Album: The Taking (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • American hard rock band Duff McKagan's Loaded third studio album, The Taking is a concept album about the break-up of two friends of the band. The record follows a an almost backwards narrative with this optimistic track telling the end of the story, despite being placed fourth on the track-listing. McKagan explained to Gibson.com: "What happened is these two got divorced but they became better friends than ever, and that's where 'We Win' came from. The thing about this backwards concept record is that we didn't really realize we were all writing about the same thing, because it affected us all. We couldn't really take part in the break-up – usually you take part in somebody's break-up because you're friends with the guy or the girl, and they talk to you, and just by them talking to you about it, you're taking part in it. We kinda refused talking to either one of them about it because we didn't want to take sides, so it was like Zen Buddhism: we didn't talk to each other about it. The first song was 'Easier Lying' and 'Indian Summer ' had its place in that story."
  • Former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan formed Loaded in 1999, initially to be his band for the tour supporting his unreleased solo album, Beautiful Disease. Although he played bass for G'N'R and for Velvet Revolver, Duff is Loaded's rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist.
  • After the original Guns imploded in the '90s, Duff went to Seattle University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Finance. He now owns the wealth management firm Meridian Rock, which specializes in managing rock stars' portfolios.
  • The song was used by ESPN and Major League Baseball for their coverage of the American League Championship Series, National League Championship Series, and the World Series in October 2010.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Scott Stapp

Scott StappSongwriter Interviews

The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.