Red Dragon Cartel welcome back singer Darren James Smith
Red Dragon Cartel welcome back singer Darren James Smith
After lead vocalist Darren James Smith and Red Dragon Cartel parted ways about four and a half months ago, and after what seemed like a revolving doors of what amounted to temporary lead vocalists during that time, Jake E. Lee‘s Red Dragon Cartel have just confirmed the rumours that had been circulating for weeks: “We would officially like to welcome Darren James Smith back to Red Dragon Cartel! He will be reuniting with the band for shows on September 6th and 10th in California followed by a tour of Japan that begins on September 15th! The band will be taking the rest of 2015 off from touring to hit the studio and start recording. The highly anticipated second album from Jake and RDC will be ready for release in the first few months of 2016!!!”
Back in April 2015, Sleaze Roxx interviewed Smith who commented about why he left the band in the first place: “Don’t get me wrong, this was the most exciting rock and roll project I’ve ever been a part of. That was the part of it that was making it difficult to leave, because I really loved singing those songs and I really loved playing in that band — but I’ve always had somewhat of a say in what happened. I knew signing up that that’s the way it was going to be — that was not the issue. You know, I had four months booked for a tour and then a few days before, it’s not happening… and then I’m out of work for months. Contrary to what some people might believe, nobody in rock and roll is guaranteed money (laughs).” Smith also stated: “I mean everybody wants to know the dirt and there really isn’t any.” and “That [writing new material with Lee] was another thing put on the back burner and kept repeatedly. I don’t know what’s happening, whether they’re going to do another record or not. I mean, nobody tells me anything anymore (laughs). As far as I knew, when I was in the band, that wasn’t a priority.”
Red Dragon Cartel‘s self-titled debut album was voted the #16 album of 2014 by Sleaze Roxx Readers and is the only record from a “new” band appearing in the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2014. Sleaze Roxx had the following to state about Red Dragon Cartel‘s self-titled debut record: “There is no formula or pretense here, just well done heavy metal that seems from a long ago age.” and “Red Dragon Cartel is a very strong release that is definitely worthy of purchase — trust me, you won’t be ‘deceived.'”
Red Dragon Cartel – Deceived (Official Video / Jake E. Lee / 2014)
Buy the Red Dragon Cartel album on iTunes: http://georiot.co/2DV9 or Amazon: http://georiot.co/reddragoncartelcd