Ray Gillen
Encyclopedia
Raymond A. "Ray" Gillen was an American rock
singer, best known for his work with Badlands, in addition to his stint with Black Sabbath
in the mid-1980s and recording most of the vocals on Phenomena
's classic Dreamrunner album.
, but was raised in Cliffside Park, New Jersey
. He was an only child and started singing while in high school. He played the New Jersey club circuit with various bands, most notably Vendetta and Harlette. In 1985, he joined Bobby Rondinelli
's band, Rondinelli.
In 1986, Black Sabbath
started touring for the Seventh Star album when after only a few shows, singer Glenn Hughes got into a fist-fight and lost his voice due to the related sinus and throat injuries. Gillen was offered the job to replace Hughes, which meant leaving Rondinelli to accept the offer. After finishing the Seventh Star tour, Black Sabbath recorded their next album The Eternal Idol
with Gillen. However, due to mix of financial burden, writing difficulty (Bob Daisley
was recruited for writing as Gillen turned out to be not much of a composer), mismanagement and miscommunication that plagued the band, Gillen and Black Sabbath drummer Eric Singer quit before the album was ever released. Gillen was eventually replaced by Tony Martin, and the vocal track of The Eternal Idol was hurriedly rerecorded note-for-note with Martin before the album was finally released in 1987. However, demo versions of The Eternal Idol
featuring Ray do exist on the bootleg
circuit. Also, in an interview Tony Martin revealed that the sinister laugh heard on the track Nightmare is in fact Ray's voice. The album was re-released on November 1, 2010 in Europe in a 2-disc expanded set including a bonus disc with Gillen's recording.
During the time of the Seventh Star tour, Gillen was asked by project director and co-producer Wilfried F. Rimensberger to join Mel Galley's Phenomena
for the recording of the album Dream Runner, which features vocals from Glenn Hughes, John Wetton and Max Bacon. He recorded 4 tracks and the album became a classic because it unites some of the greatest rock voices of the 80's on one album. Ray is also featured in Phenomena's 'Did it all for Love' music video although he was not involved in the actual recording of that song.
After the Phenomena recordings, Ray Gillen joined John Sykes
' (previously with Whitesnake
, Thin Lizzy
and a different band called Badlands) new band Blue Murder. Gillen sang demos but parted company when Sykes decided to handle vocals himself.
Gillen then contacted Jake E. Lee
to form a band. In 1988 Gillen started to form Badlands
with Jake E. Lee (former Ozzy Osbourne
guitarist) and recruited his friend Eric Singer
with whom he had played in Black Sabbath. Ray recorded three albums (Badlands
, Voodoo Highway
, and Dusk
) with Badlands and toured from 1989 until 1992. In 1993 Rimensberger was planning a remake of his first Metalhammer Loreley Festival but this time specifically to stage Phenomena's first ever life performance, with Ray Gillen on vocals. It was going to be the launch event for a series of concerts across Europe in 1994. Ray called from New York and told Rimensberger in Munich that he can't as he was too ill to perform.
Gillen went to New York City
to form the band Sun Red Sun
with old friends, but he died from an AIDS
related disease in a New York
Hospital
on December 1, 1993. He was survived by a daughter, Ashley (born July, 1984).
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer, best known for his work with Badlands, in addition to his stint with Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
in the mid-1980s and recording most of the vocals on Phenomena
Phenomena (band)
Phenomena is a rock concept around a supergroup formed by record producer Tom Galley, Metalhammer magazine founder Wilfried Rimensberger and Tom's brother, Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as Glenn Hughes, Brian May, Tony Martin and John Wetton amongst...
's classic Dreamrunner album.
Biography
Gillen was born on May 12, 1959 in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, but was raised in Cliffside Park, New Jersey
Cliffside Park, New Jersey
Cliffside Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 23,594....
. He was an only child and started singing while in high school. He played the New Jersey club circuit with various bands, most notably Vendetta and Harlette. In 1985, he joined Bobby Rondinelli
Bobby Rondinelli
Bobby Rondinelli is a rock drummer best known for his work with the hard rock/heavy metal bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, The Lizards, and Rondinelli.-Background:...
's band, Rondinelli.
In 1986, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
started touring for the Seventh Star album when after only a few shows, singer Glenn Hughes got into a fist-fight and lost his voice due to the related sinus and throat injuries. Gillen was offered the job to replace Hughes, which meant leaving Rondinelli to accept the offer. After finishing the Seventh Star tour, Black Sabbath recorded their next album The Eternal Idol
The Eternal Idol
The Eternal Idol is the thirteenth studio album by Black Sabbath, released in December 1987. It is the first of several Black Sabbath albums to feature longtime vocalist Tony Martin. It spent six weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at 168. It was also the last full album of new material by...
with Gillen. However, due to mix of financial burden, writing difficulty (Bob Daisley
Bob Daisley
Robert John "Bob" Daisley is an Australian musician, bassist and lyricist who has performed in genres of rock, blues, R&B, hard rock and metal.-Early career:...
was recruited for writing as Gillen turned out to be not much of a composer), mismanagement and miscommunication that plagued the band, Gillen and Black Sabbath drummer Eric Singer quit before the album was ever released. Gillen was eventually replaced by Tony Martin, and the vocal track of The Eternal Idol was hurriedly rerecorded note-for-note with Martin before the album was finally released in 1987. However, demo versions of The Eternal Idol
The Eternal Idol
The Eternal Idol is the thirteenth studio album by Black Sabbath, released in December 1987. It is the first of several Black Sabbath albums to feature longtime vocalist Tony Martin. It spent six weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at 168. It was also the last full album of new material by...
featuring Ray do exist on the bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
circuit. Also, in an interview Tony Martin revealed that the sinister laugh heard on the track Nightmare is in fact Ray's voice. The album was re-released on November 1, 2010 in Europe in a 2-disc expanded set including a bonus disc with Gillen's recording.
During the time of the Seventh Star tour, Gillen was asked by project director and co-producer Wilfried F. Rimensberger to join Mel Galley's Phenomena
Phenomena (band)
Phenomena is a rock concept around a supergroup formed by record producer Tom Galley, Metalhammer magazine founder Wilfried Rimensberger and Tom's brother, Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as Glenn Hughes, Brian May, Tony Martin and John Wetton amongst...
for the recording of the album Dream Runner, which features vocals from Glenn Hughes, John Wetton and Max Bacon. He recorded 4 tracks and the album became a classic because it unites some of the greatest rock voices of the 80's on one album. Ray is also featured in Phenomena's 'Did it all for Love' music video although he was not involved in the actual recording of that song.
After the Phenomena recordings, Ray Gillen joined John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
' (previously with Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
, Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
and a different band called Badlands) new band Blue Murder. Gillen sang demos but parted company when Sykes decided to handle vocals himself.
Gillen then contacted Jake E. Lee
Jake E. Lee
Jakey Lou Williams , commonly known as Jake E. Lee, is an American guitarist best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980s and later in his own band Badlands.- Musical education :...
to form a band. In 1988 Gillen started to form Badlands
Badlands (band)
Badlands was a short-lived rock band founded by former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee and former Black Sabbath members Ray Gillen and Eric Singer. Badlands also featured bassist Greg Chaisson. After the first Badlands album, Eric Singer was replaced by Jeff Martin...
with Jake E. Lee (former Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
guitarist) and recruited his friend Eric Singer
Eric Singer
Eric Doyle Mensinger , better known as Eric Singer, is a hard rock and heavy metal drummer for the rock band Kiss and formerly for singer Alice Cooper...
with whom he had played in Black Sabbath. Ray recorded three albums (Badlands
Badlands (album)
Badlands is the first album by the band of the same name. This album features Ray Gillen and Eric Singer, who previously played together in Black Sabbath. This album also features guitarist Jake E. Lee and bassist Greg Chaisson...
, Voodoo Highway
Voodoo Highway
Voodoo Highway is the second album of the band Badlands. After the first Badlands album, drummer Eric Singer left the band to join KISS, and was replaced by drummer Jeff Martin, who had previously sung lead vocals in the bands Surgical Steel and Racer X...
, and Dusk
Dusk (Badlands album)
Dusk is Badlands's third and final album. It was originally recorded in 1992-1993 as a demo to submit to their label.The demo tracks to Dusk were released posthumously on December 15, 1998.-Track listing:All tracks by Ray Gillen & Jake E...
) with Badlands and toured from 1989 until 1992. In 1993 Rimensberger was planning a remake of his first Metalhammer Loreley Festival but this time specifically to stage Phenomena's first ever life performance, with Ray Gillen on vocals. It was going to be the launch event for a series of concerts across Europe in 1994. Ray called from New York and told Rimensberger in Munich that he can't as he was too ill to perform.
Gillen went to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to form the band Sun Red Sun
Sun Red Sun
Sun Red Sun was an American heavy metal supergroup active from 1992–1993. It featured former Rondinelli bandmates Ray Gillen and Bobby Rondinelli.-History:...
with old friends, but he died from an AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
related disease in a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
on December 1, 1993. He was survived by a daughter, Ashley (born July, 1984).
With Black Sabbath
- The Eternal IdolThe Eternal IdolThe Eternal Idol is the thirteenth studio album by Black Sabbath, released in December 1987. It is the first of several Black Sabbath albums to feature longtime vocalist Tony Martin. It spent six weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at 168. It was also the last full album of new material by...
(Released as Disc 2 on Deluxe Version of "The Eternal Idol" November 2010) - The laughing section of "Nightmare" on The Eternal Idol (Released Version) (1987)
- "Live at The Hammersmith Odeon, 2nd June 1986" (Released as Disc 2 on Deluxe Version of "Seventh Star" November 2010)
With Badlands
- BadlandsBadlands (album)Badlands is the first album by the band of the same name. This album features Ray Gillen and Eric Singer, who previously played together in Black Sabbath. This album also features guitarist Jake E. Lee and bassist Greg Chaisson...
(1989) - Voodoo HighwayVoodoo HighwayVoodoo Highway is the second album of the band Badlands. After the first Badlands album, drummer Eric Singer left the band to join KISS, and was replaced by drummer Jeff Martin, who had previously sung lead vocals in the bands Surgical Steel and Racer X...
(1991) - DuskDusk (Badlands album)Dusk is Badlands's third and final album. It was originally recorded in 1992-1993 as a demo to submit to their label.The demo tracks to Dusk were released posthumously on December 15, 1998.-Track listing:All tracks by Ray Gillen & Jake E...
(1998)
With Savatage
- "Strange Wings" on the Hall of the Mountain King album