| Long running hard rockers L.A. Guns have announced the release of their new studio album, Checkered Past on November 12th. Fans can get their first preview of the album with the release of the single Knock Me Down. Listen below. Pre-order/save Checkered Past on CD/Color Vinyl/Digital here. |
| Written and recorded during late 2020 and early 2021, Checkered Past sees Tracii Guns, Phil Lewis, and company continuing with the darker lyrical tone of the preceding studio albums, The Devil You Know and The Missing Peace, while incorporating their classic rock influences into the mix. Heavier songs are mixed with bluesier, boogie inducing tracks and dark, introspective ballads, often harkening back to the first three albums the band made, but also pushing the band forward. When fans absorb the album as a whole, they’ll see that the tracklisting is divided up into “sets” or “suites,” where a sonic style is explored across multiple songs before moving on to the next, making for a remarkable listening experience. |
| Feeling inspired and excited like they did when they first started out, but with many years of wisdom and experience under their belts, and most importantly, a renewed and stronger creative and personal relationship, Guns and Lewis are maintaining a creative peak that started with The Missing Peace. Checkered Past shows a band invigorated and ready to bash you over the head, as well as “wow” you with some epic, slower songs, and even make you dance a bit to some rock ‘n roll. |
| Checkered Past Tracklist: 1. Cannonball 2. Bad Luck Charm 3. Living Right Now 4. Get Along 5. If It’s Over Now 6. Better Than You 7. Knock Me Down 8. Dog 9. Let You Down 10. That Ain’t Why 11.Physical Itch |
| L.A. Guns line up: Phil Lewis-vocals Tracii Guns-guitar Ace Von Johnson-guitar Johnny Martin-bass Scot Coogan-drums |
| Tour dates: November 12th-Indio, CA, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino November 26th-San Juan Capistrano, CA, Coach House November 27th- Long Beach, CA, Gaslamp December 3rd-Las Vegas, NV, Count’s Vamp’ December 4th-Las Vegas, NV, Count’s Vamp’d December 31st-West Hollywood, CA, Whisky A Go Go Feb 9th-14th-Port of Miami, FL, Monsters of Rock Cruise 2022 |
| Since their self-titled debut in 1988 to the widely praised comeback albums The Missing Peace and The Devil You Know, L.A. Guns, led by Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis have always delivered solid rock ‘n roll to their fans. This current incarnation of the band has been touring non-stop, with a notable break coinciding with all other touring bands, and the cohesiveness of the unit, not to mention Phil’s stunning and unique vocals and Guns’ mind-bending guitar playing, are on full display here. A must hear and listen for all fans of the band, both new and old. |
| L.A. Guns never looked like the pretty poster boys that so many of their peers did, but more the band that you would be terrified to bump into in an alley as they would likely be carrying switchblades and ready for a fight. But despite having many songs to back up that image, the band could also write powerful ballads (see the smash hit, The Ballad Of Jayne for Exhibit A of this argument) that showed there were some serious songwriting chops in the band. Those chops are on full display on the band’s two most recent studio albums and the upcoming new album, Checkered Past, arguably one of the most vital and exciting releases in the band’s catalog. |
6 Responses
Not sure why when this song first started it reminded me of The Hollies Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)?
At first when I saw “Knock Me Down” I immediately thought it was a remake of the Red Hot Chili Peppers song of the same name, but it isn’t, it’s actually pretty good, I like it.
Took a quick listen to the Hollies song, and I can see why you thought that. I like this guns song it’s not absurd I also like the Hollies song as well brings back childhood memories.
Charles,
Thanks for letting me know my hearing isn’t completely off.
D 🙂
The opening chords sound like Thunderstruck by AC/DC.
Man these guys have been on fire since Tracii and Phil have gotten back together . A little darker a little heavier and still able to come up with some great melodies , one of my favorite bands .