L.A. Guns band members
Encyclopedia
Members of the rock band
L.A. Guns
. The band's leader and founder Tracii Guns (who the band was named after) left in 2003, and later formed his own incarnation of the band fronted by Paul Black. As a result there are now two bands using the L.A.Guns name at once. Both incarnations have many members from the band's better known eras in them and have a 50% claim to the name.
. Axl Rose had been in L.A. Guns while their vocalist Michael Jagosz was in prison and had to leave when he got out. When he asked Tracii Guns about the idea of a band merge, he brought Izzy Stradlin with him. Guns left shortly after the merge to reform L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses has survived until the present at the same time. The other members of L.A. Guns were fired from the band at roughly the same time as Tracii Guns left.
. The name was changed when Guns came in, and the name Faster Pussycat was used by another band shortly afterwards anyway. The name change after the formation of the band is the reason why the lineup contained only Guns from the original band, and sounded so different.
Though the band quickly switched from Paul Black to Phil Lewis for lead vocal duties, Mick Cripps remained with the band until 1994, as did Phil Lewis. The Guns/Lewis/Cripps triplet formed the solid core of the lineup from 1986 onwards. The band's classic Lewis/Guns/Cripps/Nickels/Riley lineup slowly came together from 1986-1988, and operated together from 1988-1992 (before a brief switch in drummer) then again from 1993-1994. By the end of 1995, only Guns and Riley remained from this period.
The one legacy of the band's merge with Guns N' Roses manifested in this period - the band had a rhythm guitar, which they first had as Guns N' Roses in the form of Izzy Stradlin. The band reverted to a four piece in 1995, however.
Both have a fair claim: Tracii Guns was the founding member/leader and includes former member Jizzy Pearl in his lineup of the band. However, Phil Lewis' incarnation of the band is a continuation of the original, which survived when Guns left. It has more members of the band from their best known era, in the form of Lewis and Riley. Both versions of L.A. Guns are four pieces.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns is the name of a hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, of which two rival incarnations currently exist due to numerous line-up changes. The first incarnation of the group was formed, by Tracii Guns, in 1983 but disbanded in 1985 following its merger with fellow Los Angeles...
. The band's leader and founder Tracii Guns (who the band was named after) left in 2003, and later formed his own incarnation of the band fronted by Paul Black. As a result there are now two bands using the L.A.Guns name at once. Both incarnations have many members from the band's better known eras in them and have a 50% claim to the name.
First Generation L.A.Guns - formation, through to merge with Hollywood Rose (1983-1985)
The core lineup of L.A. Guns, formed in 1983, lasted until 1985. The band briefly merged with Hollywood Rose (led by former Guns vocalist Axl Rose), to form Guns N' RosesGuns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
. Axl Rose had been in L.A. Guns while their vocalist Michael Jagosz was in prison and had to leave when he got out. When he asked Tracii Guns about the idea of a band merge, he brought Izzy Stradlin with him. Guns left shortly after the merge to reform L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses has survived until the present at the same time. The other members of L.A. Guns were fired from the band at roughly the same time as Tracii Guns left.
| L.A. Guns (1983–1984) |
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| L.A. Guns (1984) |
Axl Rose W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years... - lead vocals |
| L.A. Guns (1984–1985) |
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| Guns N' Roses (1985) |
Izzy Stradlin Jeffrey Dean Isbell , known by his stage name Izzy Stradlin, is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and former rhythm guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which he left at the height of its fame in 1991. Following his departure, he led his own band Izzy... - rhythm guitar |
| Guns N' Roses (1985–1990) |
Slash (musician) Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'... - lead guitar Duff McKagan Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician and writer. He is best known for his twelve-year tenure as the bassist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s... - bass Steven Adler Steven Adler is an American musician. He is best known as the former drummer of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s... - drums |
| Other Guns N' Roses lineups (1990–present) | |
Second Generation L.A. Guns (reformation) (1985-1999)
After leaving Guns N' Roses, Tracii Guns joined Paul Black, Robert Stoddard, Mick Cripps and Nickey Alexander. Initially the project began as a collaboration between Black and Cripps called Faster PussycatFaster Pussycat
Faster Pussycat is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1986. The group was most successful during the late 1980s with their self-titled debut album, their 1989 gold album Wake Me When It's Over and the 80,000 selling Whipped! in 1992.-The roots of Faster Pussycat...
. The name was changed when Guns came in, and the name Faster Pussycat was used by another band shortly afterwards anyway. The name change after the formation of the band is the reason why the lineup contained only Guns from the original band, and sounded so different.
Though the band quickly switched from Paul Black to Phil Lewis for lead vocal duties, Mick Cripps remained with the band until 1994, as did Phil Lewis. The Guns/Lewis/Cripps triplet formed the solid core of the lineup from 1986 onwards. The band's classic Lewis/Guns/Cripps/Nickels/Riley lineup slowly came together from 1986-1988, and operated together from 1988-1992 (before a brief switch in drummer) then again from 1993-1994. By the end of 1995, only Guns and Riley remained from this period.
The one legacy of the band's merge with Guns N' Roses manifested in this period - the band had a rhythm guitar, which they first had as Guns N' Roses in the form of Izzy Stradlin. The band reverted to a four piece in 1995, however.
| 1985–1987 |
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| 1987 |
Phil Lewis Phil Lewis is an English vocalist for the American glam metal band named L.A. Guns, He was born on January 9, 1957 in London, England.Prior to joining L.A. Guns Lewis also worked with Girl , New Torpedos, and Tormé. While temporarily out of L.A... - lead vocals |
| 1987 |
Kelly Nickels Kelly Nickels is a bassist who has played in various bands including Sweet Pain, Faster Pussycat and L.A. Guns.He was replaced in Sweet Pain by Victor Prestin. He was badly injured in a motorcycle accident in October 1986, when he was still with Faster Pussycat... - bass guitar |
| 1987–1992 |
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| 1992–1993 |
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| 1994–1995 |
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| 1995 |
Chris Van Dahl Chris Van Dahl is a rock musician notable for singing on the L.A. Guns album American Hardcore. Van Dahl grew up in Detroit, Michigan, but moved to Los Angeles, California to try to make it in the music business. In the early 1990s, prior to joining L.A... - lead vocals |
| 1995–1997 |
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| 1997–1998 |
Ralph Saenz Ralph Saenz is the lead singer for glam metal band Steel Panther. Steel Panther was formerly known as "Metal Shop" and "Metal Skool" and were once featured in a Discover Card commercial as "Danger Kitty"; those older band names are now used by unrelated parody bands.He's a PhD in English... - lead vocals |
| 1998 |
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| 1998–1999 |
Jizzy Pearl Jizzy Pearl is an Irish-American vocalist born on March 17, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. He first fronted the rock band Data Clan, which became Love/Hate, and has also sung for L.A... - lead vocals |
| 1999 |
Stefan Adika Stefan Adika is a bass guitarist who has played in the bands Dad's Porno Mag and L.A. Guns. He has also played with former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and was a member of the Dee Dee Ramone Band. Adika has also performed live with Alice Cooper, and Edward Van Halen.In L.A... - bass guitar |
| 1999 |
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Reunion (1999-2002)
Classic members Phil Lewis, Mick Cripps and Kelly Nickels were tempted back into L.A.Guns in 1999. By 2000, Nickels and Cripps had already left, although Cripps briefly returned at the end of the year. Phil Lewis decided to remain with the band. By the middle of 2002, only three members of the band were from the classic lineup.| 1999 |
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| 2000 |
Brent Muscat Brent Muscat is a guitarist who has played in various bands, including Faster Pussycat, Sin City Sinners, Donner Party, L.A. Guns, the Liberators, Bubble, Superficial/Sinthetics, Adler's Appetite, Sin City All Stars, and The Underground Rebels. With L.A... - rhythm guitar |
| 2000–2001 |
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| 2001 |
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| 2001–2002 |
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| 2002 |
Keff Ratcliffe Keff Ratcliffe is a Welsh musician and the former bassist for the American band Pretty Boy Floyd. He has also toured with such acts as L.A. Guns & Jessica Simpson in the capacity of guitarist.-With Pretty Boy Floyd:... - rhythm guitar Adam Hamilton (musician) Adam Hamilton is a Los Angeles based music producer, songwriter and session musician. He is also the former bass guitarist of L.A. Guns. With L.A. Guns, he co wrote and played on the albums Rips the Covers Off, Tales from the Strip, and Loud and Dangerous: Live from Hollywood... - bass guitar |
Post-Tracii Guns era - the band under Phil Lewis (2002-2006)
Tracii Guns left L.A. Guns in 2002. Steve Riley, who held a 50% legal stake in what was left of the band, was allowed to retain the L.A. Guns name and continue touring under it. This lineup has been led by Phil Lewis ever since.| 2002 |
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| 2002–2003 |
Keri Kelli Keri Kelli is an American hard rock guitarist, until recently playing for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Alice Cooper. He occasionally also plays with Skid Row. He played guitar and co-wrote songs on the 2008 Alice Cooper studio album, Along Came A Spider, released worldwide July 29... - lead and rhythm guitars |
| 2003 |
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| 2003–2004 |
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| 2004–2007 |
Stacey Blades Stacey Blades is a guitarist from Calgary, Alberta, who has played with such bands as Fraidy Katt, Roxx Gang, Mojo Gurus, Supercool, Smack, L.A. Guns, and 100 Proof. He has played on the L.A. Guns albums Rips the Covers Off, Tales from the Strip, and Loud and Dangerous: Live from Hollywood... - lead guitar |
Two bands under the L.A. Guns name (2006-present)
In 2006, Tracii Guns decided to form a solo band - The Tracii Guns Band. He soon began billing it as L.A. Guns, and added Nickey "Beat" Alexander and Paul Black from the band's earliest incarnations to the lineup. At the same time, Phil Lewis' L.A. Guns continued.| Phil Lewis's L.A. Guns | Tracii Guns's L.A. Guns | ||
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| 2004–2007 |
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2006 |
Jeremy Guns Jeremy Carson Guns is an American bassist.He is a member of L.A. Guns , featuring guitarist Tracii Guns.Jeremy Guns was also the touring bassist in Brides of Destruction.-References:... - bass guitar |
| 2007–2009 |
Scott Griffin (bassist) Scott Griffin is an American musician who is best known as the bassist for L.A. Guns. In 2007, Griffin was announced as the bassist for L.A. Guns, having previously played in Dizzy Reed's cover band Hookers N' Blow, replacing Adam Hamilton.... - bass guitar |
2007–2008 |
Chad Stewart Chad Stewart is a drummer who is currently playing for the band Faster Pussycat.He has previously played for the bands The Newlydeads, Motochrist, Tracii Guns's version of L.A. Guns, and the Guns'N'Roses tribute band Hollywood Roses.... - drums |
| 2009–2010 |
Kenny Kweens Kenny Kweens is an American musician who is best known for his nine-year tenure as bassist in the hard rock band Beautiful Creatures. In 2009, Kweens left the group and joined L.A. Guns , replacing previous bassist Scott Griffin. However, in 2011, Kweens departed, replaced by Griffin.Prior to... - bass guitar |
2008–2009 |
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| 2011–present |
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2009–2010 |
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| 2010–2011 |
Danny Nordahl Danny Nordahl is a bass guitarist who is currently playing in the band Faster Pussycat.He previously played in the bands The Throbs, N.Y. Loose, The Newlydeads, Motochrist, and Tracii Guns's version of L.A. Guns... - bass guitar |
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| 2011 |
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| 2011-present |
Eric Grossman Eric Grossman is an American musician, best known for playing bass and recording gold and platinum albums with the European band K's Choice.-Biography:... - bass |
Present Lineups
Both incarnations of the band go under the simple name of "L.A. Guns". No legal problems have resulted in the shared name, despite both claiming to be the "true" L.A. Guns.Both have a fair claim: Tracii Guns was the founding member/leader and includes former member Jizzy Pearl in his lineup of the band. However, Phil Lewis' incarnation of the band is a continuation of the original, which survived when Guns left. It has more members of the band from their best known era, in the form of Lewis and Riley. Both versions of L.A. Guns are four pieces.
Phil Lewis's L.A. Guns
- Phil Lewis - lead vocals (1987–1995, 1999–present)
- Stacey Blades - lead guitar (2004–present)
- Scott Griffin - bass guitar (2007–2009, 2011–present)
- Steve Riley - drums (1987–1992, 1994–present)
Tracii Guns's L.A. Guns
- Tracii Guns - lead guitar (1983–2002, 2006–present)
- Dilana - lead vocals (2011-present)
- Eric Grossman – bass guitar (2011–present)
- Doni Grey - drums (2011-present)