Tracii Guns on Sound, Survival, and Staying Power

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.