If you’re listening to Cocked and Loaded and you think it sounds like a poor man’s version of Guns N’ Roses, well you’re probably closer than you think. The two bands’ early histories are deeply intertwined. In 1985, members from L.A. Guns (including guitarist and founding member Tracii Guns) merged with the band Hollywood Rose (featuring Axl Rose) to form Guns N’ Roses. Soon after however Guns left and was replaced by Slash, solidifying the classic GNR lineup. As you can imagine the relationship was complicated in the late 80’s— not exactly friendly, but not a full-blown feud either. There was definitely some tension (especially since Guns N’ Roses skyrocketed to fame while L.A. Guns stayed more underground) but over time the drama cooled off and various members have spoken respectfully about each other, recognizing they came from the same wild L.A. scene that served as the cornerstone for 80’s glam rock and all of its notorious excesses.
Standout Songs: “Rip And Tear”, “The Ballad of Jayne”, “Never Enough”
