Tracii Guns on Legacy, Loss, and Lucky Riffs: LA Guns' Heart Still Beats Loud

April 26, 2025 - 2030 views “It’s an ass woofer,” Tracii Guns says with a grin, describing the crunchy riff that opens “Taste It,” the lead track from LA Guns’ upcoming album Black Diamonds. And just like that, the guitarist behind one of the Sunset Strip’s loudest success stories reminds us why he’s still one of the scene’s most respected riff architects. Sitting down with FM2.0 and Press Play, Tracii radiated the same raw honesty and cool composure that made LA Guns a household name—and a cult obsession. Part pirate, part philosopher, he opened up about band chemistry, songwriting, emotional influence, and why he's proudly “still addicted to playing guitar.” And he’s earned the right. The album dropped April 4, and with Black Diamonds, Guns and vocalist Phil Lewis prove they’re more than survivors—they’re still shapeshifters. “Phil does vocal warm-ups even when we’re not playing,” Tracii shares, nodding to his bandmate’s dedication. “He doesn’t talk after shows until he’s had a full night’s sleep.” That vocal discipline, married to Tracii’s guitar language, still delivers what fans crave: classic edge with lyrical soul. But it’s not all hard-rock bravado. As the conversation turned to the SongStory Game—a Press Play fan-favorite that dives deep into music's personal impact—Tracii lit up. When asked about songs that shaped him, he surprised with a trio of unexpected influences: Linda Ronstadt, Marty Robbins, and of course, Elton John. “There’s really good suicidal music out there,” he joked, half-serious. “‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’—that one puts me in a cheap hotel basement mentally.” The table laughed, but beneath it all was the shared truth of music as therapy. “It scratches the itch,” he added. “It’s healing.” He also name-dropped the Ting Tings and Greg Koch, proving his musical tastes are as eclectic as his solos. And when asked about his first concert, he didn’t blink: Jackson 5 with Earth, Wind & Fire at The Forum—a memory that still hits hard. “All I could see were their legs,” he laughed. “They looked like rubber.” That nostalgic reverence showed again when talking about LA’s musical ghosts—those bands who never made it. “Everybody got a shot back then,” he said. “Maybe 60 bands didn’t break. But if you had the energy, the crowd, people noticed.” So what’s Black Diamonds really about? According to Tracii, it’s a band-built record that blends all the elements fans love. And yes, “Lucky Motherf**er”* is about them. “We’ve been lucky to keep doing this,” he admits. “And I’m not proud—I steal from the best. Why bother with anything less?” That’s Tracii Guns in a sentence. Real, raw, and never reinventing himself for the sake of it. He doesn’t have to. He just plugs in, turns up, and reminds us why rock still matters.