Guns does not come close to the ultra iconic Led Zeppelin original, yet in the end it is not an embarrassment of a cover either… it grooves along L.A. Sure, I will admit that the unreal classic Custard Pie covered by L.A. Guns pulls it off, with the upmost respect to the original as well… keeping the hardness that Queen initially instilled into this amazing song. How do you possibly cover a Queen classic like Tie Your Mother Down? L.A. Guns only ignites it with more fiery fuel. Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw is a Hard and Heavy blast… Rose Tattoo created it, L.A.
Original versions aside, Rips The Covers Off is meant to be played LOUD and with a good times spirit flowing throughout your mind and soul. Guns really gives these cover songs all of their Hard Rock splendor and energy. I always state, nothing beats the original, nonetheless, L.A. Guns lineup and no matter how you slice it… this lineup ROCKS… for me. (The front cover album pic below shows this alternate title). My Metal research has found that there are some copies of this album titled Rips Off The Covers, how many copies exist with this title I just do not know. GUNS – released Rips The Covers Off back in 2004. If you’re a fan like me though you’ll no doubt want this but probably like me you’ll wish they’d just done a little bit more to reward you.L.A. Guns – ‘Almost all of Cocked and Loaded Live’ (or as an even more pedantic fan pointed out it should actually be called ‘Cocked & Loaded Live’.) Ironically of course in these days of streaming they’d both generate income!įor me in the end a record has to do what it says on the can and for me this is L.A. That raises a few questions – firstly it makes you wonder if they’re already writing off latest outing ‘The Devil You Know’ released in 2019? I’m mean ‘Speed’ is a decent song (and certainly ‘of the era’ sonically) but who wouldn’t rather have another of the songs from the ‘Cocked and Loaded’ era in there? Secondly why isn’t that two minute solo isn’t in here? Sure its pretty throwaway but it’s part of the album. More annoyingly perhaps for some there’s the shoe-horning in of recent song ‘Speed’ ( from 2017’s ‘Missing Peace’ album) between ‘Give a Little’ and ’17 Crash’ where the ‘I’m Addicted’ guitar solo was on the original record. So if you’re looking for a live version of that great album look no further…įor me though there’s a few niggles here such as the omission of the albums short and sweet opener ‘Letting Go’ – why? It’s a minute long song that I love to hear every time I play the record and one which I was even hoping they might expend here! The band also sounds great bearing in mind the months of inactivity that preceded it. In short just a straight to CD live set.Īs live albums go of course it’s got some pretty good material to run through so you can’t complain with songs like ‘Rip and Tear’, ‘Never Enough’, ‘The Ballad of Jayne’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’ and ‘Malaria’ all on here and all released as singles back in the day.
There’s no extras, no other incentive to add this to your collection, not even the Eddie Trunk interview that preceded the stream. As those that listened in will know the set was streamed live globally and this is what you get here – a live CD of that set featuring two of the classic-era line up of the band. Guns record ‘Cocked & Loaded’ on the 31st Anniversary. Guns (t he Phil and Tracii version) took to the stage in Las Vegas to rip and tear through the classic second L.A. The pandemic of course has hit bands hard and no more so than those who make their living from relentless touring.