Night Ranger is an American hard rock band from San Francisco, California. Formed in 1979 under the name "Stereo", the group was originally a trio composed of former Rubicon members Jack Blades (bass, lead vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, lead vocals) and Brad Gillis (guitar, backing vocals). In 1980, the group expanded to a five-piece with the addition of keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald and second guitarist Jeff Watson, as well as changing its name to "Ranger" and later Night Ranger. After four commercially successful albums, the band experienced its first lineup change in early 1988 when Fitzgerald left prior to the recording of Man in Motion. Jesse Bradman, one of the substitute performers on the album, subsequently joined the group full-time. After Blades announced his departure, Night Ranger officially broke up in April 1989.

Two years after disbanding, Night Ranger was reformed by Keagy and Gillis, who recruited Gary Moon as the replacement for Blades. In 1993, David Zajicek joined the band as touring guitarist and keyboardist. Following the release and touring of Feeding off the Mojo, Blades, Watson and Fitzgerald all returned to mark a reunion of the original five-piece lineup of Night Ranger, after being invited to tour Japan. Two more studio albums followed, before Fitzgerald was replaced in 2003 by Michael Lardie of Great White. Watson also left in April 2007, with Whitesnake's Reb Beach taking his place for subsequent tour dates. Following a Japanese tour shortly after Beach's arrival, Lardie was replaced by Christian Matthew Cullen. In January 2008, Joel Hoekstra joined the band full-time, as Beach returned to Whitesnake.

Following the addition of Hoekstra, the Night Ranger lineup remained stable for three years, until Eric Levy replaced Cullen on keyboards in March 2011. Hoekstra remained for two studio albums and one live release, before it was announced in August 2014 that he was leaving to join Beach in Whitesnake. He was soon replaced by Keri Kelli, who had previously substituted for Hoekstra during shows in 2012 and 2013.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsKelly Keagyall Night Ranger releasesBrad GillisJack Bladesall Night Ranger releases, except Feeding off the Mojo (1995)Eric Levy2011–presentall Night Ranger releases from Somewhere in California (2011) onwardsKeri Kelli2014–present

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJeff Watsonall releases from Dawn Patrol (1982) to Live in Japan (1990), and from Neverland (1997) to Hole in the Sun (2007)Alan Fitzgeraldall releases from Dawn Patrol (1982) to Big Life (1987), and from Neverland (1997) to Seven (1998)Jesse Bradman1988–1989Gary Moon1991–1996Feeding off the Mojo (1995)Michael Lardie2003–2007Christian Matthew Cullen2007–2011noneJoel Hoekstra2008–2014

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsDavid Zajicek1993–1996Zajicek joined Night Ranger's touring lineup in 1993, as well as contributing guitar to Feeding off the Mojo.Reb Beach2007–2008After Watson was fired, Beach replaced him in the band for 2007 dates, appearing on Rockin' Shibuya 2007.Deen CastronovoCastronovo substituted for Keagy in 2011, and again during 2017 after the drummer had a heart operation.Brandon Ethridge2012Ethridge substituted for Levy for one show on September 1, 2012, as his wife was giving birth.Fred Coury2017drumsCoury substituted for Keagy alongside Castronovo, while the regular drummer was recovering from surgery.

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1979–1980Jack Blades – bass, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocalsnone 1980Jack Blades – bass, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Alan Fitzgerald – keyboards, backing vocals1980 – early 1988Jack Blades – bass, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Watson – guitar, backing vocals Alan Fitzgerald – keyboards, backing vocalsDawn Patrol (1982) Midnight Madness (1983) Japan Tour '83 (1984) 7 Wishes (1985) 7 Wishes Tour (1986) Big Life (1987)Early – mid-1988Jack Blades – bass, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Watson – guitar, keyboards, backing vocalsMan in Motion (1988)Late 1988 – April 1989Jack Blades – bass, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Watson – guitar, backing vocals Jesse Bradman – keyboards, backing vocalsLive in Japan (1990)Band inactive April 1989 – mid-1991Mid-1991 – mid-1996Gary Moon – bass, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocalsFeeding off the Mojo (1995)June 1996 – early 2003Jack Blades – bass, guitar, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Watson – guitar, backing vocals Alan Fitzgerald – keyboards, backing vocalsNeverland (1997) Rock in Japan '97 (1997) Seven (1998)Early 2003 – April 2007Jack Blades – bass, guitar, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Watson – guitar, backing vocals Michael Lardie – keyboards, backing vocalsHole in the Sun (2007)April – June 2007Jack Blades – bass, guitar, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Reb Beach – guitar, backing vocals Michael Lardie – keyboards, backing vocalsRockin' Shibuya 2007 (2008)June 2007 – January 2008Jack Blades – bass, guitar, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Reb Beach – guitar, backing vocals Christian M. Cullen – keyboards, backing vocalsnone January 2008 – March 2011Jack Blades – bass, guitar, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Joel Hoekstra – guitar, backing vocals Christian M. Cullen – keyboards, backing vocalsMarch 2011 – August 2014Jack Blades – bass, guitar, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Joel Hoekstra – guitar, backing vocals Eric Levy – keyboards, backing vocalsSomewhere in California (2011) 24 Strings and a Drummer (2012) High Road (2014)September 2014 – presentJack Blades – bass, guitar, lead vocals Kelly Keagy – drums, percussion, lead vocals Brad Gillis – guitar, backing vocals Keri Kelli – guitar, backing vocals Eric Levy – keyboards, backing vocals35 Years and a Night in Chicago (2016) Don't Let Up (2017) ATBPO (2021)

References

External links Night Ranger official website