Tracii Guns on Sound, Survival, and Staying Power

Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch

Tracii Guns of LA Guns joins Greg Koch for a refreshingly honest exploration of what makes rock and roll endure through decades of industry upheaval. Their conversation weaves through Tracii's musical awakening at age five—hearing Led Zeppelin's theremin breakdown in "Whole Lotta Love" from the backseat of a car—to building and maintaining LA Guns through countless lineup changes and industry shifts.

With remarkable candor, Tracii takes us behind the scenes of his evolution as a guitarist, from his early days playing "Scorpion-style heavy metal with a little Jimmy Page thrown in" to his current approach. Guitar aficionados will delight in their deep dive into equipment - Tracii's journey from traditional JCM 800 Marshalls to embracing digital technology while maintaining his signature sound. "You keep changing stuff but you keep getting the same sound," his tech once observed.

The pair unpack the mystique of legendary guitarists like Jimmy Page, revealing that greatness often comes from simplicity rather than complexity. "For all the magic that he is, he bought his main guitar for 500 bucks from Joe Walsh," Tracii notes, suggesting that true mastery comes from dedication to playing, not gear acquisition.

Perhaps most valuable is Tracii's hard-earned wisdom about music industry survival: "You don't need a million people, you just need enough people to support you. You get 10,000 people buying everything you do, you're done." In an age of algorithm-chasing and viral fame, Tracii and Greg remind us that authentic connection through live performance remains the beating heart of rock and roll.

Want to see these two legends join forces? Catch Tracii Guns and Greg Koch performing together at the Basement East on August 27th—a rare opportunity to witness their musical chemistry in person.

Chapters

1. Tracii Guns on Sound, Survival, and Staying Power (00:00:00)

2. Season 6 Introduction (00:00:09)

3. Meet Tracii Guns of LA Guns (00:00:59)

4. Aging in Rock and Roll (00:01:55)

5. Early Musical Inspirations (00:08:24)

6. LA Guns History and Evolution (00:15:26)

7. Guitar Gear and Stage Setup (00:22:36)

8. The Magic of Jimmy Page (00:32:44)

9. Maintaining the Band Relationship (00:39:34)

10. Music Discovery in the Digital Age (00:49:27)

11. Rock and Roll is the Heartbeat (00:55:58)

12. Building a Fanbase in Today's World (01:04:22)