Tracii Guns Joins ‘A Higher Consciousness’ Benefit

Tracii Guns will join many musical luminaries at Los Angeles' Club Lingerie on Jan. 28, for a special show that's been given the lofty title of 'An Evening of Higher Consciousness.' Hosted by actor Mathew St. Patrick ('Six Feet Under'), this benefit for the Drukpa Charitable Foundation will donate a portion of the proceeds towards disaster relief in Haiti. Alongside musical performances by Poe, Ben Lee with Astrella Celeste and Amrita Sen, the Jerry Vivino (of Max Weinberg 7) Quartette, Guns will riff out in an all-star jam featuring Donovan Leitch on vocals and Norwood Fisher (Fishbone) on bass.

"It kind of came to me in an odd way," the Guns N' Roses co-founder and L.A. Guns leader tells Noisecreep. "I've been watching the TV with everything that's going on in Haiti. It's such a dire situation; it's horrifying. I thought, 'How can I get involved and make a difference and at least try to raise, ya know, $25 or something?' Within 24 hours, I got an email from the organizers inviting me to take part."

It was a no-brainer for Guns. "When I read about the organization, it seemed about recognizing human life on a different level. Rather than the who-wins thing, which seems what's happening these days," Guns says of the India-based foundation. Although Guns isn't a Buddhist, he believes in the practices of non-violence and equality. "First of all, it's peaceful people trying to make the world a peaceful place," he says of the foundation. "Then, some of the funds will go to Haiti."

The show is a sort of unofficial launch for the Grammy awards, which are Jan. 31, and, well, also a good excuse to get together with a bunch of musicians and play. "The things I love the most [are] playing and playing with different people. That's why I got involved, playing with people for a good cause. I'm in."

Tickets for the show are available via the Drukpa Charitable Foundation Web site and at MusicToday.