Ladies and gentlemen, Metal-Blast has finally done it! We finally got a real live rock star to give up an interview and we got a good one! Founding member of Guns N Roses, LA Guns and Brides of Destruction guitarist Tracii Guns. We asked Tracii a lot of questions about his current band, the various incarnations of LA Guns, and his involvment in various other projects. He gave us some cool and interesting answers so check it out. Metal-Blast's questions are this color and Tracii's comments are this color.

Metal-Blast: So what's up with Tracii Guns these days?
Tracii: Well , the band has just completed the first 20th anniversary show. We played the " Taste Of Colorado" which is like a food concert. It was great, the band sounded good and the crowd sounded great.

How was it to be in a band with your son Jeremy this Summer?
I adopted Jeremy (23) and his Little brother B.B.(16) 2 years ago while i was in the Brides. They are both super intense musicians. B.B. Goes to a partime music and recording school, and now Jeremy is a rockstar at 23.

Tracii and Jeremy Guns having some fun on stage

How long has been playing the bass guitar?
He is actually a guitar player turned bassist which happened over in Europe this past december when Scott Sorry couldnt get there. He has been playin for 8 years.

How does he handle life on the road?
He handles it exactly how it should be handled. He plays his ass off, Girls all over him,, hes definitly a rockstar.

Do you let him partake of all the trappings (Partying, groupies, etc) of full blown rock n roll superstardom?
Absolutely,,,, Hes a pro,,,,,partys like a pro

What about working with Paul Black and Nicky Alexander again? How has that been?
Its weird because they act like the kids in the band , For me it seems like no time has gone by because I have known these guys more then half of my life. WE ARE ALL FROM L.A.

Jeremy Guns, Tracii Guns, Paul Black and Nicky Alexander

How is working with them now different from working with them back in the day?
people dont change much except Paul is Sober

What's the typical set list for this tour been like?

Wheels Of Fire
Over The Edge
LAPD
I DO
Rip n Tear
Never Enough
No Mercy
One More Reason
Jane
Electric Gypsy
Cant Always get What You Want
Draw the Line
On And On
One Way Ticket

Some people have said that Paul is using Phil Lewis' version of the lyrics to some of the songs? Is that true and if so, how did that come about? How difficult was it for him to make that adjustment?
He enjoys Phillips Lyrics alot and has fun with them

What are your current touring plans?
Local shows in Sept, Trinidad back on, In sept
October, South America
Oct27- Dec15th US Tour Bringin Out The Bulletboys,,,, the tour is called "GUNS n BULLETS" 50-60 shows

The reviews I've read of the band's show this Summer have been very positive and the one word that keeps coming up is "fun", how has this tour been different that the ones you've been on the last few years?
This band isnt macho and we dont struggle making that connection with the crowd, Paul Black is so likeable onstage that he makes everyone in the crowd and onstage comfortable. Even when he forgets a line or 2

We see here ( http://www.myspace.com/losangelesguns ) that you're using the LA Guns name for this band line up. We've also seen this( www.myspace.com/traciigunsgroup ) page for basically the same band, so which is it? LA Guns or Tracii Guns Group?
Gigs under 3 grand are TRACII GUNS GROUP etc

Some of us have heard that you and Steve Riley own the rights to the name LA Guns 50-50 but since LA Guns has been, to quote you, your "baby" since you were 17, how did you come to the decision to split the rights with Steve?
Actually Steve Riley doesnt have any rights to the name although he did register it in both of our names. Steve also cashed 5 years worth of publishing checks of mine without telling me so,,, there is no love for Steve Riley

Are you concerned that people will be confused with two different LA Guns line ups out there?
Well not as confused as people who have seen a picture of me in an LA GUNS advertisement then go to the gig,,,,, and they look onstage and its keri kelli( God Bless Him )

I've read on your MySpace that there are plans for this band to release a CD in 2007, how far along are you in the recording process?
New music available within 24 months,,,,,,,,,,,, I cant tell what I do not know

When is the last time you talked to anyone in the other LA Guns camp?
I talk To Mick Cripps Often

The American Hardcore LA Guns line up. Johnny Crypt, Tracii (sitting), Steve Riley and Chris Van Dahl

Why stop with two LA Guns? Some LA Guns fans I talked with thought that it would be cool to have a third LA Guns line up that could tour while your band and the Lewis/Riley band are doing other things. Here's the line up we came up with:

Vocals - Jizzy Pearl
Guitars - Johnny Crypt
Guitars - Gilby Clarke (Played on some of Shrinking Violet right?)
Bass - Chris Van Dahl
Drums - Bones

What about it? They could play all of the 1990's material along with Love/Hate material. You and Riley could sign off on this and make them show up at the state fairs and clubs and collect 15% right? Gilby's hot right now because of Supernova so that cut could be pretty big.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..... Like Ringling Brothers Franchise

Tracii Guns with Jizzy Pearl

Tracii Guns skateboards? We know you love to skateboard but how and when did this venture come together?
Jo Bergun at http://www.abortioncandymachine.com is my favorite artist and she is in charge of that kind of thing.........

Brides of Destruction; Most people are assuming that they're through but if I'm not mistaken, the last thing most of us heard was that BOD was on hiatus. Is it officially over for BOD?
it hinges on Nikki Sixx rejoining the band

We know you've played in more than a couple of bands in the last decade, so in the last 10 years how many different well known bands have you played with or tried out for?

Was Tracii in Dexy's Midnight Runners too?

I played with Poison in a rehearsel room for a couple of days,,,,, That was really fun
I sat in with The Misfits for three shows,,,,,,, First time I had seen 14 year olds going crazy in the crowd for along time
I am pretty Loyal To Gilby Clarke and am always available for a last minute jam
I jammed with Flea and Chad from the Peppers,,,,,,,,,,,, they are the most talented rythm section i have ever jammed with in my life,,,, DAMN THAT WAS SICK
I did the Brides for 3 Years,,,,,,,, One train Wreck after another but,, the shows were fucking crazy,,,,so much fun
I helped audition bass players with Quiet Riot

Of those bands, who were the coolest to work with and why?

LIVE,,,,, BRIDES were sick
Jamming,,,,, The Peppers were sick
I loved hangin out with the Poison guys
Jerry Only,Dez and Robo were very ZEN like,,,, Marky Ramone was about as much fun as a flat tire,,,,,, SMILE DUDE YOUR A RAMONE!!!!!!!!

Speaking of which, exactly what happened with you and Quiet Riot?
Well,,, It came down to musical direction. They had already written a bunch of really cool kinda 70s soundin rock n roll stuff but, for me I wanted to really bring my massive Randy Rhodes Influence into the writing and we all really liked it as a unit but,, There just wasnt that magic all three of us had hoped for,,,,, banali was thinkin Bonzo, kev was thinkin Spooky Tooth and i was Thinkin Ozzy era Randy,,,,,,,, Still sounds like a great idea to me,,,, I love those guys.........

Some fans have speculated that, despite not being credited by Guns n Roses, that you had a hand in writing some of the stuff that was released on "Appetite For Destruction" so all pomp and circumstance aside, how much of your songwriting actually shows up on the Guns N Roses records?
I was involved in writing a few GnR songs but,,, I wouldnt say I wrote 1 complete piece of music for anything they have released. That band back then was a sum of all parts that stylistically just worked and I am really proud to be the GUNS in GUNS n ROSES

Click the picture to find out more about Theremin.

You also play the Theremin. Rather unusual instrument for a Rock N Roll musician so how did you become interested in playing it?

I built one in electronics classic in 10th Grade after seeing Jimmy Page play one.

I read somewhere that you actually own a Theremin that Jimmy Page once owned, is that true and if so how did you end up with it?
Its a secret

********Top 5 Lists**************

Tracii Guns Top 5 musical influences?

Led Zeppelin
Iron Maiden
Van Halen
Ted Nugent
Randy Rhodes

Top 5 cities to play a gig?

London, England
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tokyo, Japan
Italy period
Chicago, Ill

Top 5 singers Tracii Guns has worked with?

Phillip Lewis
Riley baxter
Axl Rose
Stella Soleil
Gina Go Go

Top 5 greatest career moment for Tracii Guns?

LA GUNS SELF TITLED

Playing MSG and The Forum

Jay Leno playing a song called SHUT THE FUCK UP with the Brides

Playing Chinese Rocks and Born To Lose on Johnny Thunders Guitar with Johnny Thunders singin,ARt kane on bass, Jerry Nolan on drums at Fenders ballroom a very long time ago

Living past 30

Top 5 most important things to Tracii Guns?

My Girl
My Band
My Cat
My 2 sons
My Indika Buds

What did you say about Buds Mr. Guns?

What do you remember best about the following albums, whether it's the band, the songs, funny stuff that happened on tour, whatever?

LA Guns - Cocked & Loaded?
I remember when it came out I insisted on playing every song off of both LA GUNS records live at the first show,,,,,,,,,,,, man that was ball breaking

LA Guns - Vicious Circle?

I was agoraphobic during this period,,,,,, I was done with Killing Machine,,, I could only go to the studio in the middle of the night. I was an emotional disaster, not to mention had severe malnutrition . Mick Cripps had told me one night to go play with NIN,,,,, and I said no because I was scared to meet new people at that point.

LA Guns - American Hardcore?
Most metal fans dont like when their bands change extremely like that. For me personally it was an explosion of emotion for me too play and write that hard and it brought me out of my psychosis temporarily....... Chris Van dahl,,,,,,,, JUST AN AMAZING ABILITY TO SING

Tracii Guns - Killing Machine?
only good times,,,,,, this band was fun

LA Guns - Waking The Dead?
My Swan Song or CODA with Steve Riley era L.A. GUNS..... I am extremely proud of that record!!!!!!!!!!

Brides Of Destruction - Here Come The Brides?

I cant say enough good things about this part of my career. There were no rules, We were metal too the bone, JUST SLAMMIN LIVE!!!!!!

Brides Of Destruction - Runaway Brides?

I couldnt get my head into it for some reason but,, I do think the record has some interesting music on it

Have you been watching any of the Rock n Roll reality TV shows?
Yes,,, I like Gilby

If you had the chance to star in your own reality show, what kind of show would it be and who would you want to work with?

I would love to do a reality show with Chuck Berry. It would be an educational show with Chuck and I drivin around the country in a caddilac shootin the shit

Musically speaking, what kinds of music or artists are you into these days?

Only the best for me,,,,

Led Zeppelin
Hendrix
The Who
Aerosmith
Pantera
Ted Nugent
Elton John
First 2 CRUE records
Janis Joplin
Beatles/Stones
Randy Rhodes
Gary Moore
Howlin Wolf
Willie Dixon
Eddie Cochran
Viking Skull
Trouble
Danzig/Misfits
The Grateful Dead
Peter Frampton
Iron Maiden- Dianno only
Def Leppard- Steve Clark/Pete Willis only
RUSH
Audioslave

We also plan on interviewing some up and coming musicians as well as legends like yourself so do you have any advice for aspiring musicians trying to get into the business?
Well you are what you eat and you are what you listen too.

Last but not least Tracii, is there anything we forgot to ask you that you want to talk about? What about a parting shot?
I wish metal-blast all the luck in the world. Long live rock and roll

If you want to download Tracii Guns music, he has this to say about his online partnership with www.mysongstore.com:

www.mysongstore.com is a great place for musicians to take control of their own destiny musically and get it out there without some nonmusician taking most of the money...

A big thank you to Tracii Guns for being our first interview and giving us some very cool answers to our questions. Tracii's band will be on the road until the end of the year. For tour dates, check out http://www.myspace.com/losangelesguns