Crimson Glory

Biography

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Crimson Glory (1983-1991, 1999-2000, 2005-2013): a Progressive Metal band from Sarasota, Florida, USA.

riginally named Pierced Arrow, then Beowulf, Crimson Glory would prove to be one of the most influential progressive metal bands to emerge from the 1980s. Featuring Midnight (vocals), Jon Drenning (guitar), Ben Jackson (guitar), Jeff Lords (bass) and Dana Burnell (drums) and combining the basic style of early Queensryche with guitar melodies and the distinctive vocals of Midnight, they would eventually produce two albums in the form of Crimson Glory (1986) and Transcendence (1988), the latter being the band's high point. But the follow-up, Strange and Beautiful (1991) with Ravi Jakhotia replacing Burnell and without Jackson, didn't do as well due to an attempt at a more commercial sound that alienated fans and led to the band's eventual breakup.

Indeed, after a successful but brief Strange and Beautiful tour in the U.S, the band members went their separate ways taking a hiatus to pursue other musical interests. The band's primary songwriters Jon Drenning and Jeff Lords formed the projects Erotic Liquid Culture (which also features vocalist David Van Landing of Michael Schenker), and Crush with drummer Ravi Jakhotia. Ben Jackson formed the bands Parish and the Ben Jackson Group. Former lead vocalist Midnight retired from the music business to pursue other interests.

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It would be in late 1997 when the band reformed with Drenning, Jackson and Lords returning to recruit Steve Wachholz (ex-Savatage; drums) and Wade Black (ex-Seven Witches; vocals) to release a new album two years later in the form of Astronomica. Being slightly more aggressive instrumentally, the vocals (with Midnight) proved to still be less distinctive. The album would prove to only be a brief unification of the act for the side projects of the members were consuming their affairs. Both Lords and Jackson returned to their aforementioned projects, and Black gotinvolved with Leash Law, with former vocalist Midnight releasing an acoustic EP then disappearing and re-emerging within the industry.

On March 2005, the band announced a reunion with the full original line-up with Midnight on tour and scheduled to record vocals on the next album. This was not to last, however, because on January 22, 2007, Midnight was arrested, charged with driving under the influence with blood-alcohol level .20 or higher. Four days later the band part ways with Midnight, citing it would be difficult to work with him "as his current state of mind and his present physical condition would impede plans we have in place for future appearances, releases and recordings". Wade Black, who had recently quit Leatherwolf, joined the band again.

On July 8, 2009, Midnight died of a stomach aneurysm.

In May 2010, the band formally announced Todd La Torre as their new singer. During this period, however, the band had been relatively inactive and in 2013 La Torre chose to leave.

The War of the Worlds EP (2000; featuring Dana Burnell; drums) and In Dark Places... 1986-2000 boxed set (2010).

Footnote: This band has featured the following guest members John Avarese (keyboard on Strange and Beautiful), Paul Beach (backing vocals on Astronomica),Daryl Burgee (bass/percussion on Strange and Beautiful),Annette Hardeman (backing vocals/drums on Strange and Beautiful), Paula Holloway (backing vocals on Strange and Beautiful), Charlene Holloway (backing vocals on Strange and Beautifull), Ron Kerber (saxophone on Strange and Beautiful), Ric Sandler (piano on Strange and Beautiful) and David Van Landing (backing vocals on Astronomica). Not to be confused with other band's under the original name of Beowulf.

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