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Nickey Alexander (Drums) 1985-1987, 2006

(photo to left) Nickey Alexander 2006 photo by Trevor Guns

"Nickey Beat" is best known as the drummer for punk legends The Weirdos.  The Weirdos were a Los Angeles based punk band that were around from 1976-1981, and Nickey was in the band from (at least) 1976-78.  The Weirdos reunited for a short time in 1990, but I'm not sure whether or not Nickey participated.  He was also in The Germs (more legendary punk) for a short time in the late 70's (I believe he left The Wierdos to join The Germs).  Nickey was also the drummer for The Joneses in the early 1980's and was actually replaced by Paul Black.  Nickey Beat was also in a band called "Venus and the Razorblades".  So it is safe to say that "Nickey Beat" is a legend! On the other hand, there is our good friend Nickey Alexander, who joined the LA Guns in mid-1985 as their second drummer.  He played on the Paul Black demos, and also when Phil Lewis joined the band, on the LA Guns debut album.  Nickey left LA Guns before the debut was released (which is why Steve Riley is basically credited for the album).  Supposedly, he knew that the band was going to tour the world and did not want to leave LA (he also supposedly did not like Phil).  He was in a band called Knucklehead in the late 80's.  In 1993, he formed Burning Retna with Mick Cripps, but left soon after as he had a previous commitment with The Cramps (from 1991-1993).   Nickey returned to the LA Guns in 1994 to play drums on some of the tracks on Vicious Circle as a session drummer.  I don't know whether or not he was ever asked or considered for a more permanent position in the band, but either way this obviously didn't happen.  He has also been thanked on the liner notes of some of LA Guns' albums.  In 2005, Nickey was asked (by Tracii) to be the Brides of Destruction's bus driver, but did not.  Also in 2005, he agreed to reunite with Paul, Tracii, & Mick to do a string of west-coast tour dates (scheduled for early 2006) which were quickly cancelled.  In the spring of 2006, Nickey, Paul, & Tracii did reunite as the Tracii Guns Band and toured America, playing LA Guns, Brides of Destruction, and cover songs.  Nickey, Tracii, & Paul plan to record new and old music in the future.  Nickey assured me that he and Nickey Beat are two totally different people (Nickey Beat was like his brother or something, and that he's probably dead or something), which I found to be funny.  Tracii laughed when I referred to him as Nickey Beat.  Nickey also doesn't sign autographs, which I also found to be funny, so don't even ask!    Nickey Alexander is featured on the following LA Guns releases: Black List, LA Guns, Black City Breakdown, Hollywood Raw, Hollywood A-Go-Go, Vicious Circle, & One More Reason (home video). Nickey Beat is featured on The Weirdos' Destroy all Music (1977) & We Got the Neutron Bomb (1978) and The Germs' Lexicon Devil (1978)

(to the left) Nickey Alexander 2006 photo by Trevor Guns (to the right) Trevor Guns & Nickey Alexander "bro's before ho's" 2006

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