Unsuspecting customers, and a few insiders, at the Feedback Lounge at Morgan Junction were treated to a surprise appearance, and an intimate performance, by the rock band Loaded, Thursday night, Dec. 21. Its lead singer is Seattle's own Duff McKagan who many know from his Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver days. He writes a column for the Seattle Weekly. "Duff" was joined by Loaded band members Jeff Rouse, a 14-year West Seattle resident, who does bass and vocals, and Mike Squires on lead guitar. Drummer Isaac Carpenter did not attend.

The reason for the gig was for West Seattle's Jamie Burton Chamberlin and crew to videotape the performance for the film, The Loaded Project, based on their soon-to-be-released, and fifth album, called "The Soundtrack."

Just over a year ago filmmaker and documentarian Chamberlin released his movie and 2-DVD set "Double Down Live" featuring an intimate look at rock icons ZZ Top performing live throughout America and Europe including rare, behind the scenes footage.

Loaded performed two of its soon to be released songs, "We Win" and "Fight On" at the Seattle Seahawks Veterans Day half time show Nov 7. The Seahawks play the New York Giants at home. Although the home team got creamed that day, Loaded did its best to uplift the fans.

"It was a real awful game," said Rouse, 41, referring to the Seahawk's 41-7 loss, while taking a break from filming a scene with Chamberlin near Morgan Junction Thursday, Dec. 23 prior to driving over to the Feedback Lounge. "But to get offered to do something like that was such an honor. I am a big sports fan. I had field passes and had to bring my dad."

When Rouse isn't playing with the band, he is working the back door at the Moore and Paramount Theaters downtown. He also offers guitar lessons to kids who he invited to reach him on his Facebook page. His meeting Duff was a dream come true.

Rouse explained, "Ten years ago Duff moved back to Seattle with his family to attend Seattle U. for his business degree. I was playing with Mike Squires in a band called Alien Crime Syndicate, Duff came out to see us play. Then he called me one day and was like, 'Would you come to Japan?'"

That was an invitation to join Loaded.

"It was really big deal for me," he said. "I grew up with Guns N' Roses. My first bass was a cheap white Fender like the one he played in Guns N' Roses. That was his trademark. To jump into a bass player's band, especially somebody like Duff who I admired so much, I worked my butt off trying to nail his set list. I learned the set list."

This will be the third Loaded album Rouse has appeared on. And what are fans to expect from the film?

"The movie isn't actually a documentary," Rouse pointed out. "It has a plot, harkening back to, well, I would never say it is as profound as Hard Days Night, but a story line with our new songs."

"It's whacked out," said Rouse. "People who know our band understand our sense of humor, but also our subject matter in some of our songs come from pretty dark places. But we're funny, friendly guys. We're really starting to thread the pieces together. We are really into the nuts and bolts and cutting the story lines."