JAKE E. LEE's RED DRAGON CARTEL Is 'Trying To Stir Things Up A Little Bit' On Second Album

RED DRAGON CARTEL, the band led by former OZZY OSBOURNE and BADLANDS guitarist Jake E. Lee, recently entered Obscenic Arts studio in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania to begin recording its sophomore album for a tentative early 2018 release. Titled "Patina", the follow-up to the group's eponymous 2014 debut will mark RED DRAGON CARTEL's first release with drummer Phil Varone (SAIGON KICK, SKID ROW) and bassist Anthony Esposito. The group's current lineup is rounded out by singer Darren James Smith.

Speaking to That Just Happened, Jake stated about RED DRAGON CARTEL's upcoming album: "There's gonna be a wide variety of sounds and songs on this."

According to the guitarist, fans can expect to hear some surprises on the group's next disc.

"I've said this in interviews before and I really look like an asshole. [Laughs] But my end goal isn't to please people," he said. "And I suppose that is what an entertainer is supposed to do — give people what they want. That's not why I do it, that's not why I've ever done it. I do it for me. And it sounds selfish, but I think that's… You have to be true to yourself.

"I make music that I wanna hear," he continued. "I just hope other people like it also. If they don't… [sighs] Oh, well. [Laughs] If they don't, they don't; they don't have to buy it. But I do think that they should give it a listen. 'Cause it's interesting. We're trying to stir things up a little bit. We're not playing it safe and just doing exactly what people expect."

The bridge section of a new RED DRAGON CARTEL song called "Painted Heart" can be heard in the YouTube clip below.

Back in September 2015, RED DRAGON CARTEL was rejoined by Darren James Smith after a period of several months during which the band played shows with a number of other vocalists, including former JONES STREET frontman Shawn Crosby, Canadian singer Paul D'Eath (CITIZENS UNITE, MUSHROOM TRAIL),Chas West (Jason Bonham, LYNCH MOB, 3 LEGGED DOGG) and Michael Beck.

RED DRAGON CARTEL in March 2015 announced the departure of bassist Greg Chaisson, who exited the group because he could "no longer take any more time away from [his] regular job."

RED DRAGON CARTEL's debut CD sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 69 on The Billboard 200 chart.

RED DRAGON CARTEL's setlist includes original material like the singles "Feeder" and "Deceived", as well as major hits from Jake E. Lee's glorious past: "Bark At The Moon", "The Ultimate Sin" and "Rock 'N' Roll Rebel" (all originally recorded by OZZY OSBOURNE),as well as "Shine On" and "High Wire" (BADLANDS).