“Rip and Tear” by LA Guns

"Rip and Tear" was one of the singles pulled from Cocked & Loaded, the second album by American glam metal band L.A. Guns, released on Vertigo in August 1989. Like every track on the record, it's credited to all five members: Phil Lewis, Tracii Guns, Mick Cripps, Kelly Nickels and Steve Riley, the drummer making his first album with the band. Duane Baron, John Purdell and Tom Werman produced, with the album cut at three Hollywood studios, One on One, Music Grinder and Conway Recording.

Lewis sings lead, and Guns throws the whole toolbox at it: electric and 12-string guitar, electric sitar, even theremin. Cripps adds guitar and piano, Nickels bass and harmonica, Riley drums and percussion, and Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander drop in as guest backing singers. The song made the top 50 of Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.