Michael Grant is Back. . .

Back in 2015 I went to check out LA Guns. It was fairly ig event in the middle of New Jersey. Sadly they were not on the main stage. Big festiva, little stage. It had been awhile since I had seen them. I knew that Stacey Blades was gone. Tracii would return for another couple years. I was not sure who was filling in on guitar. I was not sure what I was going to see.

It turns out it was Michael Grant. Some folks might know him from Endeverafter. What I would describe as a nu-metal project comparable to Avenged Seven Fold. Some wicked guitar work.

Whatever. Michael was just impressive that first time I caught him with LA Guns. He grabbed one’s attention. I recall after one song, perhaps it was “Over The Edge”, Phil Lewis just asked the audience, “What do you think?” Pointing to Michael. Asking, “Tracii who?” Something like that and he was right. Michael more than played, more than soloed. It was just an amazing performance.

Jump to 2020 and Michael Grant has moved on from LA Guns. Today he is focused on Michael Grant and the Assassins. It had been his focus before LA Guns, sidelined during that time, and is now front and center. With that he has recently released the below video of the first single, “Red Light Run”.

Shortly after its release, he released the acoustic version. Same song, but two different vibes.

July 10th the new album will be released. Titled: Always the Villain. For details on that, check out the website, Michael Grant & the Assassins.

Leaving me with two questions: the first, when he finally does get out on tour, will he still be doing his tribute to Prince? He does a really inspired take on Purple Rain. That began in 2016, in response to Prince’s recent passing days before. It was a tribute to the man and his music, and regardless of where or even when it is done, it is a crowdpleaser.

And the second question is whether he will still be doing a version of “Over the Edge” on tour? Granted an LA Guns tune, he just commanded my attention on it. If you ever have the chance to check out the version of him doing it in Melbourne FL, check it out. I would share it here, but he took it down from YouTube. Sadly.

Do check out the man and his new band, Michael Grant & the Assassins.