Debunking Duff Beer: A Guns and Roses Bandmate Thinks the Simpsons Named Booze After Him. The Real Story?

It is rare that fictional goods become as well-known as their real-world equivalents, but Duff Beer, one of The Simpsons’ most well-known beverages, has grown to such a degree over time that we may now enjoy it (moderately) anytime we like. It is also acknowledged that in doing so, we will never appear quite as badass as Duff Man. Guns ‘N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan is another stylish person who knows a thing or two about looking well. He keeps pushing the narrative that he is the inspiration behind the animated alcohol.

The Simpsons made its television debut in April 1987 on The Tracey Ullman Show, two months before Guns ‘N’ Roses released their massive 30x-platinum debut album Appetite for Destruction. With 35 seasons under its belt, the family has become a cultural icon and is considered one of the best animated TV series of all time. Just a coincidence? Indeed, but Duff McKagan has stuck to his story that the Fox series asked him for permission to use his name for Homer’s preferred drink at the time.

Duff McKagan’s Latest Duff Beer Claims

Early in June 2024, McKagan spoke with Stereo gum on the scope of his lengthy career as a well-known artist throughout the world. The bassist did not ignore the persistent rumor when the subject of The Simpsons came up, as it often does, saying:

That made me Duff, the Beer King. However, this is 1988 or 1989, and I recall that our management called me to say that a cartoonist from an arthouse would like to use your name as the beer—think of it as a cartoon from a collegiate arthouse. Adult cartoons were nonexistent at this time. I had no idea about branding or anything similar, but that show was popular. They subsequently began selling merchandise and other items. Although I never pursued him, I was like, “Hey, motherfuckers,” you know? Thus, I believe their claim that it is untrue is most likely the result of business acumen. But if you just do the arithmetic on your own, look at how they began with the King of Beers. I used to have a belt that I wore all the time.

Though it is unclear to what extent Matt Groening or any of The Simpsons writers would have been familiar with the L.A. metal scene at the time, the timing obviously does line up very nicely. Even while the musician, who frequently appears on MTV, may be right when he says that his management called him regarding the Duff name, this does not imply that he was the only person who had inspiration for the beer’s branding.

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In other words, just as The Simpsons’ creative team members are willing to be questioned about the show’s numerous “predictions” over the years, knowing that some will have to be refuted—like allegedly seeing the Diddy controversy—Duff McKagan’s claims over the years have been refuted by a few Simpsons writers and producers. (These are things that showrunner Al Jean, who worked on The Simpsons for years, told me he wished were accurate predictions.)

A Veteran Simpsons Writer/Producer Sets the Duff Record Straight

Having worked on The Simpsons for the initial part of the 1990s, Jay Kogen is recognized for having written several of the show’s early hits, including “Bart the Daredevil,” “Lisa the Greek,” and “Last Exit to Springfield.” When TMZ asked him about the origins of his name, Duff Beer provided some very intriguing justifications. He said:

Since it is a synonym for butt, tushy, booty, and other terms like that, we called it Duff.

1990 was not the moment to be renowned for having an ironic name that was synonymous with a butt, or to “sell out” by giving one’s name to a TV show in such a way. If that was even vaguely evident back then, I would guess Duff McKagan would not want anything to do with it.

Jay Kogen continued, “It would be absurd to have a rock star lifestyle as its inspiration for The Simpsons’ most well-known brand, since it is in no way intended to reflect one.” In his own words:

Duff beer is for folks who spend all day sitting on their fat asses.

So, fans, there you may have it. Any reference to the Guns ‘N’ Roses singer was unintentional; Duff Beer was called for more childish reasons. It is even possible that, rather than formally requesting clearance or something like, a Fox representative called the band’s management to gauge McKagan’s possible reaction if he saw Duff on the show.

Longtime Simpsons Writer Reveals Origins Behind Duff Beer, Troy McClure and More

The Simpsons, which has been airing for almost 30 years, has many names that viewers are likely to recognize from both the show’s many Springfield inhabitants and the numerous in-show businesses. While many fans know the origins of the names of Homer and Bart Simpson as well as the name of the town of Springfield, there are many other names that are not as well-known. Mike Reiss, the author of the recently released book Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons, disproved some claims made by a certain rock ‘n’ roller and revealed, among other things, the true origin of the term Duff Beer, a strong beverage.

Homer’s favorite beer required a name, and Jay Kogen came up with Duff. No, it was not named for Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan; we had not heard of him. Have you? McKagan loves claiming that we gave him a call and requested to use his name: I had no idea at the time about branding oneself or the royalties associated with it. I simply thought, “Hey, that’s cool, they want to use my name,” and The Simpsons were born. Yes, it is okay, but if I had a nickel for every time. McKagan’s memoir It is So Easy: And Other Lies is well called because it is a delightful fictitious story.

That is, it, Simpsons enthusiasts. Although the program debuted in 1989, a year after Guns N’ Roses’ second multi-platinum album, it was a mere coincidence that Duff Beer was named after him, if coincidences can even be said to exist. (Has anyone speculated that the hack-and-slash style of role-playing games inspired the moniker of guitarist Slash?) While Duff McKagan, the band’s bassist, may have claimed that The Simpsons was allowed to use his nickname for Homer’s favorite beverage (his real name is Michael Andrew McKagan), Mike Reiss is giving Jay Kogen, who served as a writer and producer on The Simpsons’ early seasons as well as the show’s inception, all the credit. The Show with Tracey Ullman.

Furthermore, I believe that the possibly deliberate irony of Mike Reiss criticizing Duff McKagan for using the word “Lies” in the title of his biography, given that Reiss’ own book also uses the same phrase, should amuse us all.

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Troy McClure, the most beloved former actor in Springfield, was named after TV actor Doug McClure and movie star Troy Donahue. Tané, the daughter of Doug McClure, later told me that her father loved the Simpsons. ‘Are they making fun of me?’ Troy asked his kids after viewing his first appearance on the show. “Yeah, Dad, I think they are,” Tané answered. After a little more viewing, he said, “Well, it’s pretty funny!” Doug’s children would later call him Troy McClure behind his back.

Though his resume was not quite as extensive as Troy McClure’s, Doug McClure did have a few lesser-known roles that could have easily been parodied on The Simpsons. Over the course of his lengthy career, he racked up about 100 film and television credits, most notably on The Virginian. Like the television movies Satan’s Triangle and The Death of Me Yet, and the motion pictures The Man Who Understood Women and The Hell Hounds of Alaska. The great performer sadly departed away in 1995, but at least he went away knowing that his name would always be associated with The Simpsons.

Turn to the following page to learn the hilarious origin of Mrs. Krabappel’s name.

It is nearly a given that anyone reading Mrs. Krabappel’s name on paper will interpret it as the conventional spelling of “crabapple,” which is clearly deliberate. However, some fans do not seem to have understood the whole humor behind giving her that name, as Mike Reiss put it. (For the record, Reiss added that even he does not always catch on to the puns hidden in some of the show’s official titles.)

A Homer Simpson Driver’s License Was Reportedly Used During a Traffic Stop

Whether on purpose or not, a lot of people devote a significant amount of mental energy to idolizing TV personalities and stars. Fans frequently long for greater excitement and affirmation in their own life, whether it is about being a killer criminal, an amazing singer, a perfect father, or even a star athlete. It is not often that someone willingly adopts the persona of Homer, the foolish father of The Simpsons, but it seems that someone in the UK attempted to get away with it during a recent traffic stop by giving the police a driver’s license bearing Homer’s image and details.