Badlands - Live in California 1989

Here's a gift! Picture it, California: 1989. Badlands are on stage and this video captures the entire show in all its glory. This show took place on September 9, 1989 at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountainview, Calif. Ray Gillen was on fire here. Just watch and enjoy (but you need at least 45 minutes, so plan accordingly!)

Comments

[Kris]

Oh, how I wish that Gillen had been more careful with himself and others. What a loss of talent! His vocals are spot on in any of the live footage I've ever watched.

[Kixchix]

Sick band. Ahead of their times. I was hoping Jakes RDC would be Badlands 2.0. It obviously was not. Don’t have 45 minutes? Just listen to the opening riff at the 42:15 mark.

[fletch]

From what I've read in various articles, Ray Gillen wasn't (and I mean no offense), your "traditional", rock star "drug addict". Reportedly, he dabbled in drugs here and there, but not to excess.

He did, however, have a "cool uncle" who was not only gay, but belonged to a biker gang and an intravenous heroin user. Reportedly, Ray was hanging out with his uncle in his later teens and was offered Heroin. He agreed just to try it and because he trusted his beloved uncle. Unbeknownst to Ray (and the uncle at the time), the uncle was HIV+. The uncle fixed a needle for for Ray, which subsequently gave him HIV and he subsequently died of AIDS.

Interestingly, members of Badlands and Black Sabbath have said that he was hired in their bands because he wasn't a drug user/addict and the musicians in those bands were tired of dealing with the toxicity of band members with drug problems.

[JCD]

I saw Badlands open for Tesla and Great White on a co-headlining tour in "89. That was a great concert, all of the bands were in their prime on that tour. A wonderful year for rock and roll.

[Jack T Ripper]

Pure awesomeness!!!!!

[Badland]

Oh yeah!

[Badland]

Peter Criss on the drums

[SparkyDR99]

I'm watching this right now. Thank you for posting. I saw the band on the same tour JCD did. I remember Eric playing the intro to "Hard Driver" for a good minute solo while while each band member took the stage. It was still daylight at a waterfront outdoor shed in NYC. What a great night.

I was able to see Jake and Greg play a few Badlands songs with RDC about 5 years ago at M3, but this is the sh*t! Happy holidays.