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.
Showdown
L.A. Guns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Black night
Heads are gonna roll
Sleazy bar
Stolen car
Where you need 2 go
Evil see as evil man do
And the walls come down
Gonna stand your ground
Showdown Riot On Sunset
Showdown we're coming ready or not
Gonna give you all that we got
Love sucks
Pick up truck
and a bottle of rye
Fighting Talk
Pussies walk
Another suicide
Here comes Jodie with a MIG
And a heart of stone
She's gonna blow you away
From the combat zone
Showdown Riot On Sunset
Showdown we're coming ready or not
Gonna give you all that we got
The lyrics of L.A. Guns's song Showdown talk about a dangerous and violent confrontation between two parties. The first verse sets the scene of the danger and violence that's about to happen. The second verse speaks of a stolen vehicle and the need to get to a specific location. It's unclear who is driving the car or who owns it. The lyrics then go on to describe the main theme of the song: "evil see as evil man do." It seems like both parties involved in the confrontation are equally matched.
The chorus is an announcement of the upcoming fight - a "Showdown," with "Riot On Sunset." The two parties are "coming ready or not," and they're going to "give you all that we got." The next verse speaks of love gone wrong, with a "pick up truck" and "a bottle of rye." It then moves on to say that "Fighting Talk" and "Pussies walk," which are either taunts or threats. The third verse introduces a new character named Jodie, who is said to have a "MIG" and a "heart of stone." The lyrics imply that Jodie is going to be responsible for blowing away whoever she's up against.
Overall, Showdown is a song that talks about the coming together of two parties who have no intentions of backing down. The lyrics are rough and violent, which is reflected in the guitar riffs and pounding drums that make up the instrumental part of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Street fight
A confrontation or battle that happens on the street.
Black night
A dark night with no stars, indicating that the atmosphere is tense and unsettling.
Heads are gonna roll
Someone is going to be punished or face the consequences of their actions.
Sleazy bar
A bar that is morally questionable or unclean, often associated with criminal activity.
Stolen car
A car that has been unlawfully taken, indicating that the people involved are willing to break the law.
Where you need 2 go
The car is essential to get where they need to go, even if it has been stolen.
Evil see as evil man do
When someone is evil, they are likely to do evil deeds.
And the walls come down
The barriers between people or groups are breaking down, leading to conflict and confrontation.
But you never letting go
The person will stand their ground and not give up or back down in the face of challenges.
Gonna stand your ground
The person will firmly hold their position and defend themselves against any threats.
Showdown Riot On Sunset
A fight or confrontation that will take place on Sunset Boulevard.
Showdown we're coming ready or not
The person is fully prepared for the showdown, even if their opponent is not.
Gonna give you all that we got
The person and their group will put forth their best effort and do everything in their power to come out on top.
Love sucks
A statement that suggests love is not always enjoyable, and may cause pain or heartbreak.
Pick up truck
A type of vehicle often associated with rural, working-class lifestyles.
and a bottle of rye
A type of alcohol often consumed by blue-collar workers or those who live in rural areas.
Fighting Talk
Tough, aggressive language that is meant to intimidate or challenge someone.
Pussies walk
People who are weak or easily frightened will back down from a fight or confrontation.
Another suicide
Another person who has taken their own life, suggesting that the environment may be dangerous or unstable.
Here comes Jodie with a MIG
Jodie is a person who is coming with a weapon, indicating that the situation is about to escalate quickly.
And a heart of stone
Jodie is determined and emotionless, suggesting that she will not hesitate to use the weapon.
She's gonna blow you away
Jodie is going to kill someone, adding to the already dangerous environment.
From the combat zone
The situation is now like a warzone, with people ready to fight and hurt each other.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KELLY NICKELS, MICK CRIPPS, PHILIP LEWIS, STEVE RILEY, TRACII GUNNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind