An act assembled in Seattle, Washington by ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist DUFF McKAGAN during 1999. Guitarist Dez Cadena has a heritage stretching back through BLACK FLAG, RED KROSS, DC3 and TWISTED ROOTS. Fellow six stringer Michael Barragan (a.k.a. 'Sonic Flight') is a member of PLEXI whilst drummer Taz Bentley has credits with REVEREND HORTON HEAT and TENDERLOIN.

Cadena also jointly operated CARNAGE ASADA and VIDA. The latter act including ex MINUTEMEN and FIREHOSE drummer George Hurley, bassist Bill Bowman of the FARMERS and TROCOLLI'S DOG man Tom Trocolli. The band was originally assembled to record DUFF McKAGAN's solo album 'Beautiful Disease'. Also contributing would be VERBAL ABUSE guitar player Eric Mastrokalos. However, although fully recorded, this release was shelved. Undeterred McKagan rebilled the project LOADED and, with Mastrokalos in the ranks, set about touring.

In 2000 the bassist would found THE RACKATEERS with WAYNE KRAMER of MC5, drummer Stewart Copeland of THE POLICE and BLONDIE's Clem Burke. Brian James of the DAMNED also contributed to the resulting 'Mad For The Racket' album. McKagan also found time to operate a laid back lounge duo titled THE GENTLEMEN with erstwhile PRESIDENTS OF THE USA bassist Dave Dederer.

The bassist also made an appearance on fellow ex GUNS N' ROSES man guitarist IZZY STRADLIN's 'Ride On' 2000 album. A brand new LOADED album, 'Dark Days', produced by Martin Feveyear at Jupiter Studio in Seattle between December 2000 and February 2001, arrived on Pimp Records in July of 2001.

McKagan would completely revamp the band in 2001 enlisting HARVEY DANGER and NEVADA BACHELORS guitarist Mike Squires, SHOVELJERK and ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE bass player Jeff Rouse and ex-NEW AMERICAN SHAME drummer Geoff Reading. Gigging in California during would witness former GUNS N' ROSES colleague Slash jamming onstage with the band at their West Hollywood House Of Blues show. LOADED announced a string of UK club gigs for July 2002 but cancelled them shortly after it was revealed that McKagan was in rehearsals with Slash and Matt Sorum with a view to assembling an all new band. By September this union of ex-Gunners had been confirmed with LOADED's Dave Kushner being employed on second guitar and son-writing contributions coming from another ex-GUNS N' ROSES man IZZY STRADLIN'.This band, minus Stradlin' but fronted by STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Wieland, emerged as VELVET REVOLVER.

LOADED reunited for a benefit show for Jerry Allen's Cancer Fund on December 22nd 2006 at Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma, Washington.The 'Dark Days' album was re-issued in 2007 hosting a bonus disc of a Japanese live show recorded in 2001.

Following two high profile VELVET REVOLVER albums the departure of Scott Wieland gave McKagan another opportunity to pursue activity with LOADED. The band put in European and UK tour dates in September 2008 supported by THE LOYALTIES.

Former HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe joined the band as a guest on stage on Wednesday 3rd June 2009 at Virgin Oil in Helsinki, Finland for the opening show of LOADED's European tour. Monroe again featured with LOADED on stage at the Sauna Open Air festival on Friday 5th June at Eteläpuisto in Tampere to perform three songs, 'It's So Easy' by GUNS N' ROSES, 'Attitude' by MISFITS and 'New Rose' by THE DAMNED.