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.
The Otherside
21 Guns Lyrics
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By god i'm still here
While johnny reb' won't hold back tomorrow
The man knows no fear
The skies on fire
And the rivers running red
So ashamed you won't
There's a face that you never knew
Haunting you…
Back to the storm, back to the fields
Right to the firing line
Don't take me
Back through the smoke, right through the flames
Right to the otherside
The angels are crying and children are dying
While hells fire runs free
And god looks on as i shoot down another
That's lost to the breeze
Oh lord i can't kill no more
So afraid you will
So ashamed you won't
There's a face that you never knew
Haunting you…
Back to the storm, back to the fields
Right to the firing line
Don't take me
Back through the smoke, right through the flames
Right to the otherside
So now i know that the end is near
It's so clear
And i see there's nothing left to fear
Can't you feel it
Back to the storm, back to the fields
Right to the firing line
Don't take me
Back through the smoke, right through the flames
Right to the otherside
The song "The Otherside" by 21 Guns is a poignant portrayal of the horrors of war and the toll it takes on soldiers. The opening lines, "I've washed my hands in blood of my brothers / By god I'm still here," set the tone for the remainder of the song, as the singer discusses the senseless violence and sense of guilt that comes with being a soldier. The repetition of the phrase "So afraid you will / So ashamed you won't / There's a face that you never knew / Haunting you…" highlights the psychological effects of war, particularly the lasting impact it has on soldiers even after they return home from battle.
The verses "Back to the storm, back to the fields / Right to the firing line / Don't take me / Back through the smoke, right through the flames / Right to the otherside" paint a picture of soldiers' fears of returning to battle, knowing full well that they may not return. The closing lines of the song, "So now I know that the end is near / It's so clear / And I see there's nothing left to fear / Can't you feel it," suggest a sense of acceptance and resignation on the part of the singer, as he comes to terms with his fate.
Line by Line Meaning
I've washed my hands in blood of my brothers
I have fought alongside my fellow soldiers and witnessed their deaths at my hands.
By god i'm still here
Despite the violence and death surrounding me, I have somehow survived.
While johnny reb' won't hold back tomorrow
The opposing side will continue to attack in the coming days, no matter the cost.
The man knows no fear
The enemy soldiers are brave and fearless, willing to fight until the bitter end.
The skies on fire
And the rivers running red
The battlefield is a scene of chaos and destruction, with blood and destruction all around.
So afraid you will
So ashamed you won't
There's a face that you never knew
Haunting you…
The memories of lost comrades and the fear of dying in battle haunt the soldier.
Back to the storm, back to the fields
Right to the firing line
Don't take me
Back through the smoke, right through the flames
Right to the otherside
The soldier is pleading to not go back to the front lines, to not be forced to fight and risk their life once again.
The angels are crying and children are dying
While hells fire runs free
And god looks on as i shoot down another
That's lost to the breeze
The soldier is tormented by the death and destruction caused by war, even though they are just following orders.
Oh lord i can't kill no more
The soldier is wracked with guilt and can no longer bear to take any more lives.
So now i know that the end is near
It's so clear
And i see there's nothing left to fear
Can't you feel it
The soldier knows that their time is running out and that death is imminent, but they have accepted their fate and are no longer afraid.
Back to the storm, back to the fields
Right to the firing line
Don't take me
Back through the smoke, right through the flames
Right to the otherside
The soldier repeats their earlier plea to not be sent back to fight, but now they are resigned to their fate and ready to face whatever lies ahead.
Contributed by Alexander T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.