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.

Nothing's Real
21 Guns Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't you know the king is gone
The queen of hearts will reign
Don't break her laws or disobey
Your heads a cut away

Something is wrong
With the faith I'm in
When love and war

Can live in sin

Baby nothing's real
Maybe we're here for the thrill
Baby it's too cruel
To be with you

Don't you know the deal is done
We'll march in her good name
We'll spread the word and armed crusade
Then we'll burn and rage

Something is wrong
With the faith I'm in

When love and war
Can live in sin

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to 21 Guns's song Nothing's Real are poetic and carry a message that may be interpreted in different ways. The opening line, "Don't you know the king is gone / The queen of hearts will reign" could be a reference to the political climate and how the status quo has changed. It could also mean that something significant has ended, and a new power has taken over. The queen of hearts represents this power and is not to be disobeyed, or people will face the consequences.

The song's chorus, "Baby nothing's real / Maybe we're here for the thrill / Baby it's too cruel / To be with you," highlights the ambiguity in the situation. Life feels like a facade, and there's a sense of nothingness. The idea that life may have no meaning but is meant to be enjoyed could be a reflection of how we cope with our existence. The second half of the chorus portrays the struggle of being with someone in a cruel world, the paradox of trying to make a relationship work in a world that's not conducive.

The bridge, "Something is wrong / With the faith I'm in / When love and war / Can live in sin," may be a commentary on how society has become desensitized to violence and war. We believe in love but through our actions, we encourage war, and this juxtaposition doesn't make sense. It's a subtle nod to how society has evolved and our contradictions in beliefs.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't you know the king is gone
The old ways are no more and we must change

The queen of hearts will reign
A new leader has emerged and we must follow

Don't break her laws or disobey
Respect the new leader's authority and follow her commands

Your heads a cut away
Disobedience will result in severe punishment

Something is wrong With the faith I'm in
Doubts have emerged about the validity of our beliefs

When love and war Can live in sin
There is a conflict between our values and reality

Baby nothing's real
Our beliefs and values may not reflect actual reality

Maybe we're here for the thrill
We may be motivated by excitement and adventure

Baby it's too cruel To be with you
The harsh reality of our situation makes the relationship difficult

Don't you know the deal is done
We must accept the new situation and move on

We'll march in her good name
We will fight for the new leader and her cause