Michael Theodore Jagosz (December 13, 1965 – March 9, 2014) was an American singer and musician and one of the founding members of

L.A. Guns L.A. Guns is an American glam metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1983. The lineup currently consists of Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Phil Lewis (lead vocals), Ace Von Johnson (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Johnny Martin (bass, backing vo ...

Early Years

Jagosz was born on December 13, 1965 in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. While attending high school at Fairfax High, he met future

co-founder Robert Gardner. Gardner (alongside

Tracy Ulrich Tracy Richard Irving Ulrich (born January 20, 1966), known professionally as Tracii Guns, is an American guitarist best known as the co-founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns, as well as the supergroups named Brides of Destruction and Contraban ...

) recruited Jagosz for their band, at the time were between 17–18 years old. Originally in a band together called Pyrrhus alongside bassist

Dani Tull Daniel Joel Tull (born 1966) is a contemporary American painter, sculptor and musician who lives and works in Los Angeles. Early life Tull was born in San Bernardino, California and attended Fairfax High School. In high school he met Michae ...

, they would officially form L.A. Guns after bassist

Ole Beich Ole Beich (January 30, 1955 – October 16, 1991) was a Danish musician best known as the bass guitarist for the original lineups of L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses. Early life Born in the city of Esbjerg, Beich, in his youth, achieved a degree of ...

joined the band. Jagosz lists his vocal inspirations as

Ronnie James Dio Ronald James Padavona (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010), known professionally as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal singer. He fronted and founded numerous bands throughout his career, including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and H ...

Ian Gillan Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945) is a British singer who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. He is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice. Initially influenced by Elvis Presley, Gillan ...

, and

Rob Halford Robert John Arthur Halford (born 25 August 1951) is an English heavy metal singer. He is the lead vocalist of Judas Priest, which was formed in 1969 and has received accolades such as the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. He has b ...

L.A. Guns (1983–85)

L.A. Guns was first formed in 1983 by Jagosz along with guitarist

Tracii Guns Tracy Richard Irving Ulrich (born January 20, 1966), known professionally as Tracii Guns, is an American guitarist best known as the co-founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns, as well as the Supergroup (music), supergroups named Brides of Destru ...

, bassist Ole Beich and drummer Rob Gardner. Jagosz was replaced briefly by William Bailey (aka

Axl Rose W. Axl Rose (born William Bruce Rose Jr.; born February 6, 1962) is an American musician. He is best known for being the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, and has been the band's sole constant member since its incep ...

), after Jagosz was arrested following a bar fight. Bailey had fronted Rapidfire with Kevin Lawrence and

Hollywood Rose Hollywood Rose was an American glam metal group formed in 1983. They are best known as the precursor for what would eventually become Guns N' Roses. The group was founded by Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin and Chris Weber, while they were aided during li ...

with

Izzy Stradlin Jeffrey Dean Isbell (born April 8, 1962), best known as Izzy Stradlin, is an American guitarist. He was a co-founder and rhythm guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which he left at the height of their fame in 1991, and with whom he ...

and

Chris Weber Christopher Garrison Weber (born October 16, 1966) is an American musician best known as the guitarist and founder of the groups U.P.O. and Hollywood Rose (which featured future Guns N' Roses members Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, and Steven Adl ...

. Jagosz returned to replace Rose with the group recording the only material by this original incarnation of L.A. Guns, "Collector's Edition #1." Originally released on manager

Raz Cue L.A. Guns is an American glam metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1983. The lineup currently consists of Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Phil Lewis (lead vocals), Ace Von Johnson (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Johnny Martin (bass, backing voc ...

's independent label "Raz Records. The material would be re-released as a bonus disc, titled '' Collector's Edition No. 1'', with the

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

'' Hollywood Raw: The Original Sessions'' in 2004. The band folded after merging with

in March 1985, with Guns, Beich and Gardner joining the

new group The New Group was a group of young South African artists who, starting in 1937, began to question and oppose the conservatism of the South African Society of Artists. Its founding chairperson was Gregoire Boonzaier; other founding members were Lip ...

. Jagosz quit immediately after the new band's formation. When L.A. Guns reformed later in 1985, Jagosz was replaced by Paul Black.

Other bands and Death

After leaving L.A. Guns, Jagosz played in several bands, including Abbatoir, Eden, and Stoneheart, as well as a band with

Kurt James Steeler was an early 1980s American heavy metal band that featured Swedish guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen upon his arrival in the United States. The band was founded in 1981 in Nashville, Tennessee, by vocalist Ron Keel and released one al ...

. Jagosz died on March 9, 2014 from aortic valvuolopathy. His private memorial was held on April 1, 2014.

Discography

;with L.A. Guns * '' Collector's Edition No. 1'' (1985)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jagosz, Michael 20th-century American singers American heavy metal singers American male singer-songwriters Singers from Los Angeles L.A. Guns members 1965 births 2014 deaths 20th-century American male singers Singer-songwriters from California