Good to be Bad

Clicking around YouTube last night, I came across a Badlands video. What a great and grossly underrated band.

Guitarist Jake E. Lee formed Badlands in 1988, after leaving the Ozzy Osbourne band. Lee teamed up with singer Ray Gillen and drummer Eric Singer both of Black Sabbath. The line-up was set when bassist Greg Chaisson joined the group. Badlands earned some critical acclaim, but sales were never huge (according to Wikipedia, the album reached number 57 on the Billboard charts). The band made some music videos in support of their first effort, including support for the single "Winter's Call."

After a tour, Badlands entered the studio to record Voodoo Highway. It was during this time that Eric Singer was replaced by Jeff Martin. Unfortunately, this album didn't fare as well as the debut, and Badlands launched a quick fall into obscurity, thanks in part to weak support from Atlantic Records.

Singer Ray Gillen died of AIDS related complications at the end of 1993. Five years later, the remaining members of Badlands released Dusk.

Today, it's very hard to find the self-titled Badlands debut. The album is out of print, and eBay stores list the disc for upwards of 30 bucks! The price alone illustrates the musical chemistry the boys in Badlands enjoyed. Voodoo Highway and Dusk are also out of print, and also sell for a mint.

It's criminal that great albums go out of print but complete trash stays stocked on store shelves for perpetuity. Today, you can't even purchase a Bandlands single on iTunes.

I should have bought the debut disc back in 1989 when I had the chance. The lessons we learn.

Comments

[Hard Rock Hideout]

I love Badlands. This was an offshoot of Black Sabbath at the time, but was a killer hard rock band with a good sound.

It was great, when Bo Bice did a Badlands song on American Idol a couple of years ago. It got people looking for this band's music again.

[aXe mAn]

I agree! Badlands is a very underated band!!

But, I noticed that you made a typo...
you said, "Jake E. Lee formed Badlands in 1998". I think you mean 1988. No big deal. It just bugged me. So I had to say something! lol
Ray Gillen was a great vocalist as well! I like their debut album the best! "Dreams in the dark" is my fav song from them!

[Allyson B. Crawford]

Good catch, aXe mAn... I fixed the error.
That's what happens when you multi-task!

Allyson

[Vince Neilstein]

Awww man, this is great! We love you, Allyson.

[Bill]

Fine band and stunning debut album. I remember listening to this and the first Mr. Big album loads around the same time. I have both the Badlands CDs but I'm looking to re-buy the vinyl as well now! Must revisit this soon on Rock Of Ages....

[Rhodeislandrock]

The 2 Badlands albums were re-released by Koch Records in 2001 but I'll bet they are OOP again. Try Gemm or good ol' Ebay. Both are very good Blues based Hard Rock.

[angry beaver]

how do you download the vid ' to your hard drive'¿

[angry beaver]

been looking for this vid & dreams in the dark also!
but i can't download it/ dont know how : (

[Allyson]

Angry,

Just click the little play button in the left corner. You cannot download from this location...just play.

Allyson

[Angry beaver]

what location can/do you download it from?

[Angry beaver]

oh' by the way thank you Allyson for expedient reply: )

[Allyson]

Angry,

Maybe if you go to YouTube and search "Badlands" you can download from there...I just used the link for this website. The clip is still hosted on YouTube.

Allyson

[angry beaver]

how do i download of youtube?
i am not very familiar with the youtube,i have only ended up there by mistake : )~


SAD BUT TRUE

[angry beaver]

i googled...and i tried a encoder'to download with. but got all messed up : (

still would like to get these downloaded

[angry beaver]

i found this way ...to work' and then open with VLC player to wiew.

http://www.techcrunch.com/get-youtube-movie/

anyone got any way better/easier 'please do reply

[angry beaver]

why does the dreams in the dark video'have a green stripe going down the center when viewing?...
anyone know where to get a clean Vursion ?????...

any help would be helpfull

[voodoo man]

I agree, the voodoo highway album was the first cd that I ever owned. I got it from my older brother who got it from my uncle. I now have the debut album on cd. I got it from a guy on my church van of all places. He was like, "hey, have you ever heard of Badlands?" and I almost spasmed when I saw what album he had. I dropped 30 bucks right there for the cd even though there is a crack in the edge of it. Alas, I do not have the dusk album, but try to find it every summer in garage sales.

[Heather]

I ran into Ray and Eric of Badlands @ a Chicago bar after their show in '89. Eric was very quiet and not interested in talking but Ray was a really nice guy and I wish we had been able to talk more but I was too shy. We hung out at their hotel (no not in THAT way) and Ray did laundry lol.
I love(d) Badlands and they were the best out of the three bands (Great White and Tesla also played) that night.