Crimson Glory
Encyclopedia
Crimson Glory is an American progressive metal
band that formed in 1982. They broke up in 1992, but decided to reform six years later.
in 1982 under the moniker 'Beowulf' with guitarists Jon Drenning and Ben Jackson, bassist Jeff Lords and drummer Dana Burnell. While searching for a singer, the group discovered one in the form of an old school mate of Jeff's - the mystically-named Midnight (John Patrick McDonald).
They rehearsed diligently, finding and developing their sound for almost four years before recording their self-titled debut album on Par Records in 1986. This would later be re-issued after signing on with their new label, Roadrunner Records
. Tight dual-lead harmonies and soaring vocals would feature prominently on this release, as well as the follow-up, Transcendence.
In an era of sound-and-lookalike metal bands, Crimson Glory's goal was to be immediately identifiable from the others, so they wore full-face metallic silver mask
s on-stage, as well as for all photo shoots and public appearances. Vocalist Midnight was the exception to this, as his mask left his mouth uncovered.
While touring behind Transcendence, they performed live in front of 5000 faithful, screaming fans at the Manatee Civic Center
in their hometown of Bradenton, Florida on Sept. 2, 1989. This concert was simulcast across America on Z Rock
Radio. In addition, the band performed "In Dark Places" at the 1989 Tampa Bay Music Awards and walked away with three awards that night – Most Outstanding Male Vocalist (Midnight), Most Outstanding Local Release (Transcendence) and Most Outstanding Metal Band (beating fellow Florida band Savatage
for this one). When the tour ended, drummer Dana Burnell and guitarist Ben Jackson decided to leave the group.
The revamped group was signed to Atlantic Records
and released their third album, entitled Strange and Beautiful
. Prior to the start of the tour, vocalist Midnight departed as well and dropped into a self-imposed exile for almost a decade before anyone heard from him again. Guitarist Jon Drenning recruited vocalist David Van Landing as a replacement for Midnight on what would be a short-lived tour. Drenning would then move the band to Van Landing's home state of Arizona and regroup the band twice - first as Crush, and then as Erotic Liquid Culture. They would release one album under each name and both are out of print and much sought-after by fans. The music on both albums more or less continued the style the band established on Strange and Beautiful.
in 2000, Leash Law
in 2004 and Leatherwolf
in 2006.
Answering the demand of the fan base, affectionately referred to by the band as the Crimson Militia, Drenning reunited all the original members: vocalist Midnight, guitarist Ben Jackson, bassist Jeff Lords and after much secrecy and to the delight of the fans, drummer Dana Burnell. A surprising addition has been the inclusion of former Astronomica tour drummer Jesse Rojas, now backing up the group in live performances on percussion and some lead vocal work. The band signed with Black Lotus Records
for a new DVD of the 1989 Bradenton concert, as well as a re-release of the two first albums (Black Lotus Records
has since gone under and the material was never released). Sadly, the reunion was not to last. In late January 2007, citing personal differences, Crimson Glory once more parted ways with singer Midnight. After Midnight's dismissal, former vocalist Wade Black was brought back into the fold, but the band has since only played three shows. Following Black Lotus's bankruptcy, they quietly went on indefinite hiatus, with Jon Drenning's decision to return to community college to pursue a career in radiography having some bearing on this.
. The show featured many special guest vocalists, including a then-unknown Todd La Torre, who had no previous knowledge of the group, nor of Midnight. Thanks to the prompting of Jon Oliva's Pain guitarist, Matt LaPorte, and the band needing a vocalist for rehearsals when Wade Black was unable to attend, Todd La Torre found himself learning the material in his car driving to rehearsal and singing well enough to make an impression on the band. He was a last-minute addition to the roster of guest vocalists at ProgPower X.
In April 2010, the band formally announced Todd La Torre as their new singer. La Torre made his first public appearance as a full-time member of Crimson Glory at the Pathfinder Metal Fest in Marietta, Georgia on Oct. 30, 2010. A drummer for 22 years in various hard rock and heavy metal bands in the Tampa Bay area, he is influenced vocally by the likes of Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson and Geoff Tate. La Torre has proven he can sing like, and keep pace with, his inspirations - which now include his predecessor, Midnight.
April 2011 saw the band touring Europe to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their first album.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band that formed in 1982. They broke up in 1992, but decided to reform six years later.
Formation and debut album (1982–1987)
Crimson Glory was formed in Sarasota, FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1982 under the moniker 'Beowulf' with guitarists Jon Drenning and Ben Jackson, bassist Jeff Lords and drummer Dana Burnell. While searching for a singer, the group discovered one in the form of an old school mate of Jeff's - the mystically-named Midnight (John Patrick McDonald).
They rehearsed diligently, finding and developing their sound for almost four years before recording their self-titled debut album on Par Records in 1986. This would later be re-issued after signing on with their new label, Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
. Tight dual-lead harmonies and soaring vocals would feature prominently on this release, as well as the follow-up, Transcendence.
In an era of sound-and-lookalike metal bands, Crimson Glory's goal was to be immediately identifiable from the others, so they wore full-face metallic silver mask
Mask
A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes...
s on-stage, as well as for all photo shoots and public appearances. Vocalist Midnight was the exception to this, as his mask left his mouth uncovered.
Transcendence (1988–1989)
Their sophomore release, Transcendence was a landmark in the genre and it garnered them much-deserved praise and attention, both at home and abroad. While on tour in support of their self-titled debut album, they discovered how hot the masks would be on stage. To keep the mystique, they cut them down into a partial “Phantom of the Opera” style for the 'Transcendence' tour. Despite the allure, after this tour the masks were permanently retired.While touring behind Transcendence, they performed live in front of 5000 faithful, screaming fans at the Manatee Civic Center
Manatee Civic Center
Manatee Civic Center is a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena and convention center in Palmetto, Florida. It was home to the Florida Stingers of the Continental Basketball Association and Florida Scorpions of the American Professional Football League. It also hosted UWF's first and only live...
in their hometown of Bradenton, Florida on Sept. 2, 1989. This concert was simulcast across America on Z Rock
Z Rock
Z-Rock was a nationally syndicated radio network based out of Dallas, Texas, USA, in the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s that played heavy metal and hard rock music. The format was one of ABC Radio Network's 24-hour satellite formats...
Radio. In addition, the band performed "In Dark Places" at the 1989 Tampa Bay Music Awards and walked away with three awards that night – Most Outstanding Male Vocalist (Midnight), Most Outstanding Local Release (Transcendence) and Most Outstanding Metal Band (beating fellow Florida band Savatage
Savatage
Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...
for this one). When the tour ended, drummer Dana Burnell and guitarist Ben Jackson decided to leave the group.
Strange and Beautiful and breakup (1990–1997)
Burnell would be replaced by Ravi Jakhotia in 1991, who brought a decidedly more “tribal” feel to the band and the material they would write for their next album was more 'hard rock' oriented and based more upon drum grooves as opposed to guitar riffs, on which their first two albums were largely based. It signified a bold and definite shift away from the metal sound upon which the band had built their reputation. It was at this time the band continued on as a four-piece.The revamped group was signed to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and released their third album, entitled Strange and Beautiful
Strange and Beautiful (album)
Strange and Beautiful is the third album from progressive metal band Crimson Glory. Initially released in 1991, it was the first album after the departure of guitarist Ben Jackson and drummer Dana Burnell. The record was also their first, and last, for new label, Atlantic Records...
. Prior to the start of the tour, vocalist Midnight departed as well and dropped into a self-imposed exile for almost a decade before anyone heard from him again. Guitarist Jon Drenning recruited vocalist David Van Landing as a replacement for Midnight on what would be a short-lived tour. Drenning would then move the band to Van Landing's home state of Arizona and regroup the band twice - first as Crush, and then as Erotic Liquid Culture. They would release one album under each name and both are out of print and much sought-after by fans. The music on both albums more or less continued the style the band established on Strange and Beautiful.
Reunion, Astronomica and aftermath (1998–2008)
In 1998, after an almost five year hiatus, Drenning would move back to Florida and reform Crimson Glory. He welcomed Ben Jackson back into the band and found a replacement for Midnight in the form of Wade Black, formerly of Lucian Blaque (1991–1995). This incarnation of the group would release “Astronomica” and following a brief tour, would go on hiatus again. Ben Jackson and Midnight launched solo careers and Wade Black would go on to front Seven WitchesSeven Witches
Seven Witches is an American heavy metal band from New Jersey. The band was founded in 1998 by Jack Frost and Bobby Lucas- History :Seven Witches released a Demo-CD in 1998, which gave them a record deal with Massacre Records....
in 2000, Leash Law
Leash Law
Leash Law was an American power metal band formed by ex-members of various other groups. It was formed in 2003 by Wade Black, once a member of the band Seven Witches, Rick Renstrom, Emo Mowery, Stephen Elder, and Richard Christy, who was once a member of the influential bands Death and Iced Earth...
in 2004 and Leatherwolf
Leatherwolf
Leatherwolf is an American heavy metal band that formed in Huntington Beach, California in 1981. The group is also nicknamed the 'Triple Axe Attack' for pioneering the use of a 3-guitar line-up in heavy metal...
in 2006.
Answering the demand of the fan base, affectionately referred to by the band as the Crimson Militia, Drenning reunited all the original members: vocalist Midnight, guitarist Ben Jackson, bassist Jeff Lords and after much secrecy and to the delight of the fans, drummer Dana Burnell. A surprising addition has been the inclusion of former Astronomica tour drummer Jesse Rojas, now backing up the group in live performances on percussion and some lead vocal work. The band signed with Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records was an independent record label based in Greece that specialized in metal. After licensing an amount of new artists, Black Lotus Records surprised the scene by suddenly filing for bankruptcy and all announced titles are on hold indefinitely....
for a new DVD of the 1989 Bradenton concert, as well as a re-release of the two first albums (Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records was an independent record label based in Greece that specialized in metal. After licensing an amount of new artists, Black Lotus Records surprised the scene by suddenly filing for bankruptcy and all announced titles are on hold indefinitely....
has since gone under and the material was never released). Sadly, the reunion was not to last. In late January 2007, citing personal differences, Crimson Glory once more parted ways with singer Midnight. After Midnight's dismissal, former vocalist Wade Black was brought back into the fold, but the band has since only played three shows. Following Black Lotus's bankruptcy, they quietly went on indefinite hiatus, with Jon Drenning's decision to return to community college to pursue a career in radiography having some bearing on this.
Death of Midnight and recent activities (2009–present)
In hospital with family, friends and bandmates by his side, former singer Midnight died of a stomach aneurysm at 3:30am on July 8, 2009 (Jon Drenning has clarified this fact in a video interview). In memory of their fallen friend and bandmate, Midnight, the band played a tribute show, headlining 2009's ProgPower in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. The show featured many special guest vocalists, including a then-unknown Todd La Torre, who had no previous knowledge of the group, nor of Midnight. Thanks to the prompting of Jon Oliva's Pain guitarist, Matt LaPorte, and the band needing a vocalist for rehearsals when Wade Black was unable to attend, Todd La Torre found himself learning the material in his car driving to rehearsal and singing well enough to make an impression on the band. He was a last-minute addition to the roster of guest vocalists at ProgPower X.
In April 2010, the band formally announced Todd La Torre as their new singer. La Torre made his first public appearance as a full-time member of Crimson Glory at the Pathfinder Metal Fest in Marietta, Georgia on Oct. 30, 2010. A drummer for 22 years in various hard rock and heavy metal bands in the Tampa Bay area, he is influenced vocally by the likes of Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson and Geoff Tate. La Torre has proven he can sing like, and keep pace with, his inspirations - which now include his predecessor, Midnight.
April 2011 saw the band touring Europe to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their first album.
Albums
- Crimson GloryCrimson Glory (album)Crimson Glory is the eponymous debut album by Florida heavy metal band Crimson Glory, released in 1986 via Roadrunner Records.-Track listing:All tracks by Jon Drenning, Jeff Lords and MidnightSide A# "Valhalla" – 3:46# "Dragon Lady" – 4:21...
(1986) - Transcendence (1988)
- Strange and BeautifulStrange and Beautiful (album)Strange and Beautiful is the third album from progressive metal band Crimson Glory. Initially released in 1991, it was the first album after the departure of guitarist Ben Jackson and drummer Dana Burnell. The record was also their first, and last, for new label, Atlantic Records...
(1991) - AstronomicaAstronomica (album)Astronomica is the fourth album by the American progressive metal band Crimson Glory, released in 1999 via Spitfire Records and Rising Sun . After a long hiatus following their less-than-successful album Strange and Beautiful, the band reformed with Wade Black on vocals and Steve Wacholz on drums...
(1999)
Singles
- Dream Dancer (1986)
- Lady of Winter (1988)
- Lonely (1988)
- Song For Angels (1991)
- The Chant (1991)
Current Line-up
- Todd La Torre - Vocals (2010–present)
- Jon Drenning - Lead Guitar (1982–present)
- Ben Jackson - Rhythm Guitar (1982–1990, 1999–present)
- Jeff Lords - Bass (1982–present)
- Dana Burnell - Drums (1986–1989, 2005–present)
Former members
- Wade Black - Vocals (1999–2000, 2007–2010)
- Midnight - Vocals (1986–1991, 2005–2007)
- Ravi Jakhotia (now known as DJ Ravi DrumsDJ Ravi DrumsRavi Jakhotia, who performs as DJ Ravi Drums, is a private party DJ and drummer. He was the music director and drummer on the 2009 NBC TV series Howie Do It.-As Ravi Jakhotia:...
)- Drums (1991–1992) - Steve Wacholz - Drums (1999) Formerly of SavatageSavatageSavatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...
. (Although pictured in the "Astronomica" album, he did not play on it, nor did he tour with the band.) - Jesse "Martillo" Rojas - Drums (2000) ["Astronomica" touring member], Percussion and Vocals (2006–2007) [touring member]
- John Zahner - Keyboards (1989, 2011–present ) ["Transcendence" and current touring member, co-writing credit on the song "Lonely".]
- David Van Landing - Vocals (1991–1992) ["Strange and Beautiful" touring member, replacing Midnight; contributed backing vocals on "Astronomica".]