LA Guns: How it all fell apart after Hollywood Vampires and how cracks in the band unity started
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 พ.ย. 2022
- LA Guns: How it all fell apart after Hollywood Vampires and how cracks in the band unity started. From the very beginning in 1984, it was dysfunction junction. Check out this video for all the drama!
linktr.ee/talesfromthegutter
![เจอประจำ ตอน เปิดเทอมวันแรก [EP.29]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eFK-B836i60/mqdefault.jpg)
LA guns was a band that I got into when I was 13 or so. I don’t remember which song or how but their first album was just killer to me and the rest just followed. LA guns was a staple of my childhood and I’m grateful for that. I really am.
That’s awesome to hear. Thanks for watching! 🙏
(MC) Bones aka Mike Gersema replaced Steve Riley after Hollywood Vampires. The LA Guns drama never ceased in the subsequent years either. It's amazing to me that to this very day even after Steve Riley passed away that there's still two incarnations of the band and who knows how many past members at this point
21:32 This statement right here is the core and I agree 100%. This reminds me exactly of my family's history.
People do stupid things and people never forget it all the while certain personalities refuse to allow conflict resolution through verbal means. There are some who love to mentally suffocate you.
I'm turning 50 in a couple of months, and there is still resentment floating around the family from things that happened a full ten years before I even showed up.
A rock band is exactly the same and probably worse because everything is revolving around money.
Steve did do the Vicious Circle tour. I was fortunate to meet them I March 95 in support of the album and met everyone but Mick.
Phil sounds better than ever today. Sebastian on the other hand has lost it. Today, Phil can out sing Bach by a mile. Phil just keeps getting better with age.
Thank you for watching 🙏
I've been an La Guns fan,since 87,and got most of their albums,and bootlegs. But Phil has never been better,or will ever be better than Sebastian Bach.
I just found out about Steve. We are all getting older and life takes over. I’m grateful for what they all did together prior to Hollywood Vampires. RIP Steve 🙏🏼 Please continue talking It’s absolutely fascinating. Thank you!
Thank you for watching 🙏
Always felt The Guns were underrated and it seemed that they could have been biggger that what they were.. One More Reason and Over The Edge are the two songs that I would say show what they were capable of at their best
I agree! Thank you for watching! 🙏
Totally agree. Always under-rated. At this point, with so many transient members, it's just harder to stay onboard.
Oh they tons of songs why they should've went big but yeah I agree They were better than a lot of those bands back then even now
"One More Reason" is still one of my favorite songs.
I spent years joining LA Guns on tour when my good friend was in the band. Phil and Steve always welcomed me into their family. Stacey, Scotty and I had some fun nights back in those days. I could usually only last 3 or 4 cities. Lol. Phil definitely took his craft more seriously than most of the 80’s singers and put in the work whether they played a county fair, theater or arena. I wish those guys well no matter what version of the band exists. Thanks for all the crazy stories and long nights!
Thank you for watching! 🙏
I was fortunate to see the original lineup in 2001 or so in Phoenix, but that was the only time. It's cool to hear these stories.
Thank your for watching 🙏
Another great story glad you’re back with another video!🤘
Thank you! 🙏
Always great, Mike
Thank you 🙏
Kitties😻 been waiting for this episode🤘🏼
Awesome story . Love the first LA guns album, so raw and fresh .
I agree! Thanks for watching! 🙏
Wow! This was a great story. I enjyoed very much. Thank you from Japan!
Thank you so much for watching! 🙏
Love these stories man!
Thank you 🙏
I love these stories !! 🔥
Thank you for watching
I’m not an L.A. Guns fan, but I love listening/watching/reading about behind the scenes stuff with bands. Good stuff man ✌️
Thank you !
Cant wait for the book!!💕
Thank you 🙏
Let's hear some Sweet Pain stories!
Interesting story, my man...what I understand, from watching your video, is that LA Guns' ill fate is due to their own wrong doings. Thanks for the post !
Pretty much! Thank you for watching 🙏
Can’t wait for the book! 💜🤘🏻💜
Thank you 🙏
Very cool Mike. I've loved the band for a long time and am always impressed by "new" information and discussion that I hadn't heard before 🙌
Thank you for watching Trevor! 🙏
This video is great. Lots of insight.
Thank you for watching 🙏
do more stories on the vicious circle if you know anymore, love that album. Love this channel though 🦇
Thank you 🙏
I was a huge fan of Lords of The New Church, very interesting (and apropos) comparison to LA Guns! Great video!
Thank you for watching 🙏
I’ll definitely buy your book. 🙏🏼
Thank you Janet. I appreciate it greatly 🙏
Same here
Great explanation Road Dog 👍
Thanks for watching 🙏
Interesting insights into one of my favorite bands. Steve did play on the Vicious Circle tour, or at least the end of it. I saw them at Center Stage in Atlanta and Phil announced that it was Steve's first night back with the band. Your story explains alot, especially about that aforementioned show in Atlanta. They played for 20 minutes, took a 15 minute intermission, then played for another 15 minutes and that was it. No encore. I was horribly disappointed as it was my first Guns' concert and I chose to see them that night instead of The London Suede who were playing the Masquerade in Atlanta, also. Center Stage held maybe 2,500 and I'd say 150 people showed up. Strange thing is, Vicious Circle is my favorite Guns' release with Waking The Dead a close 2nd. I'd never heard about Kelly and Vince's wife before this. That would have been awesome to see L.A. Guns open for Motley on the Feelgood tour. Faster Pussycat had that slot when I saw that tour in March 1990 in Augusta, GA.
Good insight. I would have been upset to not see Suede! Thank you for watching 🙏
Thanks for posting this story and it's cool to see your cat going spastic in the background
Hahahaha thanks! Yes the cat got a bit crazy. 🙏
Thanks for sharing interesting history of L.A.GUNS ,I LOVED HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES it was different than what was going on at the time ,also VICIOUS CIRLE may be my favorite ,and MISSING PIECE was great also ,I.M.O.,just from hearsay that TRACI made bad decisions and was not a very loyal confidant ,?
Fairly accurate vicious circle timeline. It was a really fragmented band at that point, and Polygram essentially forced Tracii back in when they learned he wasn't part of it. Not a lot of people know that, or forgot that. Just one correction: Steve did rejoin them for that vicious Circle Tour . Saw them play the Paradise in Boston. According to Riley, they were slated to open the entire Dr. Feelgood Tour until that falling out. Had that happened he thinks Hollywood Vampires may have gone platinum if not double. The other thing I remember hearing between Cocked and Loaded/Hollywood Vampires was another time Tracii quit and how they considered renaming the Band L.A. Nickels. But yeah, good stuff.
Just a quick follow-up, saw Riley's L.A Guns at Mohegan Sun the other day, and chatted with Kelly after the show. I finally got to ask him about the L.A. Nickels name rumor,. He told me that newer happened. LOL So there you go..
I saw LA guns on cocked and loaded tour. They were playing at a small venue that was a skating rink.I remember Tora Tora opening for them but I forget the other band.
Dangerous Toys was the other band, thanks for watching!
@@beforeiforget1985 I was thinking it might of been them.
It's funny because I was stationed at Fort Hood when Hollywood Vampires came out and it was very popular down here in central Texas. The singles got a ton of airplay and many, many of us Soldiers had the CD.
It was well promoted and got some radio for sure. Still a good album! Thank you for watching. 🙏
Very interesting stuff. I've loved this band since I was a kid (Cocked And Loaded days), and somehow, they still capture my imagination even as other bands of the day have faded into the background. They've always struck me as a rough ride, just based on the lineup changes that started in the mid-'90's. It's a shame: Man In The Moon and especially Waking The Dead were so good, but things fell apart again. What about that book, man?
My book is available on Amazon. Takes From the Gutter and other rock and roll shenanigans. Thank you for watching 🙏
L.A.Guns fans go check out a band called The Brutialists. It's Mick Cripp's band with his brother and Guy from the London Quireboys. Good old fashion British Punk Rock🖤🖤🖤
Nickey Beat's drumming is so cool on the 1st record, which is more punk rock tempos with wild metal solos. It moves a certain way.. Steve Riley definitely made it more heavy metal. I wish Nickey did more songs with them.
Would have been definitely interesting to hear more Nickey Beat. Thanks for watching 🙏
Yea that record always felt punk to me and raw and now I finally know why. Had no idea they had a punk drummer holding it down.
@dwaiting883 absolutely!! Thanks for watching 🙏
I really enjoy your stories so keep ‘em coming! It was hard watching LA Guns fall apart. They had a lot of potential and the first two records have great songs. Vampires sounded like LA Guns Unplugged and Vicious Circle was a total mess.
Good description of HV !! Thanks for watching 🙏
I liked Vicious Circle. It is messy, but has some great songs.
I love Vampires and Vicious Circle. MTV doomed bands back then when they didn’t play the videos.
Great stories from someone who was there. Just today i heard Sleazy Come, Easy Go. on Hair Metal station. Saw them on the Cocked and Loaded tour in Kansas City 1990. London Quireboys and Pretty Boy Floyd opened. Loved the first 2 albums. Lost interest after Hollywood Vampires.
Cool! You saw them with the quireboys! Thanks for watching! 🙏
Love all your stories! I am a big fan of the Sweet Pain album not much available about the band online would love to hear you do a segment about the band, any chance of that happening?
Possibly! Thanks for watching! 🙏
Great story telling as usual.
Having managed many acts in my time, I can definitely relate to this story... As much as I love L.A guns first 3 albums, it does sound like it was just a ticking bomb from the get go and the real surprise is that they were able to actually deliver those albums LOL.
Also, from your testimonies on these videos; Steve and Tracii both sound like a nightmare to deal with. I'm sure your work was under compensated.
Thank you for watching 🙏
I wish Phil Lewis tracii guns and Steve Riley ready would get back together again cuz they're the core of LA Guns and Tracy just because you don't like Steve anymore doesn't mean you can't make music or money together anymore like so many other bands doing
Truth!! Thanks for watching!
Rip Steve
LA Guns sound better than ever.
Im still cranking these dudes all the time. Over the edge is my all time fave. Love tour channel
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
LA Guns was always changing members from Day 1. Like you mentioned, even the Program years band is not the same band the got signed. I was surprised you didn't mention Paul Black.
Thanks for watching! 🙏
He did mention Paul Black, for a sec.
I love hearing ur story especially Guns and Crue I can't wait to check ur book out.. o was wondering so is that how Riley got copy right on the name were he was manger I thought it was weird how he was even a founding member and got the la guns name
Thanks for watching! In a nutshell he handled the business and ended up with rights to the name because no one was paying attention . 🙏
As usual a great story! Just catching up.
Iseen LAG many times next to Motley some of my favorite shows. Seen Poison early on with Ratt met some of those guys. There always seems to be that story a out that guy in a band. I can tell you meeting LAG Tracii just seemed to be a head case. Greatest guitarist of the era imo even better than Slash. Tracii though on every occasion I met him was a sarcastic and even seemed miserable. I had no idea about the behind the scenes stuff but I know none of the other guys a ted like him amongst the fans. I loved everything they did a d even still Tracii and Phil are making decent music. Man in The Moon is very underrated imo. So Zeppelinesq, heavy bluesy, and the ballads were tremendous even though their not everyone's cup of tea. Shame that the turmoil over rode the success of the band. I always thought it was just ego and some may have been but it seems this unit never really had a chance. Now instead of cooler heads prevailing their all in survival mode. Dam Shame!
Would love to hear what your upto these days. Are you still into the music stuff or have you moved on like many have?
Good stories!
Thanks for watching! 🙏
Great video. The first three LA Guns albums are fantastic, a must have for any 80s rock fan. In the beginning you mentioned Junkyard at Nickey Beat's rehearsal studio. Do you have any Junkyard stories? Love that band.
Unfortunately I don’t have any junkyard stories . Thank you for watching 🙏
Junkyard is amazing. best band from that era, and still kicking ass.
I like the Hangmen as well.
I love LA Guns. I saw them on their headlining tour with Dangerous Toys and Tora Tora. A few years later they opened for AC/DC on The Razor’s Edge. Great times.
Me too! Thanks for watching 🙏
Phil Lewis played a solo show at a dive hole in the wall called THE ROXY on long island around 1994. He played "Empire Down" and I couldn't wait to get Vicious Circle. Then i took a leak in the urinal next to him LOL
I remember that show as I booked a small tour for his band Filthy Lucre . Thanks for watching 🙏
I have a copy of the Cuts Ep. I listen to all the time.
🤘🙌 thanks for watching 🙏
I think when LA Guns were at the most chaotic - they made some killer music! Some bands are that way. All those albums were great! It doesn't matter how many albums they sold. And the album Cuts had one of their greatest songs "Ain't The Same '92"! \m/ That's a classic track! Many friends cranked that track for those years! I actually did my own version of the guitar solo on one of my songs. Thank you.
🤘
Sad to hear how band member relationships, changes & personalities got in the way of really making the LA Guns name a bigger thing in the mainstream rock world. A good core group with members who were having fun and enjoyed the process the entire time, is huge. Like fun, playful, thoughtful and nice people are more iconic than grumpy ones and the long-term pay off decades later would have been eve more substantial. Phil Lewis for example is such a good lead, with a great voice and great looks. I know they're easy enough to come up if curious but I doubt younger people think of them at the same level of some other big bands but they definitely could have been. I doubt most can name a song, maybe The Ballad of Jayne. I still blast the music video for Never Enough and Electric Gypsy for example because it's just so cool.
Thanks for watching!
I love There first album and Cocked n loaded is amazing.
That guy rocks 🤘🏻
They used Paul Black's songs with no credit to Paul Black on the first record, if I'm not mistaken The first record, bar none, is the one that most fans of the band revere the most too. Steve had mentioned in an interview about them losing the MC tour, because of some improprieties between Ms. Neal and a member of LA Guns, but DID NOT go into detail, LOL, now I know why, because HE'S IN A BAND WITH THE GUILTY PARTY, LMAO. Great inside baseball stories, thanks!
Nah.
Man in the moon , Hollywood Forever and Tales from the script...IMO are their best hands down.
I was alwayz a huge LAG fan. Their 1st album is STILL one of my favorites of ALL TIME. And I've already told u of the show in '88 at the Waters Club, beyond EPIC! Totally underrated band! 🤘🦇🕷🕷🔥 -J.s
I know I'm an old greying bloke from the UK, but I think that Philip Lewis' band Girl were the dogs bollocks. Phil Collen on lead guitar too! Also, I think Hollywood Vampires is a pretty good album. But hey, what do I know? Regards and respect from the UK.
I agree about Girl. Love em! Thanks for watching 🙏
I will buy your book
Thank you 🙏
Regardless of all the changes I love the first three Gun's albums equally, I just wish they could've kept it together.
I hear ya. Me too.
L.A. Gun's is a great band. I did lots of work for them back in the day. I love Tracii to death. Phil, not so much, lol
Thanks for watching!
Curious if you remember the guys from motley ever meeting the guys in l.a guns or if they ever hung out? Always thought l.a guns was a band Nikki wouldve liked.
They crossed paths. At one point Tracii quit LAG to start a band with Nikki Sixx called Brides of Destruction. It didn’t last long . Thanks for watching 🙏
I love the title because I'm getting there, lol.
Hey, since they got back together with The Missing Peace, and are older (hopefully wiser), are they getting along better?
Man those Axl vocals would have been great to hear. that got erased.
True! Thanks for watching!
Th original name Hollywood. Vampires that record was one o the best but sfter vicious circle i lost track of the band im gonna check ou that album missing peace
Interesting
I opened up for 3 different versions. Dysfunctional yes.
Truth. Amazing. That could be a record! Thanks for watching 🙏
Guns was a Great band but I miss Beautiful Creatures…
I think Tracy guns has a net worth of over 15 million I wonder about the other band members
Great story really enjoyed … wish you said, You know, a bit less 😅
Another quick question back in the day why did Tracy cut his hair he never looked right with that short hair for the time period
Wtf?????that was Popculture many did this long time before 😅😅😅😅it was typically for that area because LA Guns was very Goth and Classical Rock influenced also their livestyle and Fashion,that culture was very different to the typical 2 nd wave of Glam from 1987 to 1991 very different
Thanks for watching 🙏
Good stuf id get your book
There's a unknown LA Guns drummer named Bones who replaced Steve Riley on the Vicious Circle tour before LA Guns was about to fall apart.
Yes I talk about him in one of my other videos. Thanks for watching 🙏
His name was Mike Gersema ,great guy and an incredible drummer,he was my roommate for a short time and was very exited to get in La guns.Something bad went down and there was some missing tapes involved and Mike was on the run I believe,anyway Mike would get siezures from time to time,I don’t know if that was the reason he passed away in 2019 or 2020.He was a very talented drummer and I would go see him when he was in flying tiger.Can’t find anything on them,some other band always comes up.I have there cassette tape,great stuff!he was with La guns for about a year and a half,that’s not a minute and he was better than Steve I always thought.
I loved that album
He replaced him on the HV Tour 91 92
I saw LA Guns open for AC/DC in Philly for Hollywood Vampires. They were good but looked kinda at the end of their rope. Like competant musicians going thru the motions.They didnt even play frikken Electric Gypsy...WTF.
They were at the end . The good energy and original mission of the band was gone. Times had changed.
1:37 - cat alert!
Hahahaha 😺
@@beforeiforget1985 Should have added, “AND love the channel.” Can’t wait for the book.
What about Vince and Tommy who wins in a fight back in the day
Hollywood Vampires is an awesome release. Just sayin
👍🙏
Sorry, maybe you have already answered this question, but the fight on the bus between Tracii & Steve over a porno, you say Tracii would of won, the Steve would. Which one was it? Thanks. Great channel by the way.
Steve would have killed him. No question. Thanks for watching!
@beforeiforget1985 Hmmm. Interesting. I have met both in the last few years, and have to say both were great to me. Tracii gave me his credit card and asked me to get him some Jack Daniels while he was playing on stage. The next year Tracii was walking past with a bouncer, I asked him if we could take a picture together. He was cool, stopped, and honestly took the best picture I have ever seen of him. Steve was driving a rental van with equipment, and pulled up and took a cool pic another time. I Laughed my ass off at Steve smacking Phil with the rolled up newspaper 😂😂😂
Tracii kills me how he loves to look like a homeless bum. Hell of a player though. Dude can do it all...Eddie VH, Randy, Angus , Jimmy Page, etc
I legit wonder how things would’ve worked out if Steve never joined LA guns? Just a random question that popped up in my head just now.
Things would have been alot different. And alot more fun . Nickey was hilarious!
@@beforeiforget1985 nice! Have a awesome weekend btw!
@@agentchris1482 you do the same!
Saw a kitty
Haha yes! 😻
Have to add, I 've got all LA Guns albums. They are all great, but still come back to the debut. It's so the best.
I agree! Thank you for watching 🙏
Jazz or not none could replace the original sound Kiss had with Mr Criss
Agree
Or ACE
@@Endo-uu8mo absolutely 1000%
HV was very popular ??????1991 LA⭐Guns was awesome too
There is a 17 min interview on TH-cam with Cheryl Rixon. check it out It’s kind of interesting.
Just type in her name
I remember reading at the time ,they said they cut Nikki Alexander because he got arrested for a dui. They had to let him go and hire someone to tour while he was in court.
I don't know what magazine that was. But it was before they broke and in the back of the mag black and white section for little bands.
Untrue . Thanks for watching 🙏
@@beforeiforget1985
I absolutely read that in a national publication. Do you remember writers at the time intentionally creating drama or having personal issues with musicians?
It was so hard to read good band interviews back then.
A lot of my favorite bands said they hated talking with many of the writers and editors. So we didn't get to hear them in their own words until the Internet.
@christostefan not really. But bands lied all the time about what was really happening. I’m sure the DUI story was made up by the band
Did you ever see The Black Crowes?
Once. They opened for ZZ Top and Madison Square Garden
@@beforeiforget1985 Lucky man, before they got booted off the tour ✌️
@@chriss1991 yes!
Great stories. I always thought LAG were hyped to be a bigger band then they were. Their matl. was never strong enough IMHO. Absolutely no disrespect. They had that look thought. Hollywood for sure. Would have ;over to hear them with Nicki Beat. Rock on.
Loved to hear. 😬
Thanks for watching!
Lol you also could say the same aboit Mötley????or Guns??????Ratt and WASP Dokken was deftl better than MC ,and Faster Pussycat blews Guns Roses from Stage in 88 89 😅😅😅😅😅
Hollywood Vampires is one of my favorites albums of all time. For me it was their peak. Missing Peace has some amazing songs to but the past few have been very mediocre. The production on the last album sucks really bad
Thanks for watching!
tiny tracii screwing things up, figures...
There is only 1 LA Guns Phil and Tracii
Mick Kelly??????damn without Mick Cocked and loaded would not had Rip n Tear or Ballad of Jayne too 😅😅😅😅😅
I remember pre-ordering Hollywood Vampires on cassette, looking forward to it, waiting for it to come out, reading interviews and stuff about it, having the tape for almost a whole day before being able to actually listen to it, seeing the 3-D glasses and the artwork and the cool stuff in the liner notes... and then being disappointed when I finally listened to it, I wanted to love it, I wanted it to be my favorite album and it just wasn't a good album. Skid Row got heavier, Guns 'N Roses got more diverse, Motley Crue got heavier and hired a better singer, they all dropped off in terms of sales anyway but they got more creative in the meantime while LA Guns just got boring. Got really into Slayer shortly after, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Death and Deicide following shortly after.
I’d agree with that. Thank you for watching 🙏
Says all because of you ,you got bored of LA Guns and listens later to extremer Metal Bands 😅😅😅😅 like those mötley fans who turns out into Grunge Hippies 😅😅😅😅i listen to all at the same time Rock Heavy Pop Blues etc. But LA🦇 Guns HV Boring?????damn clean your ears its an 5+ Stars Album and not Boring its slower at LA G s first 2 but damn its a great Rock album like UYI it also is or Skid Rows Slave to the,
So… you know …..
I tried to get a ticket to an LA Guns show back in '90 but it was a 21+ show and I was only 16. The sad little boy went back home.
🫤
LA Guns Shows was 16+ 😅😅😅😅😅wtf ??????really easy All shows over 22:00 under 16 you need an adult Who get with you there without you must go home but only after 22:00😅😅😅😅😅
Bands always screw over the drummers,
Corky!!!
What’s up Danny!
no tracee was with axle rose how you get guns n rose and l.a. guns gt it ight
What this guy is saying about the disloyal treacherous integrity challenged Tracii Ulrich, aka Guns is all true. The guy abandoned his band LA Guns multiple times already over the years yet all his so called fans either ignore his disloyalty and flakiness or just don't get it. The guy doesn't care about anybody but himself. And making money at everyone else's expense. He screwed over poor Paul Mars Black (former singer in the band who was instrumental in keeping the band afloat for years and writing majority of the material they stole and used on their first album) a few times already. Tracii (and other members) stole his music, his career hopes, and his trust on a few occasions. DO NOT trust Tracii or Phil Lewis. Because Lewis has also stolen music from Black (then proceeded to change lyrics and call it his own) and other artists. There are reasons why there have been SOOO MANY past lineups/ band members in this band. And why they (and their record labels) have blatantly rewritten their own past/history to cover their asses for all the horrible things they've done to guys who they used and then moved on from...>
This band was much more than people gave em credit for. Definitely as good as if not better than GnR or Motley.
Thank you for watching 🙏
Deftl better than Mötley and on the same level like Roses but Heavier
No more RILEYS RIP OFFS