L.A. Guns are hard rock born from the neon grit of Hollywood’s Sunset Strip—sleazy swagger, sharp hooks, and street-level attitude at the peak of the ’80s explosion. Formed in 1983 by guitarist Tracii Guns, the band came out of the same chaotic L.A. scene that also spawned Guns N’ Roses—Tracii even spent time in an early version of that group before committing fully to L.A. Guns.
Signing with PolyGram in the late ’80s, the band broke through with their self-titled debut and hit a wider audience with Cocked & Loaded, powered by the signature ballad “The Ballad of Jayne.” Bluesy riffs, snarling vocals, and a dangerous, streetwise edge kept L.A. Guns right on the line between glam excess and raw hard rock.
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Their mainstream peak arrived with 1989’s Cocked & Loaded, a punchy balance of sleaze and melody that earned heavy MTV rotation. When the ’90s shifted the landscape, L.A. Guns weathered label pressure, lineup changes, and plenty of internal turbulence—yet kept moving with steady touring and new releases.
Through decades of upheaval and reinvention, L.A. Guns have remained defined by Tracii’s fiery guitar work, a no-compromise rock ’n’ roll attitude, and a commitment to the hook-driven danger that made them Sunset Strip staples—and enduring survivors of American hard rock.
In May 2022, L.A. Guns announced a lineup change with Shawn Duncan stepping in as the band’s new drummer, replacing Shane Fitzgibbon. Soon after, guitarist Ace Von Johnson confirmed the group was writing and recording new material. Those sessions led to Black Diamonds (April 14, 2023), and the momentum continued with their sixteenth studio album, Leopard Skin (April 4, 2025).
Leopard Skin delivers a tightly crafted, hook-driven rush of hard rock—melodic, punchy, and cleanly balanced. It scratches that classic ’80s spirit without feeling dated, with L.A. Guns sounding energized and forward-moving as they refine their signature style rather than simply relive it.
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