Badlands - Dancing on the Edge

Members of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Racer X, and KISS played on this band. Bandlands is blues flavored rock, that is raw and laden with emotion. The late Ray Gillen's voice is perfectly suited to the genre, displaying a wide tonal range, in a variety of styles, from all out rockers to slow bluesy ballads. His ability to infuse genuine feeling into the music, is one of the keys to its appeal. Song topics are down to earth, gently influenced by themes from the American frontier. This is music that taps into the roots of blues based hard rock. Beside Gillen's vocal talents, Badlands also features the considerable skills of guitarist Jake E. Lee, the man who came to replace Randy Rhodes in Ozzy Osboune's band. The frenetic energy that powered such metal classics as "Journey to the Center of Eternity", "Rock and Roll Rebel" and "Bark at the Moon", are channeled into a completely different direction. The results, while perhaps not as manic, are still very powerful in a different way. Instead of starting at full throttle, more often the energy and tension are allowed to build, before being released. Lee's tone, style, and phrasing, bear little similarity to his playing with Ozzy, but his desire to play this type of music was the reason he left Osbourne's band. With a cleaner tone, Lee's fluid playing style can more easily be heard, and appreciated. Rounding out the band, is a solid rhythm section. Eric Singer energetically handles the drumming duties, and Greg Chaisson mans the bass. Put simply, Badlands rocks hard with feeling.
Except for the instrumental, Jade's Song, dedicated to Lee's daughter, the songs are about evenly divided between up-tempo rockers, and slower bluesy numbers. Among the best tunes are "Streets Cry Freedom", which features Gillen's haunting vocal. As the song builds, Lee's guitar takes flight, including a spacey side guitar solo. "High Wire" finds Badlands brand of blues, closest to the traditional hard rock format. "Rumblin' Train" is a fun bluesy track, that will have you stomping your feet as it chugs along, with Gillen and Lee stoking the engine to the end of the line. "Dancing on the Edge", opens with a muted scratching riff that progresses into one of the album?s faster numbers. Lee's solo is energetic, full of twists and turns, with a flurry of pulloffs, reminiscent of this playing with Ozzy. With song structure that is all over the map, the untraditional blues of "Devil's Stomp" is perhaps the collection's most musically intriguing tune. "Seasons" is the best of the slow numbers, a beautiful song that features one of Ray Gillen's finest vocals. The mood is reminiscent of Zeppelin, with an American flavor.Badlands' brand of gut level rock, wasn?t really aimed at the typical teenage "headbanger", and didn't quite fit into the metal scene of the time. The singles "Winter Calls", and "Dreams in the Dark", did not find much of an audience, and though the band did produce a second album, "Voodoo Highway", the untimely death of Ray Gillen put an end to the band. If bluesy, hard rock is your thing, strap on your gun belt, adjust your hat, step outside into the noontime sun, and check out Badlands.

[@Tirebay2]

This was THE Tape I constantly played in my car for 2 months straight. They are still one of my favorite hard rock bands of the early 90's. Badlands.

[@davidsamueld2015]

Ray was one of the best hard rock voices ever. Jake is awesome

[@vince5888]

Start to finish album kicks ass.

[@tedcabana]

Jake E Lee is such a bad ass guitarist. I hope we can hear more of him in the years to come.

[@eyeinthesky6372]

Ray's vocal talent will never be forgotten.

[@brianswelding]

Damn, Ray could sing. What's that thing great musicians used to have?... oh yeah, TALENT. R.I.P. Ray 🙏

[@robertaustin1945]

Jake kills it

[@nidiasmith7367]

Amazing voice and the guitar is amazing. Badlands is a legend of all time. I have not heard a voice like Ray. Today. R.I.P Ray thank you for sharing your amazing voice.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

What a great band and great songs. ♥️🤘♥️

[@buttkrusher]

Love this album, thought this was the best track, Jake's guitar solo kills on this. So sad what happened to Ray, R.I.P.

[@debbieathy5204]

One of there many great songs they had out

[@trevorbender2307]

Your description of them is astounding!!One of my favorites from a criminally underrated Badlands!! Perfect roadtrip album i would add!!🤘☢🤘

[@GeneralTHC]

Goddamn BADLANDS was badass! This is far and away Jake's best work--the first two Badlands albums. And listen to those vocal melodies! Are you kidding me? Badlands was some of the best rock music ever made. They just came along at the wrong time. They should have been huge. If there was a band half this good today they would be a household name the world over.

[@mdwayne741]

I absolutely agree with you.....I was introduced to this band 20 years ago and I am still blown away!

[@debbieathy5204]

Definitely true there

[@mdwayne741]

Absolutely right..... this is s perfect band -and then some!

[@mdwayne741]

Absolutely correct.

[@bluesinside]

this is one of the best Hard Rock tracks ever, even compared to the golden 70's years (with a good Led Zeppelin smell)

[@mdwayne741]

Absolutely correct, Aldo.

[@dedradd]

so underrated

[@joestrickland2525]

Eric Singer has the best hired gun career !

[@lisajarvis6401]

Brilliant

[@smiffys1]

One of the best tracks the underrated Badlands ever recorded, in their short career. There was never a video for this song, so this is nicely put together. RIP Ray.

[@javtimestwo]

when i play the debut album, this is the song i want to hear 1st. so underrated. lucky to see them once in concert during a tour for the debut album

[@fredsinternetisland137]

Underrated and overlooked musical masterpiece. Should have been huge.

[@bloodnthuner]

It was okay. Bit of a stretch to call masterpiece

[@michaelbujanda8785]

I just like how Jake E. Lee has evolved as a musician from his days with Ozzy, to Badlands and into Red Dragon Cartel!!!! He's not trying to be a guitar hero and is more into music for arts sake and enjoyment!!!!🙂🙂🙂🙂. His playing still captures my imagination and attention!!!! He may not have the same guitar chops as he did in his tenure with Ozzy Osbourne but his guitar playing is still intriguing and adventurous!!!! His music has a sense of unpredictability!!!! It's not cliche!!! Oh well that's what I think!!!!👍👍👍😊🙂🙂🙂🙂⚡🤗🤗🤗⚡🎶🎵🎼🎼🎶🎵

[@ADDISON857]

Àbsolutely Fantastic it’s RAY💋with B.Sabbath, Badlands, phenomena. 🙋🏽‍♀️SO Great Singer, 👨 Man, lové This BOY👋with PHENOMENA « War Dance » Bester style, variât, ton, music🤷‍♀️RAY is just PHENOMENAL 🔥🎵💋Rondinelli🙏💕Really album « WAR DANCE👍🎶it’s F-i-R-E🔥💋

[@robertmonzi9904]

The best 3 minutes and 28 seconds in rock history.

[@mdwayne741]

You could be right.....I am having an eargasm right now!

[@CharlesViante]

Awesome song! Badlands! 🤘🏻❤🌷🌹🎶🎵🎶🎵

[@RHM-up5hn]

Awesome Band, enough said....

[@parkst.frankfranklin3986]

This band out beats many other bands. Rock man.

[@mojopin70]

I saw Badlands in 1992 in Bristol U.K can't believe Ray Gillen died just over a year later, he looked and sounded great that night....unbelievable..

[@goatculler]

One of the Best metal songs that was lost to bad timing...I love! it.

[@fusiontrackschannel7710]

What do you mean by bad timing?

[@N2Capital]

They came out at the end of "Hair Metal" and beginning of Grunge. It was a different sound nobody got and was not popular at that time.

[@vadenhaze29]

Not to mention Ray Gillen's (singer) untimely death in 1993 - RIP Ray

[@cozycooke3865]

Rock not metal, idiot

[@johnharriel4485]

Well plus Ray Gillen intentionally transmitting women HIV unbeknown to them and their families getting everything Gillen touched banned to ever reproduce, distribute or sell. So Jake E Lee had some bad luck on Sharon and Ozzy screwing him on all writing credits on Bark at the Moon and any Badlands with Ray Gillen. A shame. I like his playing more than Randy Rhoads. I love Randy Rhoads and he will always be great, but I always liked Jake E Lee's sound, tone and playing better. My favorite moments he had was the song Bark at the Moon and the Centre of Eternity. I wished Ozzys last album would've been recorded with Jake E Lee. I loved when Jake E Lee played the Ozzy era stuff.

[@michaelbujanda8785]

Point of interest!!!!!: Ray Gillan had an awesome singing voice that I think really brought this song to life!!!! It complimented the guitar and drums and bass!!!! It was like that X factor!!!! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂☺️🙂🤗🤗🤗😃😃😃

[@joselopezcamba1250]

Tremendos músicos para este tremendo grupo. Para un 10 !!!

[@jeffhodge7272]

Badlands just happened at the wrong time I guess. Grunge had taken root. RAP and reality tv was cluttering up MTV. Hair bands had run their course. Badlands fell through the cracks and then fell apart.Too bad too. Both releases have some rockin' tracks on them. Got to see them right after Singer left to join KISS.Small venue in O.C. Gillans voice was a flamethrower. And standing 10 feet from Jake watching him play? AMAZING!

[@dsdaniels4727]

Hair flipping-tastic!!

[@noelholden6608]

Every time I hear a Badlands tune, I am saddened over what could have been. Always great songs, guitar-driven riff-laden beauty! Jake E. when he was at his peak, pursuing the '70's somewhat bluesy arena rock that always feels good on the ears.This one is no exception. Man! I have "Voodoo Highway" but I have to get a copy of that first album.

[@silviocesar318]

Eric singer druns bass legend 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@michaelbujanda6419]

I love how the solo takes the listener in different directions. Lots of ear candy!!! A musical journey indeed!!! I love how Jake constructs his guitar solos and his guitar phrasing! and without all that post Van Halen flash! Minus finger tapping and whammy bar !!!🎸☺🎸😊🎸😇🎸☺🎶🎶🎶🎶🎸😊☺😉😃😄🎸

[@j.c.mhardcoremetalfan413]

michael bujanda Jake is one of the greatest guitarist ever very underrated.the man doesn't use or needs a whammy bar.

[@michaelbujanda6419]

I like Jake e Lees blues based approach song wise and solo wise in his Badlands days!!! It shows more imagination than some of his fellow 80s peers!!! I heard he was buddies with Warren Dee Martini of Ratt and roomates back in the day!!!

[@larryfelgenhauer769]

michael bujanda Jake was in Mickey Ratt, an early incarnation of RATT !!!

[@totigerus]

there's a rumor that jake might play with Ratt again but it's just a rumor so far

[@jasonweinberg932]

Ridin’ on the wings of thunder Blinded by a full moons light I’m runnin’ like a river full of hunger Oh, I’m barkin’ at the moon tonight !

[@JohnMartini-RichardDoyen]

Fucking jake at his best! God rest Gillen...this was jakes thrilla in Manila... He left all his drive on these two great fucking albums...what a solo

[@draper858]

Jake i one of my top 10 guitar favorite players ever.

[@planet6393]

Whole album fucking great! Saw them in Austin Tx! What a night

[@briansauer6695]

Would have been AWESOME to see them. I was delivering parts in a company van from near Toronto Ont. to Lapeer MI the summer of '89 as a summer job in my college days a couple of days a week. The van only had an AM radio so I had crap tunes for 2 hours to the border in Sarnia. The first time I crossed over the border and was flipping around the dial, I found Z-Rock. Imagine my amazement hearing some of the hardest metal at the time on AM radio! Got the company to pay for a motel at night and drive back in the morning. Partied with the guys I delivered to at the factory, dated a hot American girl on the companies dime and was getting paid overtime to drive into the sunset twice a week, all while catching tunes we wouldn't hear until 3-4 months later, if at all in Canada! I never heard Badlands on any stations in Ontario so was glad I got to hear them on Z-Rock! One of, if not, tied for the best summer of my life at 21!

[@briansauer6695]

My previous comment was based on the fact that Z-Rock was based in Texas (somewhere, can't remember) but had an AM satellite station in Flint MI.

[@mattd6086]

Saw Jake wailing last night and came here in search of more! Good video for a badass song. Long live rock and roll.

[@emanuellolarue4476]

singer is just super

[@ADDISON857]

RAY GILLEN💋

[@mdwayne741]

Nice video.....incredible song!

[@peck404]

BALLS OUT..ROCK...MAN🍄🍄🍄 POWERFUL VOCAL

[@starnscot]

Just fuckin EPIC!!🤘

[@debbieathy5204]

Love this band so bummed that the lead singer died and they broke up so many great songs

[@sickdrummer3831]

Never did get into this band. But tragic to lose a fellow musician to such a horrible situation

[@mdwayne741]

So badass!

[@BabeRock1]

Coolest guitarist ever

[@jasoncrane2415]

Fuckin Jake E Lee is killer!!!

[@vixapphire]

Nicely done video, hombre. Hats off!

[@ruthreay1768]

Awesome

[@JohnMartini-RichardDoyen]

As a guitarist......just.... Damn!

[@darthslater6077]

Jake needs to get Dino Jelusic and reform BADLANDS!!!

[@chloenadinewinter5323]

Yes you are right Dino Jelusick is awesome he would fit for this job

[@markzubek9433]

i think george lynch beat him to it ! dirty shirley

[@SimpleMann7]

... I Love You ...

[@danmarshall5895]

Ray was out of Badlands long before his death. His illness seems to have played a role, but at rate Gillen, who was a brilliant singer, ran through bands I don't think he was easy to work with.

[@vicducci4549]

Good times

[@domingomesa6272]

A jammie jam

[@DREDOG1967]

The real fun starts from 2:10 to 2:48

[@user-ew6ol7ib5p]

А видеоряд откуда?

[@patrickjohnmccollough7560]

I say he is the cool bad ass, true rock n roll Robert plant .. bands like Ratt and Badlands got the hair metal stigma and didn't get the dirty rock blues label they deserbed

[@halldmars225]

Badlands or Badass?

[@gabrielmendoza1125]

Music was back then but dam they all look lady like

[@evgeniysteel5212]

Ну ты и дурак

[@johncampbell930]

What can you say

[@chriswade9673]

Damn, Ray sure did have a Robert Plant kind of voice in this. This sounds like Zeppelin gone metal

[@kid-3po]

chomment

[@jimcatmandude9316]

Jake is just a gift to people that love the guitar...I like the singer but he's so high pitched that it's hard to take for long periods for some people...I would have used him but deeper throated Dio types and STP, Creed and Pearl Jam were the thing at that time and that didn't help either...but this band was a classic and deserves props...I heard Jake took the bass player to Ozzy to audition so to speak and Ozzy said he looked like a mechanic...? What kind of a dick move is that...I'm sure the guy wasn't dressed for stage but Oz didn't care apparently and maybe there's more to the story...

[@danmarshall5895]

Other way around, I've heard it that the Ozzy audition was where Jake first met Greg. Keep in mind that was Ultimate Sin era when they were very image conscious.

[@JohnMartini-RichardDoyen]

Awesome-est fucking badlands song...what a damned shame...this song kills me

[@tplude1]

I thought Brad Gillis replaced Randy before he went with Night Ranger and Jake E Lee replaced Brad

[@bobbymcbay1586]

From what I understand you’re correct

[@michaelschmidt9708]

Bernie Torme replaced Randy (for a couple of weeks). Brad Gillis replaced Bernie (for the remainder of the 'Diary of a Madman' tour and the recording of 'Speak of the Devil'). George Lynch was in line to replace Brad (played at soundchecks but no shows). Jake E Lee replaced George in late 1982 (which is when George joined Dokken fulll-time which he had refused to do earlier; he was essentially a paid session guy on 'Breakin' the Chains'). Ozzy went thru 4 guitar players in a 9 month time span.

[@GOLD-sy9bg]

LED zeppelin cover.

[@Amp5150]

this song kicks alot of ass but it feels just 1 notch too raw. like they wrote, recorded and mixed it in 1 day

[@williammacroberts2305]

That's why it kicks ass.

[@ericfrey2866]

ray everyone else a distance second. dino jalusick can only imitate, never emulate...

[@bloodnthuner]

Badlands were okay. They has a series of mediocre albums that were really just for fans of Jake E Lee. They were victims of the hard-won lesson learned that mass appeal unfortunately requires something other than mere talent.