So This Is Happening (L.A. Guns Version)

It's another reunion! Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis, back together on stage again. L.A. Guns will do a few shows together in South America and here in America. I don't know how long this will stick, but I sure wish I could see one of these gigs. What do you think?

Tour dates:

07.07.16 BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA EL TEATRO FLORES 
07.08.16 ROSARIO, ARGENTINA TEATRO VORTERIX 
07.10.16 SAO PAULO, BRAZIL MANIFESTO ROCK BAR 
09.17.16 IRVINE MEADOWS, CA HAIR NATION ROCK FEST
10.27.16 JOLIET, IL ROCK N SKULL FEST

Comments

[Him]

I'd love to hear Ace's take on the sad tale of L.A. Guns. What went wrong with these guys? Did they shoot themselves in the foot back in the day? Or they never as good as their legend suggests?

I will admit, I only got into them as a result of Riley leaving WASP and joining them. And, sure, they had some catchy tunes. But I never really ranked them beyond the B-list, akin to a Faster Pussycat in terms of impact or staying power. Again, not that I didn't enjoy them. They just seemed to be missing that extra something . . . be it better songs, promotion, interpersonal interactions, etc.

Like I said, I would love to hear Ace's spin.

[Nc rocker]

Wow this is awesome news! 2 big questions though. I think Traci's feud was always with Steve Riley. I wonder if he is with them for these gigs. Since the poster says LA Guns I am hoping so. Secondly MOR west falls in the middle of some of these dates. Would love to see Traci with them on the ship.

[Kixchix]

Positive all around.

Won't get them in bigger halls but the reunion will put some legitimacy or should I say authenticity back in their mojo.

They are not A list, true Him (a notch above FP IMO). But they still bring it live and have one of the better catalogues in our genre. Along with Kix, LA Guns are one of the better remaining torch bearers out there.

[Kixchix]

... Cuz when you think about it, what's left of the so called big four (Mötley, Ratt, poison, Cinderella)?

Gimme some LA Guns, Kix, Dokken (maybe reuniting), FP any day.

[Him]

All good points, Kixchix. I hope I didn't come off as slagging them (and who in the hell am I to do so?).

I'd take them over a lot of the newer bands. And I have always enjoyed their shows (with or without Guns). That said, I also enjoy some of the stuff that Guns has done on his own or with other musicians.

Re: Dokken, the latest is this: the tour is a go with all four of them and they plan to release a DVD/CD of the performances afterwards. But, as Brown's interview suggest, the idea of anything after all that is very much up in the air. The rest of those bands (aside from Kix, whom I love and still haven't had a chance to see)? Well, you know the sad state of affairs with all of them. And I mean that, sad.

[Gary]

My guess is these reunions first take place in South America or overseas is because they support it waaaay more than we here in America would. Money talks,especially to guys who were once "tattooed millionaires" and no longer are. Let's face it, a reunited LA guns (or Dokken) are not going to come close to filling an arena,even if they were to tour together. It sucks,but it is what it is. So there's no promoter here in the US who gives a rats dirty ass if Don Dokken and George Lynch agreed to finally appear in the same room togethe. Therefore, they aren't getting booked in the LA forum,because they also know that the majority of fickle rock fans feel the same way...

[Rita]

I have a feeling there are more reunions on the way. Bas is at it again. And with Axl and Slash pulling in millions, pretty sure others will be putting their egos aside too to hop on that band wagon.

And I myself am counting the days until I witness GNR from point blank range for the first time in July. Didn't think I would be but lol and behold, it happened.

[Metalboy!]

Someone in the know said this is only going to be Tracii and Lewis doing acoustic stuff.

Let's hope it's Tracii hugging it out with Steve Riley, too and that it will actually be a full blown reunion!

Well, mostly, as I assume they wouldn't get Nickels back on bass as I believe he's retired and/or they like Kweens (Who doesn't, as he's a killer bass player and helluva showman).

Now, I do, however, take umbrage (hahaha!!!) with HIM and Kix-Chix slotting these guys in as B-Listers. I think they're A-List when they've got Tracii.

I've seen these guys 9 times (all POINT BLANK!!!), 5 with Tracii, once with Blades, twice with Grant (a fairly impressive overplayer, though soulless in delivery).l, and let me tell you, EVERY time I saw them with Tracii, the performance was simply jaw dropping and awe inspiring. Personally, I would like to think the A-List of Glam Metal cast a wider net than the BIG 4 correctly designated by Kix Chix.

That A-List, in my mind, at any rate, includes The BIG 4 of Crüe, RATT, Cinderella and Poison but also Skid Row, Dokken, Britny Fox, L.A. Guns and KIX. Yes, there are different tiers within that A-List, no doubt, but they're all in it together, as far as I'm concerned.

As much as I love Faster Pussycat, to me, they're not in the same league as the above -- not by a long shot. Unfortunately, right or wrong, I lump 'em in with all the many other great bands who just didn't either have the popularity or songs. The B-List is a long list including Faster Pussycat (as mentioned), Warrant, Junkyard, Pretty Boy Floyd, Slaughter, Firehouse, Steelheart, Kingdom Come, Extreme, Mr. Big and Tesla, the latter three of which I don't personally care for but must acknowledge their appreciation by others. And there are others I feel should also be in the pantheon of the B-List but just didn't get the sales such as Dirty Looks, Bulletboys, Love/Hate, Roxx Gang, etc.

So, that's the way it is (IMHO)... Tracii Guns is in the A-List of Hair Metal Guitarists, for me, anyway.

p.s. POINT BLANK range, indeed, Rita! Not only will I be doing that for Gn'R but also AXL/DC! H-U-U-U-G-E!!!

[Him]

Isn't that the great thing about umbrage, Metalboy!? It's free for the giving and taking! Hopefully, it was of the genial variety. I know that Kixchix and I mean no harm.

Good points by you and Gary.

[Metalboy!]

Thanks, HIM... I should clarify, though it should be fairly obvious, that those bands I've included in the A-List beyond The REAL Big 4 are only to be considered in their original or classic line-ups as exemplified by L.A. Guns only with Tracii Guns, the possible exception being Britny Fox who still delivered the goods after Dizzy Dean left when Tommy Paris (aka Don Jillson) replaced him as Paris delivered the goods on "Bite Down Hard".

That said, as great as their new guitarist, Chris Sanders is, the line-up really isn't A-List now without original guitarist, Michael Kelly Smith. Alas, he's apparently unavailable so they're technically not on any longer and in the same boat as Skid Row without Bach, Dokken without Lynch AND Pilson and KIX without Donny Purnell, sadly.

So, for me, it's really Dokken and L.A. Guns back on the A-List but only as long as Lynch and Tracii stick around. Yes, I know Kweens isn't the original bass player of L.A. Guns but his pedigree and showmanship gives them a pass, in my mind. However, as great as they are today, the same cannot apply to to KIX, who really miss the showmanship and genius of Purnell.

Also, it should be noted that Junkyard, Dirty Looks, Bulletboys, Love/Hate, Roxx Gang and some others really should be ranked higher as their music, performance and showmanship outclassed many on the A and B lists. But we all know how VIP lists go where, rightly or wrongly, people's currency fluctuates due to certain circumstances rendered beyond our and their control, namely constant line-up changes or longevity.

Whoever thought ranking these bands could be so difficult. Or is it?

[Metalboy!]

Okay, after all that, I caught a virtually unnoticeable yet very telling detail about the logo shown above... There is an apostrophe after the word "Guns", which is an indication that it will only be Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis up on stage sans Riley, and could very well mean it's just an acoustic thing as well.

But let's hope not! C'mon Riley, let's hug it out and CRANK IT UP!!!

[Steverox]

Agreed on LA Guns! But need to add some love for White Lion ... Missing from the lists that I mostly agree with above. Definitely B-list, but featuring - in my humble opinion - the best guitarist in the genre at that time! #WeNeedVitoBack

[Metalboy!]

Steve! Agreed! Saw 'em with Vito at The Cat Club in NYC in 1989! UNREAL!

[Him]

Agreed! An excellent addition, Steverox. Was just listening to their first album today. As I have said on here before, it is a near-perfect album from beginning to end. Too bad that circumstance and such led Bratta away from recording. Our loss.