Night Ranger

BIOGRAPHY

[Dashboard] [Referred Artists] [Search Options]

Night Ranger (1979-present): a Glam Metal band from San Francisco, California, USA.

ormed in 1979 first as Stereo then Ranger, Night Ranger gained popularity after their name change in 1982 with a series of albums and singles, the best known is probably the power ballad Sister Christian, which peaked at five on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1984. Other top 40 hit singles in the 1980s included Don't Tell Me You Love Me, When You Close Your Eyes, Sentimental Street, Four in the Morning (I Can't Take Any More), and Goodbye.

The group's origin can be traced to the band Rubicon, a pop/funk group led by Jerry Martini (ex-Sly and the Family Stone). After Rubicon's split in 1979, bassist Jack Blades formed a band featuring other ex-Rubicon members, drummer Kelly Keagy, keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald (ex-Montrose) and guitarist Brad Gillis under the name Stereo. Jeff Watson (guitar) would join soon after. After several gigs the name was changed to Ranger and were opening for acts such as Sammy Hagar.

In 1982 the band changed its name to Night Ranger after country band, The Rangers, claimed trademark infringement. But by this point as Ranger, they had recorded Dawn Patrol (1982) for 'Boardwalk Records'. After 'Boardwalk' folded, producer Bruce Bird secured the newly renamed Night Ranger a deal with 'MCA' on their 'Camel' subsidiary in 1983 with their second effort, Midnight Madness arriving later that year; Midnight Madness containing probably their most famous single, Sister Christian.

Read All... ⏬

7 Wishes (1985) was a modest success with the ballad Sentimental Street. The album was a loose concept of the band flying across the ocean in a WWII B-25 Mitchell bomber. Blades later reported Gillis and he were fascinated by World War II planes.

Between 1984 and 1987, Night Ranger branched out into soundtracks, recording or contributing songs to several teen-oriented films.

In 1987 Blades co-wrote the title theme to the Michael J. Fox film The Secret of My Success, which served as the lead-off single on the band's next album, Big Life (1987). Unlike the previous three albums, this one featured more up-tempo songs than power ballads. None of the Big Life singles hit the top 40. Secret of My Success stalled just short of hit-single status at number 64 on Billboard's Hot 100 despite heavy MTV rotation.

In early 1988, Fitzgerald left during the recording of the next album, citing his diminished role in the guitar-driven band, despite originally suggesting the addition of Jeff Watson to augment the band's sound in the first place. Touring keyboardist, Jesse Bradman, would step in to complete the next album, Man in Motion (1988). The album offered a return to earlier form with more hard rock, but none of the singles from it were enough to gain radio airplay, as MCA once again chose ballads over rockers.

After a tour in 1988-89 supporting Man in Motion including a slot with Kansas, Blades left to form the super-group Damn Yankees with Ted Nugent and Tommy Shaw of Styx.

In 1991, Gary Moon (ex-Three Dog Night would step in to replace Blades as vocalist/bassist. After Jeff Watson decided to pursue a solo career, the band decided to stay a trio... for a bit... In 1993, David Zajicek was added as a full member on guitar, keyboards and backing vocals. Feeding off the Mojo (1995) would result.

In 1996 Blades returned to Night Ranger, ultimately leading to a reunion of all five original members for two studio albums on 'CMC Records', Neverland (1997) and Seven (1998). Styx would return soon after. While these two albums did not become as successful as the band's early material in the US, they were popular in Japan.

In 2003, Fitzgerald was replaced by Great White rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie. Fitzgerald went on to play offstage keyboards once again for Van Halen the following year.

In 2007, while working on their next release, Hole in the Sun (2007), Watson was fired. His replacement for the remainder of the 2007 tour was Winger and Whitesnake guitarist Reb Beach. But Lardie and Beach soon left the band to focus on Great White and Winger/Whitesnake, respectively. Christian Matthew Cullen replaced Lardie soon after, while Joel Hoekstra took over for Beach early in 2008.

Night Ranger was among hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the 2008 Universal Studios fire.

2011 saw new member Eric Levy from the departure of Cullen. Somewhere In California arrived later that year.

In late 2012, guitarist Keri Kelli (whose resume includes Alice Cooper, Slash, Skid Row, Vince Neil Band, Ratt, Warrant, L.A. Guns, Tal Bachman, John Waite) joined Night Ranger to substitute Hoekstra while he was off playing for Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He returned in late 2013, once again to fill in for Hoekstra, when Trans-Siberian called him away again. In 2014, Hoekstra permanently left to join the guitarist he originally replaced, Reb Beach, in Whitesnake; Keri Kelli returned to replace him. High Road (2014) would be released during this time also. Don't Let Up (2017) and ATBPO (2021) would follow.