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 When you think of the top singers to emerge out of the the 80’s hard rock scene, LA Guns singer Phil Lewis stands at the top of the list. Proud of his British heritage, the charismatic and savvy front man has a distinctive vocal style that is passionate, and will rock your face off.
LA Guns first burst onto the Sunset Strip metal scene in 1986, and have managed to remain a driving force in metal today. Many fans wondered what would become of LA Guns after original guitarist Tracii Guns left the band in 2003. Well, guess what. Not only did they mange to continue, they emerged as a new , hungry rock band. LA Guns latest lineup which features Phil Lewis on vocals, Steve Riley on drums, Stacey Blades on guitar, and Adam Hamilton on bass features a new era for LA Guns. All you have to do is take one listen to "Loud and Dangerous", and you will find LA Guns have rekindled their secret formula and recaptured their raw, high energized sound live on their the latest release. Have no fear, the band that helped create Glam-Slam Sleaze Rock and Roll are back on track with "Loud And Dangerous”, giving a performance that is loaded with raw energy and is laden with sexy vocals, and an unique hard driving punk rock edge.
I recently had the opportunity to discuss with LA Guns front man Phil Lewis the making of "Loud and Dangerous," the inspiration that keeps the band alive, "Tales From The Strip", and why LA Guns continues to tour constantly. Take a stroll down Sunset Strip, as LA Guns front man Phil Lewis takes his fans from the past, the present, and right into the future of LA Guns.
Phil, Thank you so much for checking in with GlamMetal.com tm. First of all let me congratulate you on the latest release of "Loud and Dangerous" on Shrapnel. I had the chance to listen to the new CD, and the band has really managed to recapture the raw, energized live sound of LA Guns on this album. Tell me what inspired the band to release "Loud and Dangerous.”
Well it is a live album obviously, and it is something that we wanted to do with this present line-up. The present line-up, which includes Steve, Adam, Stacey and myself.
Have done three records. We have done a cover record called "Rip the Covers off," and we did an original record "Tales from The Strip." So it makes sense that we would do a live record as well. This was like the third thing that we needed for business. We had LA Guns records out there, but not with this line-up. It was recorded at the Whiskey on a great summer night. Plus there is some video footage at the end of it, so you can actually get to how it sounds, as well.
The new release really showcases the strength of the new line-up.
I think so too, thank you. I appreciate it.
I have been a fan for along time, and I noticed on this CD, your singing brought me back to the early days of LA Guns. The whole band puts 100 percent into "Loud and Dangerous."
I think so too. The Whiskey for us is like sacred grounds. It is something that we do, once or twice a year. We take that place very seriously. We had a great crowd that night. It was amazing. I wish we could record every show that we play there.
There seems to be a whole new generation of LA Guns fans discovering the band for the first time. I think it is really great to that the band has released "Loud and Dangerous," it will really shows the strength of the band, since the departure of Tracii Guns. It is like a whole new era for LA Guns. How do you feel about that?
You know it is like a different band, don't you think? When Stacey came along, it made a big difference to us; it gave us a lot of confidence. We started off with a cover record, to see how we recorded together, that sounded great. Then we went ahead, and did an original one. It is a different band. Steve and I are on all of the records really, it is classic LA Guns with a second wind. These younger guys, who are a generation younger than Steve and myself really give it a lot of fire and add a lot of fuel to it.
Do you think that maybe Stacey and Adam joining the band kind of gave a new twist to the old LA Guns sound?
Definitely. After Tracii left, we scrambled. We had Chris Holmes in the band, for a while. All we really wanted to do is keep the band together. Because we just released "Waking the Dead" and we thought it was such a good record it was worth sticking together, just for the fans. It was something that we needed to do. We went from beyond just trying to salvage it, to building this incredible machine that we have now. I have never been more proud than now of being the singer in LA Guns.
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What was going through your mind that night, when you were recording "Loud and Dangerous” live at The Whiskey ?
To be honest with you, I didn't know we were going to be recording for the CD. I knew we were recording, but I didn't know the extent. I didn't know if it was just going to be a bootleg, I didn't know it was going to end up becoming a major release on Shrapnel. I was very laid back, I had a couple of bottles of wine, and I was a bit nippy that night. So unfortunately a lot of had to get cut out, it was a bit X-rated. They would have trouble putting it on the shelves of Wal-Mart. They left out some of my profanity, some of my stories. We have an unedited version floating about.
LA Guns has always been about the sex, women and rock and roll! Girls and Rock and Roll that is what it is all about!
Yes, of course! It was just a typical night like that. Unfortunately that didn't make it on to the disc. But the music did. It is not one of those pretend records with just the drums and audience. They weren't any overdubs or anything. We didn't do that. We remixed it, and that was it.
It has a really crisp, raw sound. Your vocals, the guitar, the rhythm section are mixed very well.
It was a well-recorded mix of a good show. Adam took it in, put it in his computer, and remixed, sequenced it. It comes out sounding really, really good.
In a recent interview that I conducted with Steven he told me, "LA Guns are Rock and Roll gypsies.” You have to be constantly touring, it is in your blood. Would you say that is true?
It is so true. When we don't play, when we have a month or so down, I get sick. It is something that I just have to do. I have been doing it for so long. I get sick without it.
What are LA Guns future touring plans?
We have some shows in and around LA.
Phil, you are such a dynamic performer. How important is interacting with the audience and image to you? It is very important. I think it is good to look good. We are not one of those bands that change to go onstage. We don't dress up to go onstage. In terms if image, we don't really have a specific outfit, it is pretty much what we wear all the time.
It is kind of the Glam-metal look of the 80's.
Yes, it does look a little dated, with my low cut bell bottom jeans, I know when we go to truck stops we turn heads! We probably look quite funny to them, and a little out of place, but that is who we are. Fuck it, we don't care.
One of the greatest aspects about LA Guns is that you never compromise your sound to fit in with the music of today. LA Guns have always made a statement with their music, and you stick to your guns. The band has never followed trends, but continue to turn out music that is exciting and fresh.
Yes, and interacting with the audience is very important. It shouldn't matter whether there are 20 people or 1000, at the show. It is all going good, the band sounds good, and then you can get involved with audience participation. I hate it when bands come out, and they haven't got it together. They are not wanting everybody to sing the choruses. They don't even know what they are doing. I see too much of that. After two to three songs into the set, I am relaxed, and know it is going good, that is when I like to get the audience going.
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It’s really cool that you have songs from "Tales From The Strip" on the new live album, and the fans can get to see what the new era of LA Guns is all about too.
Yes, that is right. They are the live video ones that are on the end of the CD that you play on your computer.
How has the LA music scene changed since LA Guns first began? Do you see a resurgence of metal again?
There are a lot of new sort of LA Guns and Guns n’ Roses bands forming in and around Hollywood at the moment. I am seeing a lot of that. Bands don't want to sound like Tool or Limp Bizkit anymore. Young guys are growing their hair; it is definitely on a cycle. I think that it could come back, I think it could come back really big.
How has the band grown musically since the beginning of LA Guns?
Like we were saying earlier. Listened to the first three records, they are great, and they are little iconic moments of my life, but it seems like if we just released "Tales From The Strip" instead of "Cocked and Loaded" it would have been a really different story. I think we could of just actually exploded, and have been huge, mega!!!!!
"Tales From the Strip" is phenomenal. I am still listening to it. The lyrics are real. You can tell you lived these lyrics. Everything is so real.
It was important when we were putting this record together, that we wrote something that we knew about. I decided when I was doing the record to still with what I know. I know so well the characters in it, and the places. I wanted to make an album about it.
What are some of your favorite tunes off of "Tales From The Strip"?
I love,” It Don't Mean Nothing," I like "Vampire", I like "Resurrection". Some songs were easy. I did the lyrics to "It Don't Mean Nothing" in about twenty minutes. Other songs took way longer. Overall, I am still happy with the way it turned out. It is sort a vintage sounding record. But it is new.
How do you feel about indie labels versus major labels?
With big labels, you know you have big budgets. It can drastically alter your life style. You are being paid by a record company to be a full time musician. Against an Indie label, who will pay your expenses, and might kick in some tour support. But you are pretty much on your own. The difference is the major label is going to be a lot more controlling musically, over what you do, what you say, and what you wear. The Indie Labels pretty much are going to let you do your own thing. The can be just an outlet for your work, and not get too involved creatively.
How long will LA Guns remain on the road, till the end of the year to support your new release?
We will be doing a lot of shows in America for the rest of the year.
Now do you think you will be coming back to the Boston area at all?
I should think so. We have a whole slew of shows lined up with Skid Row; we got some shows lined up with Dokken. The beginning of next year we are going to start working on the record. It is time for another, I think. It is a big challenge to me, to come up with a record even better. But we did come up with a better record that, "Waking the Dead." That was a challenge that we gave ourselves, when we went into do it. If we can do that, there is no reason why we can't do a better one than Tales, but it not going to be easy.
As long, as you are singing, and Steve is playing, it is all good.
Thank you!
Now how has touring changed since the eighties? I know you do a lot of flying dates now versus the tour bus trips?
Tour buses have become passé, I am afraid. The icon of the 80's is gone now. If you are on a major tour like Crue or Poison, then yes, you do buses. But for us, it is all about flying. We leave Thursday, we play Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and we come back Monday. We work in LA for two or three days on new material, recording and mixing. The Thursday rolls around again, and we are off again. I love it. It is so much better than getting on that tour bus, and being in the army for six weeks or few months. A bunch of sweaty dudes, rolling down the highway. It is ghastly. When people get on the tour bus the first thing they think is oh wow this is nice, oh look at the TV and leather seats. Yes, for the first five minutes it is nice. But it gets old real quick. It really does. There is no privacy. It is like being in the Navy or being on a submarine.
I can understand that. How is security at the airports affected airport travel and touring?
It is good things and bad things about it. One of the good things is back in the old days the security and the officials use to look at the bands and say oh they got drugs on them. They look bad, they have, tattoos and sunglasses. We are kind of use to being the bad guys. Since terrorism and everything, they are looking for something completely different. We are kind of their friends now. We play so many of the same place places, and we fly pretty much into O’Hare and Logan, like major airports, we pretty much know most of the security and personnel at most airports. We still get inspected like everyone else, but they cut us a lot of slack. They let us jump lines, if we are late. It is nice. People are always real friendly. We get on a flight, we are a bunch of rockers, and it doesn’t take to long before people are talking to us. I don't have a problem with that. I like talking to people on a plane. All these couples, which you can talk about going on tour with Alice Cooper! (Laughter)
That must be so much fun!
Yes, I love it.
LA Guns have always been a people's band anyway, so that really shows on the new album. How would you describe LA Guns sound? Would you say it is still punk influenced? Were you a big fan of the Sex Pistols growing up?
Oh yes, I love the Sex Pistols, Steve Jones and the whole Johnny Rotten thing. Them not being able to play didn't stop them from not making great records. There is a little dash of that in LA Guns. I think we have more of a sort of Hanoi Rocks, a bit more Glam that Punk. Glam-Slam kind of, I would say fits us well. What I really wanted to do when I was a kid and got into music, I wanted to be the English Alice Cooper. I set out to like that. We didn't have anything like that in London, at the time. That was my mission.
What are you most proud of in your extensive career, as a musician?
You know getting present with Gold records, playing to arena of 10,000 people is a pretty amazing milestone. The travel, the places I have been to, the things I have seen. It is absolutely incredible. I have traveled a million miles, for sure. I have been to South America, Asia, and every State in America. That is incredible too. The people were amazing. Some of my best friends are people that I have met, while I was touring.
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How would you sum up the 80's?
I don't know how to sum it up, but I will say there was a lot of great music. There was a great look. It has it’s own definitive style. There was a big backlash against it. The beginning of the 90', I think the journalists and the people that panned against the 80's were like a little bit jealous. Here was like a decade that was honestly more decadent than the 60's ever could have been. It was Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll 24/7. It freaked them out. To be honest with you, the 80's went and the 90's came, and we are halfway through the decade of the century and honestly nothing has ever come near to replacing it, or sounding as good, or being as much fun.
I agree. I think kids today, that and they are turning to bands like LA Guns, Motley Crue, Dokken to see what the heyday of the 80's metal scene was really like and to experience what music is lacking today. I don't think anything will ever replace the 80's. It was just a phenomenal era.
There are new bands as well, there is a new band called Spyder Baby out of Detroit, kind of have that sort of like Ministry Nine Inch Nines kind of sound, but they do a brilliant cover of Sex Action. It sounds sort of techno industrial, but the guy sings it really good. The production is great. I found it be accident online. I have a link to their stuff, on my website and my space as well. It is definitely worth checking out. They have four songs on my space and one of them is Sex Action.
That must have been really exciting and flattering to have a band cover your song.
Yes, if not better than we did. It is really refreshing. It goes to show a good song is a good song, no matter how it is done, or when it is done.
Is their anything else that you would like to say about your new release,” Loud and Dangerous?”
Adam did a spectacular job re-mixing it. I would like to thank my friend Brooke MCKaig from Vamp Visual who did all of the graphics and the cover artwork and the logo. I thought she did a great job on that. It was a great night and I am glad it was recorded.
How did you come up with the title "Loud and Dangerous?"
I am a big Thin Lizzy fan and they had a record,” Live and Dangerous." I typed in” Loud and Dangerous" into a search to see if anyone had used it, and they hadn't, so I wanted that name. That is my finger and my guitar on the front cover with blood on it. That is the dangerous part to "Loud and Dangerous." The shot was taken from a show that we did in New York, a few months earlier. One of our fans took a picture, and just gave it to me one night at a gig, and I went wow that is fantastic. We will use it. It is a fan photo that ended up, as the cover of the live CD, how great is that?
That is so awesome. That goes to show, LA Gun are all about their fans. What a great story.
Yes, it is true.
Thank you so much Phil for these Exclusive details on "Loud And Dangerous". Glam-metal.Com looks forward to promoting the new CD, and hopefully we will catch a LA Guns show real soon! The staff at GlamMetal.COM TM wishes you the Best of Luck!
I appreciate your help and support; it has been fun talking to you Debby!
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