The iconic guitar-slinger sounds off about his many musical endeavors, including his new band Sunbomb and its upcoming album, Evil and Divine.
Look up the term “journeyman musician” online and you will most likely find a photo of Tracii Guns. The go-to guitarist has been working and in demand since his Fairfax High School days in Los Angeles. You’re no doubt very well aware of some of the bands he’s been in. He was the original lead guitarist for Guns N’ Roses, though he would leave after only a few months and be replaced by his pal Slash.
After that, Tracii reformed his previous group, L.A. Guns. With that band he hit paydirt, signing to a major label and selling almost seven million records worldwide and scoring a massive hit with “The Ballad of Jayne.” Tracii left and rejoined that band—a few times—but a 2016 reunion stuck, and L.A. Guns continues to go strong, with a new album slated for later this year. Tracii has also kept busy with a string of collaborations including the supergroups Brides of Destruction (with Nikki Sixx), Contraband (with members of Vixen and Ratt) and Devil City Angels (with Poison’s Rikki Rockett).
His latest collaboration is called Sunbomb. The band is a true metal experience that has him teaming up with vocal powerhouse Michael Sweet of Stryper. We caught up with Tracii in Los Angeles to discuss piles of HUSTLERs, his history with GNR and how Danish black metal inspired his latest band.
“There were times where women did amazing. incredible things to impress the guys in the band. There were never any sharks. But there was cutlery and ice cubes.”
Tracii Guns
HUSTLERMagazine.com: Are you cool being interviewed by us?
Tracii Guns: I’m proud of it. Are you kidding?
