time with McKagan during frontman Perry Farrell's 51st birthday party at Les Deux in Los Angeles. The band's set included a cover of Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love,' according to various fan sites.

McKagan will record with Jane's for the follow-up to 2003's 'Strays.' The band toured with Nine Inch Nails last spring with Avery, and for some time, NIN frontman Trent Reznor acted as producer for the band's first studio sessions.

Farrell recently told Spinner it's "very likely" the band will have a new member following Avery's departure, and that material for a new album was coming together. "We've got one great song so far called 'Top Dog,'" Farrell explained.