The two finally came together at a show in late 2015 and by the end of 2016, Phil had quit the Steve Riley version of L.A. The latter was not at all in my interest base. He also did other bands such as a band with Rikki Rockett called Devil City Angels and a proggy album called League Of Gentlemen or something like that. Guns with various singers including someone he went to school with, Jizzy Pearl who sang for the band on the Shrinking Violet album in 1999, and even a woman who I won’t name both because I don’t know her name and because she was not worth mentioning.

Meanwhile, Tracii went on to release a demo quality album with Nikki Sixx called Brides Of Destruction. There’d be a song where Phil would let loose on vocals and you’d get a proggy guitar solo that did not fit or there would be a sleazy rocker that would just feel forced. Though there were a few initially good tracks, the overall release felt incomplete at times and the musical differences between the band members became more evident. Hollywood Forever, on the other hand, had less by way of moments of greatness. In fact, my three page review of Tales From The Strip for Sleaze Roxx ended up printed, in full, in Stacey Blades‘ autobiography with no personal credit given to me whatsoever. The first one was a solid release and had moments of greatness. Those records did not have Tracii on them. Guns name with the name co-owner Steve Riley releasing two original albums, 2005’s Tales From The Strip and 2012’s Hollywood Forever. Since Waking The Dead, Phil continued with the L.A. Do I really want to go into all of that? Maybe a little. But, it was upon the release of that album that the shit hit the fan with this band and it split like an atom into two parts. This is the first time the two have put out a new album together since 2002’s Waking The Deadalbum which, in my humble opinion, is one of the most spirited and inspired albums by a veteran band I’ve ever heard. The current form of the band has two important parts consisting of singer Phil Lewis and founding member / guitarist Tracii Guns. From autographed posters on the wall to multiple concert t-shirts, I am a major fan of this band and have been a fan of almost all its forms over the years. Guns are one of my favorite bands of all time.

L.a. guns t shirt