Before there was Zakk Wylde and Gus G. and following the tragic death of Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee was Ozzy Osbourne’s axe man. When the world lost guitar giant Randy Rhoads in 1982 there was a huge hole in the guitar community. Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis and Atomic Rooster’s Bernie Torme each had a brief tenure on the road with Ozzy, Jake E. Lee was chosen to be Rhoads’ replacement. Lee recorded and toured with Ozzy on Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin and formed the band Badlands after being replaced by Wylde. In 2013 Lee formed a new band Red Dragon Cartel which released their debut self-titled album in 2014. Now in 2019, Red Dragon Cartel is touring on their second release Patina, released last year. The band stopped at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA on Thursday, Feb. 28.
Red Dragon Cartel consists of Lee, front-man Darren Smith (Harem Scarem), drummer Phil Varone (Skid Row) and bassist Anthony Esposito (Lynch Mob). The set consisted of almost all Red Dragon Cartel songs with the only Ozzy song being “Spiders In the Night,” and two Badlands songs “3 Days Funk” and “High Wire.” From Red Dragon Cartel’s two albums a few songs performed were “Wasted,” “Bitter,” and “Feeder.” Whether you’re on Ozzy Badlands or a Jake E Lee fan overall, you won’t want to miss this show.
Red Dragon Cartel’s tour runs through April 2 ending in Queens, NY at Blackhorn 51.
