Hard rock veterans L.A. GUNS have announced a new partnership with renowned indie label Cleopatra Records for the next chapter of their historic career. Vocalist Phil Lewis and founder/guitarist Tracii Guns are set to continue the band’s renaissance that began in 2016 and continues to revitalize L.A. GUNS‘ massive fanbase as never before.
L.A. GUNS‘ next studio album will be the first fruit of the band’s reunion with Cleopatra Records, a label known for its diverse roster and innovative approach to music production. The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment for L.A. GUNS, featuring a mix of classic members and fresh faces, which is set to deliver an album that both honors their legacy and explores new creative horizons.+
Brian Perera, owner Cleopatra Records, Inc., said: “I’m thrilled to have L.A. GUNS back home, completing a full circle journey with them. From my early days printing their t-shirts in my parents’ garage — side by side with GUNS N’ ROSES — to now, I am genuinely excited to welcome them home with a new recording contract at Cleopatra Records. It’s not just a signing; it’s a celebration of our shared history and a promising future together.”
Tracii added: “Brian and I go back to the ’80s when he began in the business making t-shirts. Since then, we have done multitudes of recordings together, including L.A. GUNS! Coming back to Brian and Cleopatra‘s creative environment really feels like coming home now 40 years later and our excitement once again for the future is through the roof! LET’S GO!!!”
L.A. GUNS‘ latest studio album, “Black Diamonds”, came out in April 2023. It was the fourth studio album since the much-welcome reunion of the band’s core foundation of Lewis and Guns. It followed the well-received studio albums “The Missing Peace”, “The Devil You Know” and “Checkered Past”, plus the live release “Made In Milan”, and a covers EP “Another Xmas In Hell”.
In April 2021, a settlement was reached between drummer Steve Riley and Guns and Lewis over the rights to the L.A. GUNS name. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Guns and Lewis continue to operate under the L.A. GUNS trademark, while Riley and his bandmates from the other version of L.A. GUNS were allowed to perform and record under the new name RILEY’S L.A. GUNS. Riley died last October at the age of 67.
L.A. GUNS was formed in 1983 and have sold over six million records, including 1988’s “L.A. Guns” and 1990’s “Cocked And Loaded”, both of which were certified gold. “Cocked And Loaded” contained the hit single “The Ballad Of Jayne” that went to No. 33 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 and No. 25 on the Mainstream Rock charts. From the mid-’90s to the mid 2000s, L.A. GUNS continued to tour and release new music. Following their successful performance at SiriusXM‘s Hair Nation festival in September 2016, L.A. GUNS went into the studio to record the critically acclaimed “The Missing Peace”, which was the highest-selling release for Frontiers Music Srl in 2017. Their 12th album, “The Devil You Know”, was released in 2019 to the same critical acclaim. Since reuniting, Tracii and Phil continue to tour around the world with L.A. GUNS, which currently includes Johnny Martin (bass) and Ace Von Johnson (guitar).