There are at least three bands called 21 Guns

1. With radio friendly… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three bands called 21 Guns

1. With radio friendly AOR super groups such as Bad English and Damn Yankees receiving commercial success, former Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham decided to form a similar type band and hope for stardom. Gorham recruited fellow Americans Tommy La Verdi (vocals), Leif Johansen (bass), and Michael Sturgis (drums). By 1992 they had been signed to RCA records and released a well-polished AOR album that received rave reviews, but went relatively unnoticed by the record buying public. After touring it was decided that La Verdi wasn't on the same page as the rest of the band, and with his departure the group disbanded. Gorham began appearing at Thin Lizzy tribute shows while Sturgis resurfaced with prog-rockers Asia.

In 1997 Gorham decided to reform 21 Guns around new vocalist Hans Olav Solli (ex-Sons Of Angels, ex-psycho motel). Solli had most recently been a member of iron maiden gitarist Adrian Smith's band Psycho Motel with drummer Mike Sturgis who returned to the reformed line up of 21 Guns. By the time the follow-up album Nothing's Real the music scene had completely changed, and a limited release in America killed any chance of the album breaking out commercially. A collection of demo recordings by the original line-up was released in 2002 and the band is rumored to be working on another studio recording. Solli resurfaced in the Norwegian music-project Greenhouze, Gorham hit the road with a Thin Lizzy tribute band and Sturgis became a permanent recording and touring drummer with Asia.

In 2009 it was announced that Scott Gorham and Leif Johansen have been writing and recording together again with a new singer, Peter Shoulder. Peter is the former singer/guitarist of Winterville. Scott and Peter first worked together when Winterville supported Thin Lizzy on their 2005 UK tour. In 2007 Winterville split and Peter went on to record his own solo material.

2. 21 Guns were an Australian hard rock band that released a self-titled album in 1990. Personnel: Andy McLean (lead vocals), Cameran McKenzie (guitar, backing vocals), Henry Eustacs (bass, backing vocals), Mark Herrera (drums).

3. 21 Guns were a very short-lived ska band from Coventry, United Kingdom, that released just one single: '21 Guns' on Shack Records (1981). Formed in 1980, the group consisted of The Specials roadies Trevor Evans (keyboards) and Johnny Rex (drums), plus Kevin Tanner (bass), Stuart MacLean (guitar) and Gary 'Judge' Chambers (vocals). Prior to their single at Shack Records (the label that The Specials' Neville Staple started, along with his then girlfriend, The Bodysnatchers' Stella Barker) 21 Guns recorded a three-song session for John Peel in early February 1981. They also scored a support slot opening for Hazel O'Connor.

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21 Guns Lyrics

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We closed our eyes
We said good-bye
With time we watched our love die

We should have talked this way
So long ago…

But now your home

So come on in and close the door
Would you please tell me how you've been
And by the way I hope you'll stay
And let the cold end where love begins

The winters gone
It's been cold too long
Inside we know what's right

We should have talked this way
So long ago…

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are about a couple who have broken up but have now come face to face once again. They had had a difficult relationship and had never properly communicated their issues, which ultimately led to their love dying. The song is about the regret they feel for not having talked things through sooner, and the hope that their love might be rekindled now that they are reunited.

The first two lines describe the closure of their relationship. They were hurt and had to say goodbye, but they could never bring themselves to speak about their problems. The third line describes how their love faded away over time, as they let their issues go unaddressed. The fourth line expresses their regret that they didn't communicate sooner, as it might have saved their relationship.

The chorus sees the former couple reuniting, with one inviting the other in and hoping they'll stay. They acknowledge that it's been cold and difficult in the past, but they want to start again and let love take over where coldness and resentment had previously dominated.

Overall, the song is a plea for open communication and a recognition that it's never too late to confront problems before it's too late.

Line by Line Meaning

We closed our eyes
We refused to see the problems in our relationship

We said good-bye
Our relationship ended, but we did not talk to each other about it

With time we watched our love die
Over time, we saw our love fade away without doing anything to save it

We should have talked this way
We should have communicated about the issues in our relationship in the past

So long ago…
It's been a long time since we should have talked about our problems

But now your home
You are back in my life after being away for a while

So come on in and close the door
Make yourself comfortable and let's talk

Would you please tell me how you've been
Let's catch up on each other's lives

And by the way I hope you'll stay
I want you to stay in my life and not leave again

And let the cold end where love begins
Let us move past our past issues and start anew with love