Night Ranger

The Profile

Night Ranger are an American hard rock band formed in San Francisco in 1979 by Jack Blades, Kelly Keagy, and Brad Gillis. They broke through with 1983’s Midnight Madness and the power ballad “Sister Christian,” and have continued to tour and record, including the comeback-era album Hole in the Sun (2007).

Founding core: Jack Blades (bass/vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums/vocals), Brad Gillis (guitar); classic lineup also included Alan Fitzgerald (keyboards) and Jeff Watson (guitar). Brad Gillis filled in for Ozzy Osbourne after Randy Rhoads’s death and appears on the live album “Speak of the Devil.” Key albums highlighted in reviews: Dawn Patrol (1982), Midnight Madness (1983), and the Greatest Hits (1989) set featuring “Sister Christian,” “(You Can Still) Rock in America,” and “When You Close Your Eyes.”

Two positive reviews spotlight Night Ranger’s 80s heyday, praising Midnight Madness and the punchy Greatest Hits set. Emphasis falls on big choruses, glossy hard/glam rock textures, and the enduring pull of Sister Christian. Lineup history and side notes (like Brad Gillis’s Ozzy stint) round out a quick primer.