L.A. Guns band members

Members of the rock band L.A. Guns. The band's leader and founder Tracii Guns (who the band was named after) left in 2003, and later formed his own incarnation of the band fronted by Paul Black. As a result there are now two bands using the L.A.Guns name at once. Both incarnations have many members from the band's better known eras in them and have a 50% claim to the name.

First Generation L.A.Guns - formation, through to merge with Hollywood Rose (1983-1985)

The core lineup of L.A. Guns, formed in 1983, lasted until 1985. The band briefly merged with Hollywood Rose (led by former Guns vocalist Axl Rose), to form future rock and roll legends Guns N' Roses. Axl Rose had been in L.A. Guns while their vocalist Michael Jagosz was in prison and had to leave when he got out. When he asked Tracii Guns about the idea of a band merge, he brought Izzy Stradlin with him. Guns left shortly after the merge to reform L.A.Guns and Guns N' Roses has survived until the present at the same time. The other members of L.A. Guns were fired from the band at roughly the same time as Tracii Guns left.

Post-Tracii Guns era - the band under Phil Lewis (2003-2006)

In 2003 Tracii Guns left L.A.Guns. Steve Riley, who held a 50% legal stake in what was left of the band, was allowed to retain the L.A. Guns name and continue touring under it. This lineup has been led by Phil Lewis ever since.

Two bands under the L.A. Guns name (2006-present)

In 2006 Tracii Guns decided to form a solo band - The Tracii Guns Band. He soon began billing it as L.A. Guns, adding Nickey "Beat" Alexander and Paul Black from the band's earliest incarnations to the lineup. This group has released albums under the name "Paul Black's L.A. Guns". At the same time, Phil Lewis' L.A. Guns continued.

Present Lineups

Both incarnations of the band go under the simple name of "L.A. Guns". No legal problems have resulted in the shared name, despite both claiming to be the 'true' L.A. Guns.

Both have a fair claim: Tracii Guns was the founding member/leader and included former member Paul Black in his lineup of the band. Black was in the band in 1985-1986, but never recorded with them. However the other incarnation of the band is a continuation of the original, which survived when Guns left. It has more members of the band from their best known era in the form of Lewis and Riley.

Both versions of L.A. Guns are four pieces. The band has switched between being a four and five piece frequently. The four piece system was used 1983-1985, 1995-1999 prior to the present incarnations of the band.

L.A. Guns Lineup 1

* Phil Lewis - lead vocals (1986-1994, 1999-present)
* Stacey Blades - lead guitar (2003-present)
* Scott Griffin - bass guitar (2007-present)
* Steve Riley - drums (1988-1992, 1993-present)

L.A. Guns Lineup 2

*Marty Casey - lead vocals (2008-present)
*Tracii Guns - lead guitar (1983-2003, 2006-present)
*Alec Bauer - rhythm guitar (2008-present)
*Jeremy Guns - bass guitar (2006-present)
*Chad Stewart - drums (2007-present)