L.A. Guns was formed by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Tracii Guns in 1987. Teaming with ex-Girl vocalist Phil Lewis, former W.A.S.P. drummer Steve Riley, bassist Kelly Nickles, and guitarist Mick Cripps, Guns adhered to the Aerosmith-derived raunch of his former band. L.A. Guns released their self-titled first album in 1988, yet it wasn't until the following year's Cocked and Loaded that they truly broke big. On the strength of the hit single "The Ballad of Jayne," Cocked and Loaded went gold. Released two years later, Hollywood Vampires managed to hold their audience's attention, peaking at number 42.