#10 Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry: What Do You Wanna Do With Your Life

ROCKTOBERFEST: A Most Excellent Countdown of the 31 Most Bitchin Glam Metal Albums

#10 Twisted Sister– Stay Hungry (Released 1984 ) 3x Platinum #15 Billboard Albums

Dee Snider (Pink Caveman)– Vocals 

Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda (Red Caveman) – Lead & Rhythm Guitar

Jay Jay French (Yellow Caveman) – Rhythm & Lead Guitar 

Mark “The Animal” Mendoza (Green Caveman) - Bass

A.J. Pero (Blue Caveman) – Drums

What Do You Want To Do With Your Life? 

Everyone’s favorite rabble-rousers rise up to take #10 spot with their MONSTER album, Stay Hungry. Twisted Sister has a unique history in the place of glam metal. They are among the few bands that did not emanate from the Sunset Strip, in fact they were not even from the West Coast. They were from New York City, home of the CGGB, Mecca of Punk Rock and New Wave. This gave Twisted Sister a different perspective than most of the decadent glam bands. Their songs are less concerned with rampant sex and drug abuse (actually none of the songs on this album are about sex and drug abuse, how positively UN-GLAM). Rather, the songs are designed to promote individuality, self-confidence, fighting against the man, and striving to achieve your dreams. This is what makes it so absolutely ridiculous that Twisted Sister was the band with biggest target on its back courtesy of Tipper Gore and her PMRC. Out of all the glam bands, Twisted Sister’s messages are the most positive and most uplifting. Unfortunately, these Sick Motherfuckers were at the absolute peak of popularity at the inception of the PMRC and were the face of mainstream heavy metal. It just so happens, that Dee Snider is probably the most intelligent man in heavy metal and was up for the task of ripping the PMRC to shreds in a very logical fashion. One of my favorite highlights from the congressional session is when Dee remarks, “Mr. Gore, your wife made allegations that my song, Under The Blade, contains sadomasochistic themes. I have always believed that each person has the right to interpret the lyrics as they see fit. Well that particular song is about my guitarist’s tonsil operation. Maybe it your wife with a twisted, sick mind.” That is a SHUT-DOWN if I have ever heard one. Here’s the Dee discussing the whole ordeal:

So how about the music, well, on Wikipedia they have stated that Twisted Sister is “Sex Pistols meets Slade”. Which I disagree, vehemently, yes the punk influences exist on the lyrics, but this is a HEAVY METAL band. Twisted Sister is definitely one of the most metallic, heavy bands of the glam era and more closely related to Judas Priest than any of the other bands mentioned. Yes, the glam rock influences are seen in the image (though that is more of a result of shock rock than glam rock) and the anthemic nature of their songs. Dee Snider and his band live and breath heavy metal, but they come equipped with a sense of humor, which is why so many people miss out on one of the best METAL bands out there. Tracks like Burn In Hell, Stay Hungry, Under The Blade, You Cant Stop Rock N Roll are tremendous metal burners that are just as metal as anything Priest has ever produced. Hell there first two albums were disqualified for consideration because they are NOT glam metal albums, but HEAVY metal albums. Of course, Twisted Sister had the audacity to want to be rockstars and you know have fun, so they have been passed over by many modern metal fans as a poseur band. Twisted Sister is a very unique glam band that stuck more closely to lyrical themes you would find on a punk rock, Sabbath or Maiden album and much more metallic than the later glam bands. 

So Twisted Sister of course has two song that have transcended generations in the form of I Wanna Rock and We’re Not Gonna Take It. (One of my favorite Onion headlines read, "After 25 years, Twisted Sister has finally agreed to take it.") These are probably the two most famous glam metal songs of all time. These songs were apart of that original downloaded setlist from when I was a kid. I have enjoyed them immensely over the past 14 years. I Wanna Rock still makes me head-bang almost instantaneously and We’re Not Gonna Take It always rejuvenates me. The videos are absolute achievements of camp. The I Wanna Rock video features hilarious ways of torturing a teacher after humiliating a Sick Motherfucking Fan of Twisted Sister. However, I can see how these cheesy, outrageous visual productions turned the band into a joke that delved into self-parody. This is of course, something I struggle with everyday, how to be outrageous and cheesy, but still remain edgy and never fall into the dreaded state of self-parody. Trust me, edgy and cheesy is a tough combination to achieve, but I sure as hell think I do pretty damn good job. However, the Three Stooges routine by Twisted Sister may have made them a popular act, but it negatively impacted the band’s longevity. 

The next album sold very poorly due to this problem and directional issues. The band continued to want to be a metal band, but the record company sought for a more mainstream sound. Leading to the horribly misinterpreted, Be Chrool to Your Scuel, a duet with fellow shock rocker, Alice Cooper. This is not a very good song to begin with and the title is not exactly very conducive to being well-received by parents. The video was also banned from MTV due to some pretty graphic imagery. The band attempting to re-capture their lost bad-assery attempted to do a sort of campy zombie invasion of a school, which was not supposed to be taken seriously, but it also was not funny. I have no idea who the fuck it was intended to entertain. I mean I hear teenage boys are into gross shit, but this was just so over-the-top that it sucked the meat missile. Now more up my alley was their cover of The Shangri-Las’ “Leader of The Pack”, a girl-pop group from the mid-60’s. See I understand the humor of the tough biker gang doing a cover of this song because it emasculates band in an amusing way. My problem with this is that this brand of entertainment is lost on many mainstream Americans, which just sees it as a candy-ass song. This is an effective technique that many pro wrestling heels utilize in order to get heat from the crowd (heels are bad guys, heat is crowd reaction). Bret “The Hitman” Hart said he wore pink at the beginning of his career because it was the color that got the most heat. While I enjoy these juxtaposition of tough and glam, I realize I am quite unique because the outrageousness of glam metal and pro wrestling is lost on most people. So Dee, nice try, but this was just not a good choice.

So when did I start reviewing bad albums. The last two choice cuts will be Burn In Hell  and the title track. Short time schedule, so I am just going to write quickly on these two songs. I absolutely love the lyrics of Stay Hungry, not because they are sleazy or entertaining. It is because those lyrics best encapsulate my perspective on life. I believe that apathy and complacency are two greatest sins a human can commit. I said in the manifesto of this blog that I believe that self-improvement is the purpose of life. This song epitomizes that philosophy. Burn In Hell is my favorite Twisted Sister song. The chorus is catchy and the riff is a heavy, pulsating attack. Plus how can you be a heavy metal band without a song about hell or Satan. 

Dee Snider can still be heard on radio syndication, on House of Hair. The tagline is IF AINT METAL ISNT CRAP. One of my favorite gems on the show includes, “Welcome to my house, where all the dudes look like women”. Dee does a pretty good job mixing up glam metal, thrash metal (Megadeth and Metallica have been played) and traditional heavy metal (Priest, Maiden and Dio). I definitely recommend it and just like I recommend the whole album not just the two songs everyone knows. Here’s Street Justice another favorite off the album.            

#11 Faster Pussycat - Faster Pussycat P-P-P-Pusscyat, SHUT UP!

ROCKTOBERFEST: A Most Excellent Countdown of the 31 Most Bitchin Glam Metal Albums

#11 Faster Pussycat– Faster Pussycat (Released 1987) #97 Billboard Albums

Taime Downe (I bow before the size of your hair)– Vocals 

Greg Steele (The Wind Machine is My Best Friend) - Lead Guitar

Brent Muscat (Bitchin BANGS) – Rhythm Guitar 

Eric Stacy (Rock N Roll Pirate) - Bass

Mark Michals (Nice hat) – Drums

P-P-P-P-Pussycat, SHUT UP!

The album that kick-started the sleaze counter-revolution in 1987 comes straight from the gutter of Hollywood, CA. These rockstars only think with one of their heads if ya catch my drift. Their name si derive from one of the most famous pornographic films of all time, Faster Pussycat KILL! KILL!. They owned a rock n roll, dive bar called the Cathouse. Located on the infamous Sunset Boulevard, the Cathouse was glam haven for sex, drugs and rock n roll. They ever wrote a song about their establishment dubbing it the place, “Where pussy aint no feline”. Faster Pussycat was edgier and darker than Poison and Warrant, but still retained the hedonistic disposition that is characteristic of all glam bands. They come equipped with an incredibly obnoxious, almost jaded view of life on the streets. Lyrically, they are among the most abrasive smart-asses of glam metal, but yow know they are doing it with a wink and smile. Musically, I stated this before they are the perfect confluence of New York Dolls, Motley Crue and Aerosmith. This time, the Dolls are the influence that is emphasized, which makes for even a sleazier good time. Hip hop artists love to talk about swag nowadays, in my mind Faster Pussycat is the personification of swag. The following video from the well-know Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years illustrates the typical experience of an underground sleaze band in the late 80’s.     

Starting with band it has begun more difficult to whittle down the choice cuts of each album. However, as school-work has picked-up I don’t have the time to showcase each song. So I implore any glam-sleaze fan to pick up the next eleven albums because these are the most BITCHIN albums out there.  I will begin with the obnoxiously delicious, Babylon. The song opens with a high-pitched sneer of “p-p-p-p-pussycat” before huge drums kick off the song. The guitar fills between the lyrics are catchy noise-punk at its finest. The opening lyrics are truly wonderful “Livin’ in LA is so much a fun//Boy you is ugly//And your girlfriend weighs a ton” delivers with a vicious sneer. Another great lyric is “Shut your face//And Take off what you got under” The chorus is the entertaining “No we wont shut up//We are just babbling on and on//P-p-p-p-ussycat//SHUT UP!”. The song epitomizes the punk-y , wise-ass attitude of sleaze rock that is so delectable. 

The first single was Don’t Change That Song, a hot, sleazy party album that is like Aerosmith on crack-cocaine. The video is directed by Russ Meyers of Faster Pussycat KILL! KILL! Fame and God Bless his taste in women. Watch the video and you will see what I mean. The riff is just a great attack of power chords that make wanna great up and groove. I love the drums on this album tons of reverb that makes them feel like they fill the room. Even though it is a raw sleaze rock album, they had the acumen to produce a good-sounding album. The chorus is the immensely catchy gang-shout, “DON’T CHANGE THAT SONG!” This is my favorite Taime vocal performance is just drips with sleaze and sneer has that addictive swaager to it. The best lyric of the song is “I always have 12 inches of fun at my command”. WOOOOOO I love sleaze music. 

The next song is the incredibly bottom-heavy, Smash Alley. Taime sneers “My life is just one trick or treat” while the rest of the band shouts about “SMASH ALLEY!”. Smash Alley is a place for lipstick junkies and runaways, ya see, a fantasy land of sleaze. The harmonized guitar riff is a low-down, filthy exercise of rock n roll. The drums just pound with great fury as that bass-line is incredibly thick and full of attitude. Taime brings that urgency and hunger that can only be found from a underground band. When it is their debut album and they know this is their one chance to end the malaise of peanut butter sandwiches, sleeping in cars, second-hand smack and second-hand women. This is the stimulus that drives the whole album and is readily apparent on this song. 

Finally, is the biggest hit for this album, a great sleaze rocker, Bathroom Wall. The song is about finding a number on the bathroom wall and the excitement of what the number may hold. Taime’s hair is outta fuckin control. How outta control, here’s the Ultimate WOYAH~! to tell ya. If anyone can make the shirt that Taime is wearing in the video that much appreciated. What is missing is of course, where are the all the women? Brent is just not cutting it, dudes. Meyer must have cost a small fortune. Anyways, Taime’s abrasive sneer is still present, but the riff and chorus are so catchy that helped it cross-over to the mainstream. 

Faster Pussycat is my favorite sleaze band of all time. They are one of the bands that just get it. They never took themselves seriously. They were out there just having a good time and being assholes. I love them for it. Sadly, the Pussycat broke up after the grunge invasion destroyed the world’s biggest party. Taime retained the rights to the band’s name and took the band in an industrial metal direction. Then in a much similar situation to their sleaze brethren, Brent Muscat created a Faster Pussycat that held true to the sleazy rock n roll that Faster Pussycat played in the glory years. To wrap us up is the full version of Cathouse. I wanna go to the place where business is the pleasure.  

#12 Hanoi Rocks - Two Steps From the Move: The Best Band You’ve Never Heard Of

ROCKTOBERFEST: A Most Excellent Countdown of the 31 Most Bitchin Glam Metal Albums

#12 Hanoi Rocks– Two Steps From The Move (Released 1984) 

Michael Monroe (Godfather of Glam)– Vocals

Andy McCoy - Lead Guitar

Nasty Suicide – Rhythm Guitar 

Sami Yaffa - Bass

Razzle – Drums

The Best Band You’ve Never Heard Of

The biggest band that never was. The best band you’ve never heard of. The missing link between glam rock, punk and glam metal. They were friends with fellow glam rockers, Motley Crue. Michael Monroe inspired Sebastian Bach and Axl Rose. Axl has gone so far as to say “If there was no Hanoi Rocks, there would be no Guns N Roses”. This is not a glam metal, I know that. This is a glitter punk band, but they deserve respect for what they accomplished and have gone far too long without being noticed. Plus this album is wicked bitchin. Michael Monroe’s look inspired the hooker-look of the early 1980’s glam metal bands. The band was poised to finally make in big in the USA when tragedy struck in late 1984. Vince Neil, leader singer of Motley Crue, got into a car crash killing good friend, Razzle, drummer of Hanoi Rocks. This killed Hanoi Rocks momentum dead in the water and the band decided to break up in 1985. Axl Rose attempted to help his idol, Michael Monroe, by appearing in his music video for his solo band. The damage was done and Hanoi Rocks and Michael Monroe never achieved the success and fame they deserved based off the killer songs that they have crafted.  The Finnish five-piece rocked out 10 classic tracks and I hope I can do them justice with the following review.  

We begin with the sleazy, dark, edgy Underwater World which describes life on the streets of rock n roll. The chorus includes the phrase “Welcome to the Jungle” hmmmm where I have I heard that before. Axl has great taste in music. Monroe’s vocals are among the best punk vocals I have ever heard. He doesn’t have that reedy sneer that most glam artists have. Instead he has the deeper punk vocals that you would hear on a Clash album or even a New Wave album. It makes for a haunting affair on this one. Of course there is nothing punk about the brilliant solo played by McCoy on this track. Definitely give this song a spin, it will demonstrate that Monroe is not just another pretty face and Hanoi Rocks is one tough band.

Next up is the incredibly punky, but very fun, High School, which look any good punk song is all fast-paced rhythm with catchy vocals before breaking into gang-harmonized “High Schooooooooool”. A great lyric, “There will be no ugly girls in my high school” Amen, brutha, ugly people suck the meat missile. The best part about this being a glitter punk band is that the guitarists can actually play their instruments and so it is still a tight affair. This also means there is a guitar solo on every song and most are fun melodic bursts of energy.

Cutting Corners features a lyric that I just love, “I am look a mess, but I am dressed to get my way.” That is definitely one of my mantras. This is a fun, high-energy song with a great opening riff. The chorus is fuckin huge and definitely would make for a great party anthem in the 80’s.

The final song on the review is the second single off the album, Boulevard of Broken Dreams. This is an role-reversal of sorts. Instead of a woman being described as an addiction, his drug addiction is being described as a woman. I am a big fan of Michael’s outfit in this video and am thinking of getting me a similar cop hat for my attire. Sadly the song rings all too true as excessive partying and drug abuse killed Razzle and led to the broken dreams of the band.  Cant find the music video for this one or the song at all for that matter. Cryin Shame. So here is the cover of the CCR classic, Up Around the Bend, which was the first single off the album. 

Also, on this album is a surprisingly fun, upbeat cover of the CCR classic, Up Around the Bend, a couple good power ballads and the really unique, celtic punk pub soccer chant song, Boiler. I love the chorus on that. Hanoi Rocks is definitely a recommendation for any fan of punk rock, glam rock or Guns N Roses or early Motley Crue. To end this review I am ending with one of my favorite songs of all time, but unfortunately it was not on this album and I think it is one of the best songs ever written. This is Tragedy:

#13 Ratt - Invasion of Your Privacy Putting the METAL in Glam Metal

ROCKTOBERFEST: A Most Excellent Countdown of the 31 Most Bitchin Glam Metal Albums

#13 Ratt– Invasion of Your Privacy (Released 1985) 2x Platinum #3 Billboard Albums

Stephen Pearcy (Even 5-year old Stephen is a hornball)– Vocals 

Warren DeMartini (High Chief Shredder)– Lead & Rhythm Guitar

Robbin Crosby  (R.I.P. Big Guy) – Rhythm & Lead Guitar 

Juan Croucier (Big Time Sexy Bass) - Bass

Bobby Blotzer (Blondes Have More Fun) – Drums

Putting the METAL in Glam Metal 

 R.I.P. Robbin Crosby, Always Brought The Big Grooves

Ratt returns to this countdown at #13 with their sophomore album, Invasion of Your Privacy. At this point in their careers, the boys in Ratt are attempting to follow the smash hit, monster album, Out Of Cellar. Ratt, unlike their compatriots in Motley Crue, do not seek mess with success. Rather they follow the mantra of “If it aint broke don’t fix it” and while this would catch up with them on subsequent albums. Ratt still had a ton of hard-hitting, catchy riffs to supply themselves with another multi-platinum album and retain their position of as one of the premiere glam metal bands. However as the Second Wave began to swell Ratt had a very difficult time adapting successfully. During a tour with Poison in the late 80’s, Ratt fired Poison as the opening act because they were getting too over with crowds. However, once Ratt realized that Poison was the real draw for the concert they had to embarrassingly hire them back. This is an unfortunate story for my second favorite glam metal bands of all time, but it displays how complacency is a deadly sin to commit. Invasion of Your Privacy does not suffer from these problems as it is still fresh, energetic album. It does suffer from over-employment of clichéd lyrics, but It would not be Ratt without a whole song done in clichés see You Should Know By Now or the metal grinder What You Give Is What You Get.

That is where we will begin, What You Give Is What You Get. On a  semi-related note, I used this cliché to great effect one night at a party. So as me and this girl were parting ways, I asked if she liked ice cream (get your mind out of the gutter, I am talking about the food, brutha) and she responded is that you are not so subtle way of saying we should get ice cream. My retort was “What you see is what you get” and then I leaned in and whispered, “But what you don’t see is even better yet.” Now I ask, How am I still single??? Anyways onto the song, Pearcy croons very effectively on this heavy mid-tempo rocker while DeMartini wails over the rhythm section with great lead guitar effects. The rhythm section brings the tough sound that reminds everyone that Ratt puts the METAL in glam metal.

Next up is one of all-time favorite songs, You’re In Love. The riff in this song is so damn catchy. Even when I haven’t heard the song in weeks, I sometimes find myself mimicking the riff on the streets. It is just great staccato riffing at its finest, so metal yet so catchy. This riff definitely belongs in the Pantheon of Riffs along with Iron Man, Smoke On The Water, and Breaking The Law. The vocal melody is a great hook and I love singing the opening verse just randomly getting off the bus, in the shower, to random girls at parties, at the retirement home. It is always a big hit. Great story on this one is that I always thought chorus ended with “Because I am an ancient breed.” I was always like that is just fuckin weird. It turns out it is a classic case of #MisheardLyrics, “Because I aim to please”, but sure as hell sounds like the former. The solo kicks all ass as DeMartini ascends to his throne as top guitar shredder of glam metal. I think DeMartini could give Van Halen and Mathias Jabs of Scorpions a run for their money in terms of the greatest shredder of all time. He is definitely in my top three. You know what Ratt I am in love and it is with this fuckin band! RATT N ROLL 4 LIFE!!!!

So how do you top that high-energy metal, well you of course make the song, Lay It Down, which just kicks all sort of ass and is one of favorite songs of all time. That bass line is so fuckin grooving and just drips with sex. The guitar intro is just so freakin awesome and continues Ratt’s long tradition of being one of the best guitar-driven bands in the history of rock/metal. The chorus is instantly catchy “I know you really want to lay it down. LAY IT DOWN!” and the guitar work during the chorus just complements it all so well with that beautiful texture. DeMartini/Crosby feed off each other so well and the harmonies! All I can say is WOW! The solo is beautiful and renders me speechless everytime. Ratt is one of the best glam metal bands from the 1980’s and I wish they got more respect.

The final choice cut of this review is the very, very  metal Never Use Love. This riff would make Judas Priest fuckin jealous. That is how good this staccato riffing is. The solo continues the norm of the album of having tremendous solos. If you love guitar-work, then this band is for you. Ratt is one of the best riff-rock bands ever! Reviewing this album has just made me fall in love with this band all over again. Yet I have not even reviewed Out of the Cellar. I LOVE RATT N ROLL!!!

#14 L.A. Guns - L.A. Guns Boy, She's Gone Sleaze

ROCKTOBERFEST: A Most Excellent Countdown of the 31 Most Bitchin Glam Metal Albums

#14 L.A. Guns– L.A. Guns (Released 1988) Gold #50 Billboard Albums

Phil Lewis (Hollywood Tease)– Vocals 

Tracii Guns (Sex Action)– Lead Guitar

Mick Cripps (No Mercy) – Rhythm Guitar 

Kelly Nickels (Electric Gypsy) - Bass

Nickey “Beat” Alexander (Doesn’t have the posture of Steve Riley) – Drums

 Boy, She’s gone SLEAZE!

The last five albums I have reviewed have at least hit #2 on the albums, but here is the debut album from LA Guns to remind us that the underground was still supplying choice cuts of glam metal to compete with the heavy-hitters. The debut album finds L.A. Guns at their rawest with a chip on their shoulder. Tracii Guns had just been snubbed by the band he helped formed, Guns N Roses, which went to massive success with Appetite for Destruction and Tracii wanted to make sure everyone knew that Slash couldn’t hold a candle to his blistering guitar style. Slash is a great guitar player, but I do prefer Tracii’s style at it more influenced by the metallic forefathers and his lead fills are tough and always exciting. Tracii was not the only member of these rag-tag misfits with something to prove, there was Phil Lewis, the ex-leader singer of the British glam rock band, Girl. The lead guitarist was actually Phil Collen of Def Leppard fame. After, Phil’s departure broke the band up and left Lewis a metal vagabond bouncing between bands. Until, he had one last chance at rock n roll fame in the form of the vacancy for a lead singer of LA Guns. Phil sing with such urgency and fury that is like an athlete in his contract year. It is now or never for him and he brings the heat on these tracks with his distinctive sneer.  As the Second Wave moved more mainstream, LA Guns attacked glam metal with a metallic edge that hadn’t been seen since the glory days of the early 80’s. They pushed the envelope with sordid tales of sleaze and debauchery on the seedy, hedonistic Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California. This outrageous, over the top album with huge guitar hooks, big gang-shouts and a banging record sections belongs as one of the most bitchin glam metal albums of all time.

The first song is one of my favorite songs of all time and my favorite song to use to introduce people to the sleaze metal sub-genre. What else could it be titled but then, Sex Action. One of my favorite lyrics of all time is of course, “Boy she’s gone sleaze” and the whole song and video epitomizes the sleaze rock genre.  The video opens with a sultry jezebel in a seductive voice whispering “Sex Action” and that big, pounding riff comes in afterwards. It doesn’t get sleazier than that. The video is shot primarily in black & white and highlights the notorious actions of L.A. Guns and features all the insatiable vixens of the Sunset Strip. The playing portion features the high-energy rock n roll that the sleaze scene is all about.  The riff is a hard-hitting affair while Tracii plays a side-winding livewire-like lead over the top. The vocal hook is the sneered “Talk about love”, which will be into your head.  The solo is definitely directed at every member of Guns N Roses as Tracii plays with an undeniable fury. Definitely check this number out.

The lead track off the album is the fast, furious, venomous, and aggressive, No Mercy. The repeated shouts of “Show No Mercy” make this an instant classic in the sleaze genre. The song is about a rockstar who breaks a woman’s heart and know he wants her to show him no mercy. Kinky. The riff is a mile a minute attack of sonic fury that complements the sneer and lyrical content of the song so well. Tracii’s lead fills are great highlights on this track and his solo is a total livewire which reinforces how much of a sleaze guitar hero this man was. “I’ll be standing in the shadows of love” was an oddly popular lyric of the time as both Whitesnake and Britny Fox incorporated that one. I love the ending of this speedster is just Phil letting out a grunt. These guys just oozed sleaze from every pore.

The most metallic song of the album is the burner, One More Reason, with a  crunchy, chugging riff. Phil brings the emotion on this tough song as he sneers “You give me one more reason, one more reason to die.” The song details the seedy underbelly of the glam metal scene on the Strip and is a great sleazy song. Tracii plays a short, but energetic song. The riff is definitely the big hook on this number.

Next up is the ode to biker culture on Electric Gypsy as LA Guns definitely were rocking the glam biker look, which is always in fashion. Trust me. Ever since rock n roll has existed, rockstars have compared themselves to travelling gypsies and this song is no different. This song sees L.A. Guns at their pop-y best with a great hook throughout the song. The hook on this one is definitely the quick-draw pre-chorus, which follows into screams of “Electric Gypsy”. The solo is extended showcase for the talents of Tracii Guns and he does not disappoint. 

The final song of the review is the bottom-heavy, Bitch Is Back, which has nothing to do with the Elton John song (which is also a killer song). I still get a kick out of the spot where at the end of the solo, Phil just says, “Bitch”.  Tracii is a wildman throughout the song with lead fills everywhere while Phil sneers over the top as he wants his bitch back, goddmanit and he is going to let the world know.

L.A. Guns brought the sleaze and aggression back to glam metal in time where everything was getting a little too slick. This was definitely a raw, street record that is a change of pace from mainstream glam metal at the time. LA Guns has since had internal struggles since the fall of glam metal. The band has divided itself in half. There is a Phil Lewis version of the L.A. Guns which has Stacey Blades on guitar and Steve Riley on drums. The Tracii Guns’ version has featured Ralph Saenz on lead vocals, better known as Michael Starr of Steel Panther, also Joe Leste of Bang Tango and the greatest name in glam metal, Jizzy Pearl of Love/Hate. Love/Hate did not make the list, but they have a great sleaze album and one of the greatest party songs of all time. So here’s Jizzy and the boys with Blackout In The Red Room..