Night Ranger consists of Brad Gillis (guitarist), Jack Blades (vocalist, bassist), Jeff Watson (guitarist), Kelly Keagy (percussionist, drummer).
Night Ranger, a rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1981. The quintet are most known for the power-ballad "Sister Christian," which peaked at #5 in early 1984. The group's nucleus formed in Rubicon, a pop group led by Jerry Martini of Sly and the Family Stone fame. After Rubicon's demise in 1979, bassist Jack Blades (b. 1954) formed a hard rock trio with drummer Kelly Keagy (b. 1952) and guitarist Brad Gillis (b. 1957). Performing under the name Stereo, the threesome later added keyboardist Alan "Fitz" Fitzgerald (b. 1949), a former member of Montrose and the Sammy Hagar group. Fitz soon recommended enlisting a second virtuoso guitarist, Jeff Watson (b. 1956), who led his own band in Northern California. The seeds were sown for a new melodic hard rock band, initially called simply Ranger.
In 1982, the band subsequently changed its name to Night Ranger after a country band, The Rangers, claimed a trademark infringement. By this point, they had recorded "Dawn Patrol" for Boardwalk Records, opening for ZZ Top and Ozzy Osbourne; the latter performer employed Brad Gillis as an alternate guitarist for the recently deceased Randy Rhoads. When Boardwalk folded under, producer Bruce Bird secured Night Ranger a deal with MCA Camel in 1983.
The band's modest hit single, "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," received a boost through its MTV video airplay and managed to peak at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Jack Blades' puppy-dog appeal seemed to win over female fans, while Gillis and Watson's duelling guitars pleased the same male audience that guitar-driven bands such as Van Halen had already begun to cultivate. Their first albums struck a balance between hard rockers ladened with sexual innuendo, and accessible pop ballads to guarantee airplay.
