Duff McKagan, Dee Snider Disagree with Eddie Trunk's Live Cover Song Stance

The rock icons defended the practice of artists covering other musicians' songs during concerts.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:11am

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An abstract close-up image of a shattered disco ball reflecting bright, glittering shards of light, conceptually representing the excitement and energy of live rock performances.The vibrant energy of live rock shows often includes artists covering iconic songs, sparking debate over authenticity versus fan experience.Minneapolis Today

Duff McKagan and Dee Snider have both separately responded to rock personality Eddie Trunk's recent comments criticizing musicians for covering other artists' songs during live shows, rather than playing their own material. McKagan and Snider disagreed with Trunk's stance, arguing that covering iconic songs can be a sign of respect and that it's often just fun for artists and fans alike.

Why it matters

The debate over whether artists should focus on playing their own hits versus covering other influential songs speaks to larger questions about authenticity, creativity, and fan expectations in the music industry. McKagan and Snider's responses highlight how artists can have different perspectives on balancing original material with beloved covers.

The details

In a social media post, Trunk shared video of Bruce Springsteen covering Prince's "Purple Rain" and wrote that he doesn't understand why musicians with large catalogs of their own songs would choose to cover other artists' music during concerts, unless the cover was a hit for that performer. McKagan, a lifelong Prince fan, responded by saying that covering an iconic song like "Purple Rain" in Minneapolis (where Prince was born) is a sign of respect. Snider also weighed in, defending the practice of doing covers as "just fun" for artists and fans, noting that he would often end his own shows with a cover of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" in recent years.

  • Trunk shared his comments on social media in April 2026.

The players

Duff McKagan

The bassist for the rock band Guns N' Roses, who is a lifelong fan of Prince.

Dee Snider

The lead singer of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister, who has defended the practice of artists covering other musicians' songs during live shows.

Eddie Trunk

A rock personality who recently criticized musicians for covering other artists' songs during concerts, rather than playing their own material.

Bruce Springsteen

The legendary rock musician who was captured on video covering Prince's "Purple Rain" during a recent show in Minneapolis.

Prince

The iconic musician whose song "Purple Rain" was covered by Bruce Springsteen in Minneapolis, where Prince was born.

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What they’re saying

“Because it's an epic song and he's in Minneapolis and this would have been amazing to see. Period. Doing covers pays the utmost respect.... Especially when you do have a huge catalogue like Bruce. Prince is all-time. Let them artists be.”

— Duff McKagan, Guns N' Roses Bassist

“Well said brother Duff!”

— Dee Snider

“Love Eddie but it comes off like an angry fan. Sometimes doing a cover is just fun! In recent years I'd finish every show with [AC/DC's] 'Highway to Hell.' I love that song (and I kill it)!”

— Dee Snider

The takeaway

The debate over live cover songs highlights the different perspectives artists can have on balancing their own material with beloved covers. While some may view covers as a distraction from an artist's core catalog, others see them as a way to pay tribute to influential musicians and provide a fun, interactive experience for fans.