“Pretty much every famous band that still plays in 2026 is compromised of members who were not part of the original lineup. That’s a fact. Some of the original guys have retired, and a lot of them have just, died.”
— Jizzy Pearl
LOS ANGELES, California — Seeing double again… as there are now officially two versions of Love/Hate.
Going back about a quarter century there was an on-going battle between a couple of L.A. Guns bands with one featuring the singer (Phil Lewis) and the other the guitarist (Tracii Guns), both of whom were part of the classic lineup.
Guns and Lewis eventually reunited in 2016, but then oddly enough another version popped up in 2019 when the late Steve Riley (drums) and Kelly Nickels (bass) formed their own version of L.A. Guns. That came to an end when Guns sued the pair and the issue was settled in 2021 with the newer version being branded Riley’s L.A. Guns.
Great White and the late Jack Russell battled it out for the rights to the rock n’ roll shark if you will, and they too ended up in court a Los Angeles Superior Court. They settled their differences back in 2013 with the band being awarded the right to use the name, while the singer forged on as Jack Russell’s Great White.
Of course we also recall the battles that Ratt, Warrant and Skid Row had with their singers, with 3 completely different outcomes.
The first found themselves reuniting after some years, the second sadly saw their frontman pass away and the third… well, that’s still the million dollar question as to whether they will ever mend their 30 year old wound.
Queensrÿche also went through it with their singer, and like L.A. Guns and Great White, they too went to court and settled their issues legally.
Now, as we enter 2026 there is yet another, and this time its Hollywood’s very own Love/Hate.
Today the band’s frontman Jizzy Pearl dropped a video on his popular JPearlTV YouTube channel about this very subject and its titled; “MY THOUGHTS ON THE ‘TWO LOVE/HATES’!” (video shared below)
Pearl has been writing, recording and touring as Love/Hate for most of the new millennium both in the U.S. and regularly across the pond in the U.K. where the band has a die-hard following.
Now with a second version of the band, using the same name as the group he’s fronted on and off for much of the last 40 years, it seems that Pearl is making sure to lay claim, and let fans know, that he is the real Love/Hate for what it’s worth.
Pearl took to his official Facebook just after the new year and wrote: “The ‘Real Thing’ is not some existential theory. It is a fact borne out by years and years of grinding out the songs and not burning bridges. LOVE/HATE is still alive, very much so. And you’re looking at Him.”
With that Pearl shared a promo poster (top right) advertising a short U.K. run in September 2026 which is titled “The Real Thing” tour that includes a stop at the Hard Rock Hell Sleaze festival as the headliner.
As most know, Pearl also fronts Quiet Riot who tours relentlessly and the Love/Hate frontman has put in more than a decade with the group during two stints from 2013-2016 and again from 2019 to present.
Ironically, Pearl was also part of the above L.A. Guns (1998-1999) for a brief period and Ratt as well (2000-2006).
Now Love/Hate co-founding member and lead guitarist Jon E Love has officially launched his own version of the band and while he’s done a few one-off shows in the past, it seems he’s putting a little more effort into it as of late.
Love has a new single that he announced in late December with a post that read: “New Love/Hate single “I’m the one you love to hate”… release coming up February 2026”, along with his website he also has some shows on the books coming in the new year.
With that, Pearl‘s latest vlog clocks in at just over 12 minutes, and Jizzo doesn’t mince any words.
While he never mentions Jon E Love by name, it seems obvious that his message is directed at his former guitarist and band-mate.
Pearl does reference someone’s plans for a ‘2026 tour‘ and he breaks it down with a laundry list of his own experiences that he’s had over the many years. He also makes sure to note that those plans might be more like visiting hell on wheels with plenty of flat-tires, breakdowns and money challenges that might make them wish they had just stayed at home.
The video is shared below, and once again, Mr. Pearl hits the nail on the head.
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