Hair metal
LA GUNS
Despite its firm pedigree in rock, the puzzling story of late-80s hair band(s), LA Guns reads more like a revolving door of musicians and one hit wonders.
Sources conflict on its inception date but it is widely recognised that guitarist Tracii Guns formed the band after he left Guns 'N' Roses around 1987. A couple of line-up changes ensued for the band before it released its second and most successful album, Cocked and Loaded. This album featured the band’s most familiar tune, The Ballad of Jayne. At this particular time, the LA Guns were Tracii Guns (guitar), Phil Lewis (vocals), former WASP drummer, Steve Riley, Kelly Nickles (bass) and Mick Cripps (guitar).
In 2000, that line up reunited and released a supporting Greatest Hits and Black Beauties album. The same year, the band re-recorded and re-released Cocked and Loaded but with a slight alteration in the title – Cocked and Reloaded.
By 2002, the band had a new bassist and it was releasing a new album called Waking the Dead. Hailed by fans as the heaviest material LA Guns has ever recorded, the album features OK, Let's roll - dedicated to the courageous souls of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
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In 2004 and without its heritage guitarist, Guns, the band released Rip the Covers Off which unsurprisingly featured cover versions of David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Saxon and The Stooges to name a few.
This lack of Guns was the catalyst in what ultimately would be the formation of two versions of the band.
LA Guns I is headed by Lewis and Riley which were the former vocalist and drummer respectively of Cocked and Loaded days. And LA Guns II is its creator, Guns’ version with Jizzy Pearl (vocals), Jeremy Guns (bass) and Chad Stewart (drums). Confused yet?
Amazingly, the band co-exists and has even been known to perform together.
Juanita Appleby
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com
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Skid Row
Skid Row was formed in 1986 and spawned a successful career in the 80s hair metal genre. The original line up consisted of notorious vocalist, Sebastian Bach, former Bon Jovi guitarist Dave Sabo, drummer Rob Affuso, secondary guitarist Scott Hill and bassist Rachel Bolan.
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Sabo’s relationship with Bon Jovi landed them a record deal but would also backfire for the band. According to sources, in return for the assistance, Skid Row relinquished the rights to much of its royalties.
Its debut self-titled album produced instant hits with “18 and Life”, glam metal anthem “Youth Gone Wild” and power ballad, “I Remember You”. Bach relished in the success and came under some public backlash with his wild and controversial behaviour both on and off stage.
However, their fan base remained devoted and their second album, Slave to the Grind entered the charts straight at number 1 despite it not producing any real notable singles.
Like many bands in the metal genre during this time, the grunge movement hit Skid Row hard and the band faded from the spotlight. They re-emerged in 1996 with release, Subhuman Race which surprisingly charted in the top 40 but like its previous album, produced no real noteworthy hits. By this time, the band could boast over 20 million album sales globally.
The group split and individual members pursued solo projects including Bach’s formation with Smashing Pumpkins’ drummer called Last Hard Men. Plans to record new material for the 1998 release of Skid Row’s greatest hits never materialised.
Skid Row joined the KISS farewell tour along with Ted Nugent in 2000 with singer, Johnny Solinger. The band has released a further two albums with its new front man and continues to tour.
Juanita Appleby
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com
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THE CULT
Gothic rock band, The Cult, started in 1981 under the name Southern Death Cult, later shortened to Death Cult and then finally just The Cult in 1984. Founding members Ian Astbury (vocals) and Billy Duffy (lead guitar) are the only common thread in a series of various lineups leading up to present day.
Front man, Astbury, made waves with his eccentric, Native American fashion while still labeled Southern Death Cult but later donned black leather and long hair which was to become a staple look for those of the hair metal genre. Duffy was in a series of bands including Theatre of Hate before joining the band in 1983.
The Cult had a dedicated, underground following leading up to their 1985 album release Love which featured hits like She Sells Sanctuary and Rain. The band managed to break into the coveted American market with their third album Electric which was supported by a tour with then little-known Guns 'N' Roses. Sonic Temple followed in 1988 which featured the mega-hit Firewoman.
In 1991, Ceremony was released and received mixed responses from critics. It also became the center of controversy when the parents of the Native American boy pictured on the cover sued the band for unauthorised use and exploitation. This was of particular damage to Astbury as he had always maintained a staunch support for Native American and First Nations’ causes.
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The success experienced in the late 80s and early 90s proved to be The Cult’s downfall as alcohol abuse tore the band apart. They announced an official split in 1995 during a South American tour. Since then, the group has had a series of on-again, off -again reunions but never has managed to list the same accomplishments achieved pre-1990. The first of these reunions kicked off with a performance at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1999, a contribution to the soundtrack Gone in 60 Seconds starring Nicholas Cage and Angelina Jolie and an album release with Atlantic Records which later Astbury described as “soul destroying”. But this was short lived as Astbury put Cult projects on hold again to be the front man for the reformed Doors.
In 2007, to the delight of many die-hard Cult fans, the band reformed and recorded new material in the form of Born Into This. The band continue to tour and release new material.
Members included Ian Astbury (born c. 1962 in England), vocals; Billy Duffy (born c. 1961 in England), guitar; Jamie Stewart (replaced by Craig Adams, 1994), bass; and Les Warner (replaced by Matt Sorum, 1989, and then Scott Garrett, 1994), drums.
Group formed in 1983 as Southern Death Cult in Bradford, England; shortened name to Death Cult and finally the Cult; released first album, Love, on Sire/Reprise Records, 1985; group disbanded, 1995.
When it came time to tour again, Astbury and Duffy seemed to have kicked their bad habits, and the band looked to be back in business. But things soon went downhill. Like so many reviewers, Appleford deemed Ceremony, released in 1991, "disastrous, irrelevant, and unheard," noting that the band's perennial substance abuse problems seemed to have been a factor in the album's failure. After a few years on hiatus, more personnel changes occurred: Sorum was replaced by a former jazz drummer, Scott Garrett, while Stewart's bass slot was taken by Craig Adams, an old friend of Astbury and Duffy. Together the new formation worked on a more enigmatic release, 1994's The Cult, recorded in Vancouver with producer Bob Rock.
Albums:
Dreamtime, Beggars Banquet, 1984.
Love, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1985.
Electric, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1987.
Sonic Temple, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1989.
Ceremony, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1991.
The Cult, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1994.
Beyond Good and Evil, Atlantic, 2001.
Sources: Juanita Appleby; Carol Brennan
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com
