Take a founder member of Guns n Roses, the drummer from W.A.S.P and the singer of UK band Girl, throw in two other master of sleaze and what you have is a band that should be amongst the best to come out of Los Angeles infamous Sunset Strip. That is exactly what you get with L.A Guns a band that on paper- and on their first two albums, were exactly that.

However, bands being bands, as they found success they started to fall apart. First singer Phil Lewis left the band and rejoined- and then left again, drummer Steve Riley left and rejoined and guitarist Tracii Guns put together several line ups before the original band reformed in 1999. At this point a best of and a live album were released and the band toured before fracturing once again.

This new compilation draws most of its tracks from the bands first two, and most successful, albums L.A Guns and Cocked & Loaded. Tracks such as The Ballad of Jayne, Electric Gypsy, One More Reason, and Sex Action brought the band to MTV and the attention of the masses. Harder edged than most of the sleaze bands of their era the band also knew how to deliver a great ballad- the best example of this being The Ballad of Jayne (an ode to the late actress Jayne Mansfield).

Fast-forward to today and there are currently 2 L.A Guns touring, one featuring Lewis and Riley, the other Guns. Confusing to fans and press alike, it is a shame that the band cannot put any differences aside and reform once more- just listen to this 15 track collection for proof of that!!!

****

Review by Nikk Gunns