Stalwart California rockers and veterans of the '80s glam metal scene, L.A. Guns employ a sound and style rooted in the debauchery and sleaze of Hollywood's Sunset Strip. They are also known for being one of the two bands (along with Hollywood Rose) that merged in the mid-'80s to form Guns N' Roses. The group's 1988 eponymous debut and 1989 follow-up, Cocked and Loaded, were certified gold. However, chronic personnel changes and the onset of grunge and alternative music eventually knocked them out of the mainstream. By the 2000s, two rival bands were operating under the moniker. Despite all this, L.A. Guns have maintained a steady release schedule over the decades, issuing their 14th studio effort, Black Diamonds, in 2023.