When Tracii Guns and W. Axl Rose parted ways in 1984, it was Guns N’ Roses who won in the commercial stakes, releasing some of the era’s biggest selling records. However, it was L.A. Guns who were built for the long haul and since their eponymously-titled debut dropped in 1988 have released a consistent set of albums whose standard has barely dipped below “stellar”. Yet it is in the live environment where a hard rock band forge their reputations and Live From The Guild Theatre captures L.A. Guns in all their visceral glory, delivering an energetic set which finds them earning their stripes…and in some style.

If there’s one thing that L.A. Guns have learned over the years, it is how to make a dramatic entrance (‘trance being the operative syllable), the circular riff of ‘Taste It’ that forms the set’s introduction has a hypnotic effect and locks the crowd into a singular groove. The band are jamming in perfect lockstep before bursting into life with ‘Cannonball’, frontman Phil Lewis arriving as if he’s been fired from a barrel; the overall impression is of a bold splash of colour on a blank canvas, the band making an immediate impact and leaving an indelible mark. Whilst some of my favourite albums are of the live variety (Ozzy’s Tribute, Maiden’s Live After Death), they can often feel strangely unsatisfying, as if they paint only half the picture. That’s where the likes of Live From The Guild Theatre step in, and in addition to the sublimely sleazy soundtrack we can see how the band interact with each other, with Phil and Tracii sharing a bond that’s been forged in fire; the former’s voice is as powerful as ever, the latter’s fingers have lost none of their power and unleash blistering solo after blistering solo.

The crowd are given a prominent role in proceedings, their reaction increasing exponentially as ‘Electric Gypsy’ and ‘Sex Action’ are fired off in quick succession. Many bands would save such classic songs for encores, yet such is the depth and breadth of L.A. Guns’ discography they can throw them in early, safe in the knowledge that they’ve plenty more firepower in their arsenal. Capturing the band in all their visceral glory, Live From The Guild Theatre is a release that strips away the years, L.A. Guns playing with an energy that characterised their early career. Case in point being ‘Lucky Motherfucker’, a track from their latest record (2025’s Leopard Skin) that sits amongst the classics effortlessly. In fact, the set list reads like a “greatest hits”, only with the added oomph of being played live and if the average L.A. Guns fan was asked to compile a selection of their favourite songs, it wouldn’t be too far removed from this disc.

83-minutes of full-on rock action, this disc is evidence as to why L.A. Guns are still an untouchable force when it comes to the stage, and Live From The Guild Theatre is the next best thing to being there.

• Live From Guild Theatre is released via Cleopatra Records on 4th September 2026.

• L.A. Guns Official Website

Track List:

1. Intro – Taste It

2. Cannonball

3. Electric Gypsy

4. Sex Action

5. Hellraisers Ball

6. Hit And Run

7. Like A Drug

8. Speed

9. One More Reason

10. Theremin Jam

11. Over The Edge

12. Guitar Solo

13. I Wanna Be Your Man

14. Lucky Motherfucker

15. Never Enough

16. The Ballad Of Jayne

17. Rip And Tear