LA GUNS
Despite its firm pedigree in rock, the puzzling story of late-80s hair band(s), LA Guns reads more like a revolving door of musicians and one hit wonders.
Sources conflict on its inception date but it is widely recognised that guitarist Tracii Guns formed the band after he left Guns 'N' Roses around 1987. A couple of line-up changes ensued for the band before it released its second and most successful album, Cocked and Loaded. This album featured the band’s most familiar tune, The Ballad of Jayne. At this particular time, the LA Guns were Tracii Guns (guitar), Phil Lewis (vocals), former WASP drummer, Steve Riley, Kelly Nickles (bass) and Mick Cripps (guitar).
In 2000, that line up reunited and released a supporting Greatest Hits and Black Beauties album. The same year, the band re-recorded and re-released Cocked and Loaded but with a slight alteration in the title – Cocked and Reloaded.
By 2002, the band had a new bassist and it was releasing a new album called Waking the Dead. Hailed by fans as the heaviest material LA Guns has ever recorded, the album features OK, Let's roll - dedicated to the courageous souls of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
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In 2004 and without its heritage guitarist, Guns, the band released Rip the Covers Off which unsurprisingly featured cover versions of David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Saxon and The Stooges to name a few.
This lack of Guns was the catalyst in what ultimately would be the formation of two versions of the band.
LA Guns I is headed by Lewis and Riley which were the former vocalist and drummer respectively of Cocked and Loaded days. And LA Guns II is its creator, Guns’ version with Jizzy Pearl (vocals), Jeremy Guns (bass) and Chad Stewart (drums). Confused yet?
Amazingly, the band co-exists and has even been known to perform together.
Juanita Appleby
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com
