Tracii Guns shared his original metal-oriented vision for Guns N’ Roses in an interview with Guitar Player.
The guitarist discussed his early collaboration with Axl Rose and their shared musical vision during the L.A. Guns era.
“We definitely did. We were the best of friends. And then things got weird, but our vision was identical,” Guns explained. “Then we brought Izzy [Stradlin] back into the mix. He was just my roommate, and we never played together per se, but we never stopped talking about what was cool.”
He elaborated on Rose’s vocal influences and their musical direction during that period.
“It was all about being cool. I found that Axl was a very empathetic person when it comes to the vocal style he admires — like Dan McCafferty from Nazareth, and obviously Bon Scott and Brian Johnson. He loved Blackie Lawless,” he said. “I was always forcing Robert Plant down Axl’s throat. He didn’t grow up a big Zeppelin fan, but he knew I was a big Zep head. When Axl was in L.A. Guns, we were a metal band. We were straight-up metal.”
The guitarist reflected on Guns N’ Roses’ distinctive identity development. “Guns N’ Roses is what broke us all away from Mötley Crüe and Ratt… stuff we didn’t want to be lumped with in.”
These insights about the band’s early metal direction illuminate the formation and evolution of both L.A. Guns and Guns N’ Roses.
Historical documentation from official records shows that Tracy Richard Irving Ulrich, known professionally as Tracii Guns, formed L.A. Guns in 1983. The original lineup included singer Mike Jagosz, bassist Ole Beich, and drummer Rob Gardner. The band released their EP “Collector’s Edition No. 1” before experiencing several lineup changes.
Ultimate Classic Rock documented the 1985 merger between L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. This union created Guns N’ Roses with an initial lineup of Tracii Guns, Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Rob Gardner, and Ole Beich. The collaboration marked a significant moment in rock history.
The original lineup lasted only two months. Tracii Guns left the band due to disagreements with Axl Rose. Slash then joined as lead guitarist. This change proved crucial to the band’s development. Slash’s blues-influenced guitar work helped create the band’s signature sound, moving away from the purely metal approach.
Tracii Guns returned to L.A. Guns after his departure. The band released their successful self-titled debut album in 1988. Meanwhile, Guns N’ Roses released their groundbreaking album “Appetite for Destruction” in 1987. Both bands carved their own distinct paths in rock history.
