Since 2001, the band's line-up has included vocalist and rhythm guitarist Duff McKagan (Velvet Revolver and Guns N' Roses), lead guitarist Mike Squires (formerly of Nevada Bachelors and Alien Crime Syndicate) and bassist Jeff Rouse (formerly of Alien Crime Syndicate, Sirens Sister, and Vendetta Red).

Since 2009, Isaac Carpenter (formerly of Loudermilk, Gosling, and The Exies) has been the band's drummer, replacing Geoff Reading (formerly of New American Shame and Green Apple Quick Step).

The first lineup included Michael Barragan (formerly of Plexi), Dez Cadena (formerly of Black Flag), and Taz Bentley (formerly of The Reverend Horton Heat).

After working on new material with drummer Geoff Reading, Loaded was reformed in 2001, adding guitarist Mike Squires and Jeff Rouse to the line-up, though both were briefly replaced by guitarist Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver, formerly of Wasted Youth and Electric Love Hogs) and bassist George Stuart Dahlquist (formerly of Asva and Burning Witch) in 2002.

Following the departure of Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland from Velvet Revolver, Loaded returned from hiatus in 2008 to record and release their second album.

[6] Featuring collaborations with former Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin,[5] former Black Flag singer Dez Cadena[5] and his former Guns N' Roses band mates Slash and Izzy Stradlin,[5] Beautiful Disease was scheduled to be released through Geffen in 1999.

With McKagan performing lead vocals and bass duties, Loaded's line-up consisted of guitarists Dez Cadena and Michael Barragan as well as drummer Taz Bentley.

[6] However, they disbanded before the end of the year, with McKagan and Bentley becoming part of Izzy Stradlin's rhythm section for his tour of Japan supporting Ride On.

[20] They announced three dates at the House of Blues taking place in Anaheim, California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and West Hollywood, California (where they were joined onstage by Slash[22][23]) in November 2001,[24] adding Mike Squires and Jeff Rouse, who replaced Dederer, to the lineup on lead and bass guitar, respectively,[10][16] while Feveyear performed keyboards and percussion.

[29][30] After performing at a benefit gig for Randy Castillo in 2002, McKagan began collaborating with his former Guns N' Roses band mates, Slash and Matt Sorum, on a new project.

However, they disbanded in March 2006, with Rouse and former Vendetta Red members Zach Davidson and Leif Andersen, as well as local drummer Ben Libay, forming the group Sirens Sister.

[63] At a number of shows, Loaded were joined onstage by other musicians such as Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal[64] (Guns N' Roses), Corey Taylor[65] (Slipknot and Stone Sour), and Michael Monroe[66] (formerly of Hanoi Rocks).

[69] The same month, both McKagan and Rouse performed at the Hootenanny For Haiti at the Showbox at the Market in Seattle with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready and Fastbacks bassist Kim Warnick, as well as Truly and former Screaming Trees drummer Mark Pickerel, among others.

[70] While Loaded were briefly inactive, guitarist Mike Squires performed with Green Apple Quick Step[71][72] on a few occasions and McKagan began writing and recording with Jane's Addiction.

[87] It was later revealed in interviews with guitarist Mike Squires and filmmaker Jamie Burton Chamberlin that the album title was changed to The Taking and was to be released on April 19.

[90] Chamberlin stated that the film would be more "about designing a fictitious story line which will be a part of the larger project, and will be a contemporary version of, say, Hard Days Night meets (Led Zeppelin's) Song Remains the Same, with aspects of documentary, music video, and live performance, all interconnected by an underlying motivation"[90] and that the "album will serve as the soundtrack.

[90] The film is to feature a number of cameos from various musicians, including John Roderick of The Long Winters,[91] Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America,[91] Soundgarden members Ben Shepherd and Kim Thayil,[91] and Lemmy of Motörhead.

[97] Loaded's music has often been described as hard rock[55][98] with elements of punk,[99][100] earning comparisons to the Ramones, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed,[101] as well as McKagan's then-former band Guns N' Roses.

[10] Blogcritics reviewer Chris Beaumont stated that their music "is bluesy hard rock that occasionally borders on the punk side of the coin.

It is simultaneously slick and raw, yet it lacks the power and fury of old school Guns N' Roses or the full-on force of Velvet Revolver.