Lead guitarist Tracii Gun and drummer Rob Gardner formed the first iteration of L.A. Guns with singer Mike Jagosz, and bassist Ole Beich in 1983. This same year, Gardner would introduce Chris Weber to Izzy Stradlin, and along with childhood friend Bill "Axl" Rose, would form the band AXL, which Rose would adopt as his first name. That trio would ultimately go on to become Hollywood Rose, after a brief stint of just going by Rose. Hollywood Rose would ultimately break up in 1984.
Meanwhile, the lineup of L.A. Guns would record their debut EP, Collector's Edition No. 1, releasing it in 1985. Shortly after, Jagosz would be replaced by Axl Rose as lead singer for the band. However, this would be short lived, as Hollywood Rose would briefly reunite with Rose, Stradlin, Weber and Steve Darrow. At this time, Gardner would also join them. Following this, Weber would leave and be replaced by Gun. Guns N' Roses would formally come to fruition, taking and combining the names of Axl Rose and Tracii Gun. This first iteration would feature Rose, Gun, Stradlin, Beich, and Gardner.
Beich would leave the band, replaced by Duff McKagan, and Gun would have a falling out with Axl that caused him to depart as well. Slash would replace Gun, and following Gardner's departure, Steven Adler would join, completing the classic lineup of Guns N' Roses.
Gun would form Faster Pussycat with Mick Cripps, Paul Black, Nickey Alexander and Robert Stoddard would join gun for this new iteration and eventually readopt the name of L.A. Guns. Faster Pussycat, of course, would also continue on, but with a completely different lineup releasing their debut album. They would sign to Polygram, but prior to recording their debut, Black would be replaced by Phil Lewis, and additionally, Killy Nickels would be added to the lineup.
Tracii Gun, Phil Lewis, Mick Cripps, Kelly Nickels, and Nickey Alexander would enter the studio in June of 1987, and by August, hammered out what would become their January 1988 self-titled debut. However, after its recording, Alexander would be replaced by former W.A.S.P. drummer, Steve Riley. Though Alexander would be credited with drum work in the liner notes of the album, it would be Riley who was noted as the band's actual drummer.
It's interesting how Guns N' Roses can come from the roots of L.A. Guns and yet be far superior to them in every aspect. Everything that Axl, Izzy, Slash, Duff, and Steven delivered on their debut, 1987's Appetite For Destruction, is absent from what Tracii, Phil, Mick, Kelly, and Nickey bring to the table. In fact, I'll go so far as to say I ended this one still hungry for something good to hear.
Effort wise, everyone's bringing their "A" game. Quality wise, it just doesn't hit. There are no standout tracks, nothing memorable, and nothing that would lead me to need to hear this album again. Candidly, I'm not even all that interested in jumping into their 1989 follow-up, Cocked & Loaded. I mean, I will, tomorrow, but I'm not necessarily excited about it.
That's really all I have to say about it, and since the band headed right back into the studio to record said follow-up, there's not a lot to say about what happen in between their debut and second album. So, I guess we call it a day on this one.
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