L.A. Guns are a glam metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1983. The lineu… Read Full Bio ↴L.A. Guns are a glam metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1983. The lineup currently consists of Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Phil Lewis (lead vocals), Ace Von Johnson (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Johnny Martin (bass, backing vocals), Adam Hamilton (studio drums) and Shawn Duncan (live drums). The first incarnation of the group was formed by Tracii Guns and Rob Gardner in 1983 and merged with fellow Los Angeles group, Hollywood Rose, to form Guns N' Roses in March 1985. After only a brief tenure in that band, Guns reformed L.A. Guns with a new lineup, consisting of Paul Black, Mick Cripps, Robert Stoddard, and Nickey Alexander. Black would soon be replaced by former Girl singer Phil Lewis while former Faster Pussycat bassist Kelly Nickels was added to the group. Later, Alexander would be replaced by former W.A.S.P. drummer Steve Riley with this being known as the "classic lineup" of L.A. Guns. They achieved moderate chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, the group went through numerous lineup changes (with Riley being the most consistent member) and failed to regain mainstream attention.

The "classic lineup" of the group would reunite in 1999 and began recording new material. However, the group continued to change lineups and Guns eventually left to form the hard rock supergroup Brides of Destruction with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe in 2002. L.A. Guns continued without Guns, bringing in guitarist Stacey Blades, however, following his decision to put Brides of Destruction on hiatus in 2006, Guns formed The Tracii Guns Band. The group's lineup consisted of former L.A. Guns members Black, Alexander as well as Jeremy Guns (though the lineup would eventually change), with the group eventually changing their name to L.A. Guns. Both groups continued to record and tour under the L.A. Guns moniker until 2012, when the Tracii Guns-led version of the group disbanded. Riley died in 2023.

L.A. Guns (feat. Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis) released a new single "Let You Down" on May 6, 2020. It was released as the first single from their then-upcoming fourteenth studio album Checkered Past, which was released on November 12, 2021, and featured producer Adam Hamilton on drums.

In May 2022, it was announced that Shawn Duncan had replaced Shane Fitzgibbon as their drummer. In the following month, guitarist Ace Von Johnson revealed that L.A. Guns had been working on new material for their next studio album. The resulting album, Black Diamonds, was released on April 14, 2023.

California
L.A. Guns Lyrics

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Come on
Too much time spent in stormy weather
I didn't think it would be so cold
Our fire's burnin' now that we're together
It almost feels like I'm halfway home
Is that a sign up ahead
Like a star pointing to your bed
Keep your tired eyes open

Sparks flyin' through your head
Won'tcha take me back, back there
Take me back to California
Take me back to California
Yeah
Golden songs floatin' down the river
Got the gold shinin' in your hair
I wish this road could go forever
Not too long, babe, and I'll be there
Yeah
Is that a sign up ahead
Like a star pointing to your bed
Keep your tired eyes open
Sparks flyin' through your head
Won'tcha take me back, back there
Take me back to California
Take me back to California
Yeah yeah yeah
Won'tcha take me back, back there
Take me back to California
Take me back to California
Take me back to California
Won'tcha take me back, back there
Take me back to California

Take me back to California
Take me back to California

Overall Meaning

The song "California" by L.A. Guns is essentially a love song to the state of California. The lyrics describe the desire to return to the Golden State after a period of time spent in less desirable weather. The first stanza sets the stage - the singer has spent too much time in "stormy weather" and is surprised by how cold it is. However, being together with his beloved makes him feel like he's "halfway home." The second stanza is all about the beauty of California: the golden sunshine, the golden songs, and the desire for the road to go on forever so that he can stay there forever. The repeated refrain of "take me back to California" emphasizes the yearning to return to a place that feels like home and a place where things are good and beautiful. The song ends with a final plea to be taken back to California.

Overall, "California" is a song about longing, yearning, and a sense of place. It captures the beauty and allure of the sunshine state, and suggests that being there is a kind of homecoming. The repeated references to stars and signs suggest that there is some sort of cosmic force at work, pointing the way to California as if it were a kind of heavenly place. The song is a love letter to the state, celebrating its beauty and vibrancy.

Line by Line Meaning

Come on
Let's go

Too much time spent in stormy weather
We've been through hard times and it's time to move on

I didn't think it would be so cold
I wasn't expecting it to be this difficult

Our fire's burnin' now that we're together
Now that we're united, our passion is strong

It almost feels like I'm halfway home
I feel closer to where I belong

Is that a sign up ahead
Is there a hint or clue about where we're going?

Like a star pointing to your bed
Like a guiding light leading us to where we should be

Keep your tired eyes open
Stay alert and vigilant

Sparks flyin' through your head
Your mind is racing with ideas or excitement

Won'tcha take me back, back there
Let's go back to where we were happy

Take me back to California
Take me back to a place where we were free and happy