Badlands (band)
American heavy metal band with a blues/hard rock sound.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Badlands was an American heavy metal band that got its start in 1988. The lineup brought together four musicians from other notable acts: guitarist Jake E. Lee, who had played with Ozzy Osbourne; vocalist Ray Gillen, formerly of Black Sabbath; drummer Eric Singer, who later played with Black Sabbath after Gillen had left; and bassist Greg Chaisson, who had been in Surgical Steel. Their music leaned toward a bluesy, hard rock style influenced by Led Zeppelin, which set it apart from the sounds of their earlier bands. The group released two studio albums during their active years—*Badlands* in 1989 and *Voodoo Highway* in 1991—with a third album, *Dusk*, recorded in 1992–1993 but not released until 1998, after the band had disbanded. The band had already disbanded in 1993 before Ray Gillen's death, ending any chance of a reunion.
The band formed in 1988, after Jake E. Lee was fired by Sharon Osbourne in 1987 following the tour for Ozzy Osbourne's *The Ultimate Sin*, which had ended in early 1987. Lee wanted to start a new project and needed a strong frontman. He connected with Ray Gillen, who had just done a short stint with Black Sabbath. Within weeks, the two brought in bassist Greg Chaisson—whom Lee had met while auditioning for Osbourne’s band—and Gillen recruited Eric Singer to play drums. Singer had not been a bandmate of Gillen in Black Sabbath, as he joined the band after Gillen had left.
Badlands released their first album, *Badlands*, in May 1989, and it got good reviews. Music videos for the songs "Dreams in the Dark" and the Zeppelin-like "Winter's Call" got airplay on MTV, helping the album reach number 57 on the Billboard charts. The band spent three months on tour opening for Great White and Tesla, then finished the year playing clubs with D.A.D. as the opening act. Not long after, Eric Singer left the group voluntarily; he later played in Paul Stanley’s solo club band and joined Kiss in 1992, after Eric Carr's death. Badlands replaced him with Jeff Martin, who had sung for Racer X and played with Chaisson in the Phoenix bands Surgical Steel and St. Michael. Tensions arose between the band and Atlantic Records over the musical direction, and also between Gillen and his bandmates about including songs he had written on the next album. Lee later recalled that Gillen was diagnosed with HIV in 1991 or later, and began to look thin and unhealthy. A
- formed
- 1988
- disbanded
- 1993
- origin
- United States
- genre
- Heavy metal, blues/hard rock
- years_active
- 1988–1993
- label
- Atlantic Records
Lore & Background
Gillen later performed with George Lynch's solo band on Sacred Groove and formed Sun Red Sun with guitarist Al Romano, former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr, and drummer Bobby Rondinelli. He died on December 1, 1993 at his New Jersey home from AIDS-related complications. John West finished Sun Red Sun recordings. The unreleased Badlands album Dusk, recorded in 1992–1993, was released in Japan in 1998 with Gillen on vocals. The band had disbanded in 1993 before Gillen's death, so no reunion was possible.
Reader's Guide
Badlands occupies a notable place in late-1980s heavy metal as a band that blended blues and hard rock influences, drawing comparisons to Led Zeppelin, while featuring musicians from prominent acts like Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Their debut album achieved modest chart success and MTV exposure, but internal tensions, creative disagreements, and Gillen's AIDS diagnosis derailed their momentum. The band's legacy is tied to the tragic arc of Ray Gillen, whose death at age 34 ended any possibility of reunion. The posthumous release of Dusk in 1998 provided a final glimpse of their work. Badlands is often remembered as a what-if story in metal history—a group with considerable talent that never fully realized its potential due to personal and industry conflicts.
Did You Know?
- Eric Singer left Badlands voluntarily and later joined Kiss in 1992, after Eric Carr's death.
- Jake E. Lee was fired by Sharon Osbourne in 1987 after the tour for Ozzy Osbourne's The Ultimate Sin, which ended in early 1987.
- Ray Gillen was diagnosed with HIV in 1991 or later, not immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Badlands (band)?
Badlands was an American heavy metal supergroup that existed from 1988 to 1993, assembled from musicians who had already been in other well-known rock acts. They recorded for Atlantic Records and put out three studio albums during their five-year run.
Who were the members of Badlands?
The lineup featured guitarist Jake E. Lee (ex-Ozzy Osbourne), vocalist Ray Gillen and drummer Eric Singer (both formerly of Black Sabbath), and bassist Greg Chaisson (previously in Surgical Steel).
What did Badlands sound like?
Instead of the straight-ahead heavy metal of their members' earlier projects, Badlands pushed toward a bluesy, groove-heavy hard rock style with obvious Led Zeppelin influence. That shift made them stand apart from both Ozzy's and Sabbath's catalogues.
What albums did Badlands release?
The group issued three studio albums between 1988 and 1993, all on Atlantic Records. No further material appeared after the band dissolved in 1993.
Why did Badlands break up?
The project effectively ended when vocalist Ray Gillen passed away in 1993. Without their frontman, the band lost its central creative force and never regrouped.
More in American heavy metal supergroups 1-24
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