Californian Rock outfit BADLANDS was the vehicle for former OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist extraordinaire JAKE E. LEE to exorcise some Blues demons. BADLANDS was to release a brace of finely crafted Rock albums of the old school but, much to the disappointment of a hardened cadre of fans expecting much more, fell apart before any tangible success.

The band line-up comprised Lee, former BLACK SABBATH men vocalist RAY GILLEN and drummer Eric Singer together with ex-GHOST RIDE, SURGICAL STEEL and STEELER bassist Greg Chaisson. Immediately before BADLANDS, Chaisson had been a founder member of BRITTON. The bassist had encountered Lee earlier when trying out for a position with the guitarist's former employer OZZY OSBOURNE.

Whilst Eric Singer had also played with LITA FORD and GARY MOORE previously, Gillen had recently been working with ex-THIN LIZZY and WHITESNAKE guitarist JOHN SYKES's BLUE MURDER project that had, at one time, also been fronted by ex-KING KOBRA singer MARK FREE. Originally the intention was to include another former BLACK SABBATH man, bassist Dave 'The Beast' Spitz, but this union never gelled.

Whilst Free had quickly established that the project was not for him, Gillen stayed slightly longer but was ousted from the band due to record company pressure. He became involved with BADLANDS after Lee had told Eric Singer that he was on the look out for a vocalist. Singer initially played drums with the fledgling group as a favour to Gillen, but as the project became more substantial the drummer signed up on a full-time basis. Singer would also spend many months working up album demos for THE CULT. He would be invited to join THE CULT by producer Bob Rock but declined due to BADLANDS securing of a major record contract.

Taking their cue from 70's Blues Rock outfits, the quartet recorded debut product with SAVATAGE producer Paul O' Neill and engaged David Thoener at the mixing stage. The self-titled debut was released through 'Hit Parader' editor Andy Secher's Atlantic affiliated Titanium label in May 1989.

By 1990 Singer had opted out to join the ALICE COOPER band before forming a more permanent liaison with KISS. His position in BADLANDS was taken by former RACER X vocalist Jeff Martin. BADLANDS set to work on a third album but has this effort shelved. It would soon leak into bootleg trading circles billed as 'Tribal Moon'. (It would see a subsequent official release in Japan during December of 1998 entitled 'Dusk').

British shows in mid 1992 had Lee announcing that Gillen was out of the band and that black female vocalist Debbie Holiday had already usurped his position. However, such was the outcry that the band was forced to reinstate their original frontman. Once back in Los Angeles, Lee attempted to lure ROB LAMOTHE away from the RIVERDOGS but this offer was rejected. In his stead, the guitarist drafted in vocalist JOHN WEST. This version of BADLANDS lasted about six months before West opted out. The singer joined the MICHAEL LEE FIRKINS BAND, worked with COZY POWELL then created ARTENSION. Sadly RAY GILLEN, who had been working on a SUN RED SUN album project, succumbed to an AIDS related illness and died in December of 1993.

Martin became the drummer for PAUL GILBERT's live band then teamed up with Progressive Metal band BLACK SYMPHONY. Martin rejoined RACER X for their 'Technical Difficulties'. By 2000 Martin found himself behind the drum kit for UFO's European tour.

GREG CHAISSON would later play in covers band THE RELICS. The man has also issued a 1995 solo Christian Rock album 'It's About Time' which features his erstwhile BADLANDS colleague Eric Singer on drums. March of 2004 had Jeff Martin back behind the drums on a nationwide tour, this time backing ex-DOKKEN guitarist GEORGE LYNCH. That very same month he was also announced to have become the new singer for resurrected Rockers LEATHERWOLF.

In 2005 BADLANDS was given national US exposure when 'American Idol' finalist Bo Rice performed an acoustic version of the ballad 'In A Dream' off the 1991 release 'Voodoo Highway'. JEFF MARTIN issued his debut solo album, 'Fool', in April 2006.