ANOTHER BALLBUSTER EXCLUSIVE!

Interviews with original LA GUNS vocalist, Mike Jagosz!

By Jym Harris

MICHAEL: Fey Hucker.......I'm at my Imac right now......Let's do this thing right now. I am ready, ask away.

1. So Michael, when did you meet Tracii & how did you become the first singer of LA GUNS?

MICHAEL: We were just kids....I auditioned with the song " Sweet Leaf " I cracked on the first " alright Now " and begged for another shot....LOL I hit the next round and I was in...

2. Were there a lot of line-up changes when you were with the band?

MICHAEL: No, we were tight at the get. We had ( Seriously ) the world's best Bass Player. Dani Tull. His Dad died when He was 16 years old, and He left. It crushed us.....For about 6 months. HE WAS Geezer. Dani Was God.

3. Did you do many live shows with them?

MICHAEL: 200

4. Who are your main influences, vocally?

MICHAEL: Ronnie James, Ian Gillian, Halford.

5. Was the early style of LA Guns much different than what people have come to know?

MICHAEL: Yeah. We at our inception,WE were Metal. They Became " Glam " after Me. Tracii was an altogether unique specimen though. We were lucky.

6. Now, you sang on the first EP, where was it recorded?

MICHAEL:At Westwind Studios. Agoura Hills. It was owned By Ronnie James Dio. Funny thing is, When we got the studio time, Robbie Gardner got to play a 12 inch snare drum which belonged to the Original drummer for Elvis.....That was VERY cool. Fucking thing was like firing a Cannon.......

7. That was on Raz Records. Who was Raz? Your manager, right?

Yes. Raz Cue made us. Without him, We were stuck in the rehearsal studio.

8. How many songs did you do during those sessions?

MICHAEL: Four. What REALLY sucked was we had ONLY 24 hours. I got the last 4. The music, was done in20-21 hours. I had 3-4 for the vocal tracks. It was rough, but, it was all we had.

9. Did you sing any songs that were later recorded by the band?

MICHAEL: Yes and No. They recorded more stuff with My Melodies and Harmonies after I was done with them, but with my blessing. The "Guns" Rocked.

10. I guess it's ironic that one of the songs you did was "Jailhouse Rock" since apparently you were locked up during part of the recording, huh?

MICHAEL: LOL Ummm Yeah. Actually it was Heartbreak Hotel. I was arrested for a bar fight, and spent a week in L.A. County Jail. To tell You the Jesus-Christ Truth........William Bailey was only in the group for 2 F'in weeks.I tried to give him Vocal lessons..... but . He sucked. Voted " Least likely to ever make it " He always was a pathetic Sub-human being. He lived at my Parent's house for over 6 months.....Sponging off us and doing Heroin. What a little Faggot. Come to find out, He was a Male-Faggot Prostitute at the time. L-O-S-E-R.. He sold His asshole to gay men for Money. But, He made 70 Mil.

11. I understand Axl Rose initially sang on that record, but you were brought back in to finish it. How did all that come about?

MICHAEL: Also..... Chuck said, Get your Real singer back. Bill Bailey sucks.....and he did.

12. I also worked with your producer, Chuck Rosa. How hard was that? I understand he was the reason Axl was kicked out & you were brought back in.

MICHAEL: Yeah. William Sucked. Chuck was o.k., but very inexperienced.

13. Were you friends with Axl?

MICHAEL: Fuck no. He was a real piece of work. Lived with Me at My Parent's house for approx. 7 months, But he was/is a parasite. A real sack of shit.

14. How long after the release did you leave the band & what were the reasons?

MICHAEL: Tracii tried to save me from getting arrested. I was drunk, wanting to drive.......He hid my keys. I was actually out of the group just after doing the E.P. Tracii Guns was a true brother. Gotta love him. Successor to Randy's throne.

15. So you were replaced by Paul Black, right? Did you know him?

MICHAEL: Yes, Nice enough guy. Sucked as a vocalist.

16. Did you have other bands after you left LA Guns?

MICHAEL: Ummm. Well, YEAH!!! 30. Abbatoir, Eden, Stoneheart, I jammed with the guitarist who replaced Yngwie in "Steeler" Kurt James. What an awesome guitarist. Best blues since S.R.V. Also a lush. The 80's were golden.

17. Were you still on speaking terms with any of the guys?

MICHAEL: Of course. Ole died 15 years ago. Other than that, yeah Tracii is God, and I just found Robbie. He lives in the North end of San Fernando Valley, and has 3 beautiful baby girls. We don't talk often. The LOVE is there though.

18. What do you think of their material after your departure?

MICHAEL: Hated it at first. We WERE METAL. The 3-bar chord shit killed me. I thought Tracii was WAYYYYYYY too talented to do that shit. Looking back though, he went commercial to sell. God Bless Tracii. He saw what we couldn't.

19. I have a 2004 LA Guns re-issue CD with that EP on it. Do you still get royalties or were you even asked?

MICHAEL: No, I'm owed thousands. ( 1oo at the VERY least. ) I feel shorted, in a HUGE way, but, I love Tracii. So, F*@% it.

20. So what are your current/future musical plans? Do you have anything in the works?

MICHAEL: I play with the best. Maybe, I'll jam with Mr. Ulrich again.

21. Any last comments?

MICHAEL: Yeah. God Bless the good. Instill Hope deep inside your hearts.....and pray. Long live the Guns.