Happy birthday, Tracii Guns

Posted on January 20 2015 by Candy Rock

Categories: #Hard Rock, #Glam Metal, #1966, #January

Tracii Guns, founder and the lead guitarist of L.A. Guns - (photo: Skid Row: No fuckin' frills tour 91/92, support L.A. Guns)

Happy birthday, Tracii Guns...
Born Tracy Richard Irving Ulrich on January 20 1966 in Los Angeles, California, U.S., Tracii Guns is a musician and songwriter best known as the founder and the lead guitarist of L.A. Guns.
He founded L.A. Guns in 1983 with singer Axl Rose, bassist Ole Beich, and drummer Rob Gardner. Yet, Axl Rose quickly left to form Hollywood Rose with Izzy Stradlin and Chris Weber, and was replaced by Michael Jagosz.
In 1985, L.A. Guns released their debut EP, Collector's Edition No. 1.
The same year, Tracii joined Hollywood Rose.
As the band was composed of musicians from both L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose, the members decided to combine the names, and created Guns N' Roses (original lineup of Guns N' Roses: Axl Rose (lead vocals, piano, keyboards), Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Ole Biech (bass), Rob Gardner (drums)).
Yet, Tracii stayed only briefly the band, and was replaced by Slash.
Later the same year, alongside Paul Black, Tracii reformed L.A. Guns (lineup: Paul Black (lead vocals), Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Mick Cripps (bass), Nickey Alexander (drums)).
The band released its debut album, L.A. Guns, in 1988 (lineup in 1988/classic lineup: Phil Lewis (lead vocals), Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Mick Cripps (rhythm guitar), Kelly Nickels (bass), Steve Riley (drums)).
The classic lineup of the band remained until 1992. Two other albums were recorded with this lineup: Cocked & Loaded (1989) and Hollywood Vampires (1991).
Fom 1990 to 1993, Tracii played in Contraband, a supergroup featuring vocalist Richard Black, guitarist Michael Schenker, bassist Share Pedersen, and drummer Bobby Blotzer. In 1991, the band released a self-titled album.
In July 1995, Tracii, along with Steve Riley, recruited singer Chris Van Dahl and guitarist Johnny Crypt in L.A. Guns.
In 1996, the band released the album American Hardcore (lineup in 1996: Chris Van Dahl (lead vocals), Tracii Guns (guitar), Johnny Crypt (bass), Steve Riley (drums)).
In 1998, L.A. Guns released the EP Wasted with new singer Ralph Saenz.
The following year, the classic lineup of L.A. Guns reunited. They released the album Live: A Night on the Strip in 2000.
The last album featuring Tracii is Waking the Dead (2002).
In 2002, Tracii joined Brides of Destruction. The band released its debut album, Here Come the Brides, in 2004 (lineup in 2004: London LeGrand (lead vocals), Tracii Guns (lead guitar, backing vocals), Nikki Sixx (bass, backing vocals), Scot Coogan (drums, backing vocals)).
In 2006, he put Brides of Destruction on hiatus and formed The Tracii Guns Band, which would eventually become the second L.A. Guns (original lineup: Paul Black (lead vocals), Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Jeremy Guns (bass), Nickey Alexander (drums)).
In 2010, Tracii formed the cover band Carnival Of Dogs with Matt Sorum, Franky Perez, and Phil Soussan.
In July 2012, he declared he was finished with his version of L.A. Guns (last lineup: Scott Foster Harris (lead vocals), Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Steve Preach (rhythm guitar, organ, piano), Johnny Martin (bass), Doni Gray (drums)).
In 2014, he joined the supergroup Devil City Angels (lineup: Brandon Gibbs (vocals), Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Eric Brittingham (bass), Rikki Rockett (drums)).
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Tracii Guns!

Tracii Guns, 2014

Tracii Guns, L.A. Guns (1990) - credit: Paul Natkin

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Tracii Guns ...
Né Tracy Richard Irving Ulrich le 20 janvier 1966 à Los Angeles, Californie, U.S., Tracii Guns est un musicien et auteur-compositeur mieux connu en tant que fondateur et guitariste de L.A Guns.
Il forme L.A. Guns en 1983 avec la chanteur Axl Rose, le bassiste Ole Bich, et le batteur Rob Gardner. Cependant, Axl Rose te rapidement le groupe pour créer Hollywood Rose avec Izzy Stradlin et Chris Weber, et est remplacé par Michael Jagosz.
En 1985, L.A. Guns sortent leur premier EP, Collector's Edition No. 1.
La même année, Tracii rejoint Hollywood Rose.
Le groupe étant composé à la fois de musicians de L.A. Guns et de Hollywood, les membres décident de combiner les deux noms, et créent Guns N' Roses (lineup original de Guns N' Roses : Axl Rose (chant, piano, clavier), Tracii Guns (lead guitare), Izzy Stradlin (guitare rythmique, choeur), Ole Biech (basse), Rob Gardner (batterie)).
Cependant, Tracii ne reste que peu de temps dans le groupe et est remplacé par Slash.
Plus tard la même année, aux côtés de Paul Black, Tracii reforme L.A. Guns (lineup : Paul Black (chant), Tracii Guns (lead guitare), Mick Cripps (basse), Nickey Alexander (batterie)).
Le groupe sort son premier album, L.A. Guns, en 1988 (lineup en 1988/ lineup classique : Phil Lewis (chant), Tracii Guns (lead guitare), Mick Cripps (guitare rythmique), Kelly Nickels (basse), Steve Riley (batterie)).
Le lineup classique du groupe reste intact juqu'en 1992. Deux autres albums sont enregistrés avec ce lineup : Cocked & Loaded (1989) et Hollywood Vampires (1991).
De 1990 à 1993, Tracii joue dans Contraband, un supergroup dont font partie le chnateur Richard Black, le guitariste Michael Schenker, le bassiste Share Pedersen et le batteur Bobby Blotzer. En 1991, le groupe sort un album éponyme.
En juin 1995, Tracii, accompagné de Steve Riley, recrute le chanteur Chris Van Dahl et le guitariste Johnny Crypt dans L.A. Guns.
En 1996, le groupe sort l'album American Hardcore (lineup en 1996 : Chris Van Dahl (chant), Tracii Guns (guitare), Johnny Crypt (basse), Steve Riley (batterie)).
En 1998, L.A. Guns sortent l'EP Wasted avec leur nouveau chanteur, Ralph Saenz.
L'année suivante, le lineup classique de L.A. Guns se réunit. Ils sortent l'album Live: A Night on the Strip en 2000.
Le dernier album sur lequel Tracii joue est Waking the Dead (2002).
En 2002, Tracii rejoint Brides of Destruction. Le groupe sort son premier album, Here Come the Brides, en 2004 (lineup en 2004 : London LeGrand (chant), Tracii Guns (lead guitare, choeur), Nikki Sixx (basse, choeur), Scot Coogan (batterie, choeur)).
En 2006, il met Brides of Destruction en hiatus et forme The Tracii Guns Band, qui plus tard deviendra le deuxième L.A Guns (lineup original : Paul Black (chant), Tracii Guns (lead guitare), Jeremy Guns (basse), Nickey Alexander (batterie)).
En 2010, Tracii forme le groupe de reprises Carnival of Dogs avec Matt Sorum, Franky Perez, et Phil Soussan.
En juillet 2012, il déclare qu'il en a finit avec sa version de L.A. Guns (dernier lineup : Scott Foster Harris (chant), Tracii Guns (lead guitare), Steve Preach (guitare rythmique, orgue, piano), Johnny Martin (basse), Doni Gray (batterie)).
En 2014, il rejoint le supergroupe Devil City Angels (lineup : Brandon Gibbs (chant), Tracii Guns (lead guitare), Eric Brittingham (basse), Rikki Rockett (batterie)).
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à Tracii Guns !]