Sun Red Sun
Encyclopedia
Sun Red Sun was an American heavy metal supergroup
active from 1992–1993. It featured former Rondinelli bandmates Ray Gillen
and Bobby Rondinelli
.
after his split from former Anthrax
lead singer Joey Belladonna
's eponymous solo band. Sun Red Sun consisted of Romano on guitar, former Badlands and Black Sabbath
singer Ray Gillen
, Alice In Chains
bassist Mike Starr
, and Bobby Rondinelli
(formerly of Rainbow
and Black Sabbath, and later of Blue Öyster Cult
) on drums. Gillen named the band after a Badlands song.
Their self-titled debut album
was recorded at Jimi Hendrix
's Electric Lady Studio in New York City
and produced by Romano and Lief Mases, who had produced albums for Led Zeppelin
, Jimmy Page
, Jeff Beck
, and Black Sabbath. The album also featured guest appearances from Gillan bassist John McCoy
, Chris Caffery
of Savatage
and Trans-Siberian Orchestra
, John West on vocals and Mike Sciotto on drums.
Gillen died of AIDS
-related causes on December 1, 1993, and the band split up shortly thereafter, following the completion of their final recordings with Badlands vocalist John West. Three further Sun Red Sun releases emerged – Lost Tracks, Ray Gillen Tribute, and a 3-CD boxed set entitled Sunset. The Sun Red Sun album was also released in the U.K. on Angel Air records.
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
active from 1992–1993. It featured former Rondinelli bandmates Ray Gillen
Ray Gillen
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....
and 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:...
.
History
The group was formed by Al B. RomanoAl B. Romano
Al B. Romano, born April 23, 1965 in Yonkers, New York is a musician. At age 14 he was taught guitar by Leslie West of Mountain.-Musical career:...
after his split from former Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
lead singer Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
's eponymous solo band. Sun Red Sun consisted of Romano on guitar, former Badlands and 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...
singer Ray Gillen
Ray Gillen
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....
, Alice In Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
bassist Mike Starr
Mike Starr (musician)
Michael Christopher "Mike" Starr was an American musician, best known as the original bassist in Alice in Chains, with whom he played from the band's formation in 1987 until 1993.- Career :...
, and 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:...
(formerly of Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
and Black Sabbath, and later of Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
) on drums. Gillen named the band after a Badlands song.
Their self-titled debut album
Sun Red Sun (album)
Sun Red Sun is the self-titled debut album of the short-lived heavy metal group from the 1990s. It came two years after lead singer Ray Gillen died from AIDS-related complications...
was recorded at Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
's Electric Lady Studio in 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...
and produced by Romano and Lief Mases, who had produced albums for Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, and Black Sabbath. The album also featured guest appearances from Gillan bassist John McCoy
John McCoy (musician)
John McCoy is a British bass guitarist who is best known for his work with Ian Gillan and Mammoth as well as numerous other bands and sessions since the late 1960s. He currently plays in British rock trio Guy McCoy Torme with former Gillan/Ozzy guitarist Bernie Torme and Bruce Dickinson/Sack Trick...
, Chris Caffery
Chris Caffery
Chris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra...
of 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 :...
and Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra is an American progressive metal band founded in 1993 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team. Since then, TSO sold nearly 8...
, John West on vocals and Mike Sciotto on drums.
Gillen died of 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 causes on December 1, 1993, and the band split up shortly thereafter, following the completion of their final recordings with Badlands vocalist John West. Three further Sun Red Sun releases emerged – Lost Tracks, Ray Gillen Tribute, and a 3-CD boxed set entitled Sunset. The Sun Red Sun album was also released in the U.K. on Angel Air records.
Members
- Ray GillenRay GillenRaymond 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....
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Al B. RomanoAl B. RomanoAl B. Romano, born April 23, 1965 in Yonkers, New York is a musician. At age 14 he was taught guitar by Leslie West of Mountain.-Musical career:...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Mike StarrMike Starr (musician)Michael Christopher "Mike" Starr was an American musician, best known as the original bassist in Alice in Chains, with whom he played from the band's formation in 1987 until 1993.- Career :...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Bobby RondinelliBobby RondinelliBobby 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:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Discography
- Sun Red SunSun Red Sun (album)Sun Red Sun is the self-titled debut album of the short-lived heavy metal group from the 1990s. It came two years after lead singer Ray Gillen died from AIDS-related complications...
(1995) - Lost Tracks (1999)
- Sunset (2000)