L.A. Guns was initially formed in the glam Mecca Los Angeles in 1983 and went on to have two albums certified as ‘gold,’ but the band is better known for once featuring Axl Rose who would go on to join Guns ‘N Roses.

Tracii Guns formed the band with aid from singer Michael Jagosz. Axl Rose briefly replaced the latter before Jagosz would return from the county jail to reclaim his post. Also part of the group is Ole Beich on bass and drummer Rob Gardner. The group recorded a demo called Collector's Edition #1 on Raz Records, which would later be reissued as Hollywood raw. Jagosz would soon leave and Tracii and Axl would join forces again, this time combing Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns. Paul Black would soon take over the vocals and the band would begin demoing material. Paul Black was replaced by a famous name (some say it was drug problems) in the form of former Girl singer Phil Lewis. With Kelly Nickels on bass, the band would record its debut for Polygram. Nickey Alexander had recorded the album, but was replaced by former W.A.S.P. drummer Steve Riley for the tour and subsequent second album.

Cocked & Loaded went gold in the USA and the band issued a video. The line-up was steady for another two years until the departure of Riley in 1994. When the band was dropped by Polydor Lewis and Mick Cripps would depart. They would be replaced by Chris Van Dahl and guitarist Johnny Crypt of the band Boneyard. When Nickels decided to leave however Crypt switched to bass guitar. This line-up recorded the relatively heavy American Hardcore which was issued by the hard rock upstart CMC International. A year later, the band recruited a new singer, Ralph Saenz. The new man would quit in the midst of the Rock Never Stops US tour. Next in was Love/Hate’s Jizzy Pearl. This line-up issued the oft-criticized Shrinking Violet album. The album was produced by former Guns ‘N Roses man Gilby Clarke. A few months later Johnny Crypt would use the revolving door.

Pearl would be asked to leave when in 1999 L.A. Guns reunited with Tracii Guns, Phil Lewis, Steve Riley, Kelly Nickels and Mick Cripps. The reunion yielded a live album for the year 200. Nickels and Cripps left a year later however. A tour with Warrant was cut short with the band blaming the promoter. The band signed to the East Coast label Spitfire Records and issued Man In The Moon in 2001. Waking The Dead featured a new name, Adam Hamilton on bass guitar. Tracii would join forces with Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx in 2003 in Brides Of Destruction. The new project would prove transitory when Sixx would recommit to a reunited Crüe. In the meantime, L.A. Guns would be lead by Riley and would recruit guitarist Stacey Blades. The new band issued Tales From The Strip. When Brides Of Destruction was discontinued Tracii Guns reassembled a new L.A. Guns featuring Paul Black and drummer Nickey Alexander resulting in two bands touring and recording with the same monciker. One version of the band fired Adam Hamilton in early 2007 in favour of Scott Griffin. Lewis’ version of the band announced a tour with Warrant. Marty Casey, a former contestant on the US TV show Rock Star: INXS, was named the singer for the Tracii Guns version of L.A. Guns in 2008.