BURNING RAIN

BURNING RAIN
The Lineage and Evolution of the Authentic School in the Modern Hard Rock Scene

1. The Resurgence of Hard Rock in Late-Century Los Angeles

The music scene in Los Angeles during the late 1990s was an era when the frenzy of the once-flourishing "hair metal" and "glam metal" had passed, and existing hard rock bands faced an existential crisis due to the rise of grunge and alternative rock. While many guitarists and vocalists were searching for their styles or being forced to withdraw from the music industry, a movement was emerging beneath the surface to stubbornly defend and reconstruct the traditions of 1970s British hard rock—namely, blues-rooted emotional guitar work, soulful and powerful vocals, and a heavy groove—with a modern interpretation. The purest and most powerful crystallization of this movement was BURNING RAIN.

At the core of this band are guitarist Doug Aldrich, who had garnered immense support in the Japanese market through his work with Lion and Bad Moon Rising, and talented vocalist Keith St. John, known for his activities with Montrose. The formation of BURNING RAIN can be described as an important milestone for inheriting the "royal road" built by giants such as Led Zeppelin, Whitesnake, and Deep Purple during the chaotic era of the end of the century, and connecting it to the next generation.

2. Eve of Formation: Until Different Paths Crossed

2.1 Doug Aldrich's Early Career and Bond with Japan

The name of Doug Aldrich became widely known in the hard rock world dating back to his activities with Lion, formed in the mid-1980s. Lion, which operated alongside charismatic vocalist Kal Swan, achieved milestones such as providing the theme song for the movie "The Transformers," but above all, they received enthusiastic support from Japanese hard rock fans, particularly those who loved "guitar heroes."

His playing style was a fusion of passionate bending reminiscent of Gary Moore and structured, beautiful legato phrases showing the influence of Randy Rhoads, earning him a reputation as a "melodic technician" who stood out amidst the "shred guitar boom" of the time.

After the dissolution of Lion, Doug Aldrich participated in Hurricane and House of Lords before teaming up with Kal Swan again to form Bad Moon Rising. This band focused more on activities in Japan and Europe rather than commercial success in their home country, the United States, where the grunge boom was raging. Their popularity in Japan was especially immense; they frequently performed live in Japan, deepening their bond with Japanese fans. However, when Bad Moon Rising dissolved in 1998, Doug Aldrich began searching for a new partner with whom he could more purely pursue his musical roots of "blues hard rock."

2.2 The Rise of Keith St. John

Meanwhile, Keith St. John's talent was discovered by the legendary American hard rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose, and he built his career as the frontman of Montrose. His vocal style combined energetic shouting like Sammy Hagar with a bluesy depth reminiscent of Paul Rodgers and David Coverdale, leaving no doubt about his qualifications as an authentic hard rock singer.

Keith St. John always held the belief of "singing for the song," placing more emphasis on amplifying the emotion and groove of the track rather than showing off technique. This attitude strongly resonated with Doug Aldrich's aesthetic of making guitar solos function organically as part of the song.

3. Biography: The Trajectory of Fire and Rain

3.1 A Fateful Encounter and the Start of the Band (1998)

In 1998, shortly after the dissolution of Bad Moon Rising, Doug Aldrich met Keith St. John through an introduction by a mutual acquaintance, bassist Ian Mayo (ex-Hericane Alice, Bangalore Choir). Ian Mayo was involved with both musicians in separate projects at the time and was reportedly convinced that their musical directions would match perfectly.

Keith St. John later recalled this encounter in an interview: "Ian brought the two of us together. He said, 'You two absolutely have to meet.' We talked on the phone, met up, and immediately made about 3 or 4 demo tracks. After that, contract talks with Japan's Pony Canyon moved forward in no time."

This episode clearly illustrates how much Japanese record companies at the time were paying attention to Doug Aldrich's movements, and how high-quality their demo tapes were. The band was named "BURNING RAIN." This symbolized the duality of BURNING RAIN's music: "intensity (Burning)" and "melancholy (Rain)."

Initial Lineup:

• Doug Aldrich: Guitars
• Keith St. John: Vocals
• Ian Mayo: Bass
• Alex Makarovich: Drums (ex-Steelheart)

Drummer Alex Makarovich had showcased his busy, technical yet powerful drumming on works such as "Tangled in Reins" during his Steelheart days, making him a rare presence capable of giving shape to the aggressive rhythm Doug Aldrich sought.

3.2 Impactful Debut Album "Burning Rain" (1999)

In 1999, the debut album "Burning Rain" was released. In Japan, it was released ahead of time by Pony Canyon on March 3, and in Europe, it was released by Z Records. This album paid no attention whatsoever to trends like down-tuning or rap metal that were sweeping the world at the time; it was a masterpiece filled with sophisticated melodies and technical performances reminiscent of 1980s Whitesnake and Blue Murder.

In particular, the drive seen in opening numbers like "Smooth Locomotion" and "Superstar Train," as well as the lyricism shown in the ballad "Heaven's Garden," greatly exceeded the expectations of Japanese fans. Furthermore, it became standard for the Japanese edition to include bonus tracks, which contributed to fostering a sense of "exclusivity" for Japanese fans.

3.3 Evolution and Deepening: "Pleasure to Burn" (2000)

Following the success of their debut work, the band immediately set to work on their next release. The second album, "Pleasure to Burn," released in 2000, was an extension of the previous work but became a piece that strengthened heavier, darker, and bluesier tones.

The range of songs expanded greatly, from tracks with neoclassical high-speed riffs like "Fireball" to catchy anthems like "Cherie Don't Break My Heart."

Around this time, Doug Aldrich's guitar sound was reaching completion. The tone produced from his beloved Gibson Les Paul Goldtop and modified Marshall amplifiers was thick, sustaining, and faithfully reproduced picking nuances, becoming an object of admiration for many guitar kids.

However, after the release of this second album, the band faced a major turning point. Doug Aldrich's overwhelming talent caught the attention of the "gods" of the hard rock world.

3.4 Contributions to Giants and Hiatus (2001–2012)

In 2001, Doug Aldrich was selected as the guitarist for Dio, led by the godfather of heavy metal, Ronnie James Dio. His participation in the album "Killing the Dragon" and his subsequent tour performances made his name global. Furthermore, in 2003, he received a direct offer from David Coverdale, who formerly led Whitesnake, and joined the reunited Whitesnake.

In Whitesnake, Doug Aldrich did not stop at being a mere guitarist but played a core role in the band as David Coverdale's songwriting partner. His contributions to works like the albums "Good to Be Bad" and "Forevermore" were immeasurable, and he joined the ranks of the world's top guitarists in both name and reality.

Meanwhile, Keith St. John was also steadily building his career, performing with Montrose, acting as a touring vocalist for Lynch Mob, and participating in Kingdom Come.

Because these two main members were fully occupied with their respective big projects, BURNING RAIN's activities entered a de facto frozen state (hiatus). However, the friendship and trust between the two never broke, and they continued to publicly state in interviews that they would "definitely get the band moving someday." This period of "long shelter from the rain" was precisely the time when they accumulated explosive energy for their later comeback work.

3.5 Signals of a Comeback: "Epic Obsession" (2013)

In 2013, as his activities with Whitesnake settled down and his desire to express his creativity in his own band grew, Doug Aldrich decided to restart BURNING RAIN. For the production of their third album "Epic Obsession," their first in 13 years, the rhythm section was completely renewed.

• Sean McNabb: Bass (ex-Dokken, Great White)
• Matt Starr: Drums (ex-Ace Frehley)

Produced with this powerful lineup, "Epic Obsession" signed with Italy's Frontiers Records, achieving a global release. The album also included a cover of Led Zeppelin's classic song "Kashmir" (as a bonus track, etc.), which is one of BURNING RAIN's musical roots, clearly showing the band's direction. Doug Aldrich's guitar became more expressive, Keith St. John's vocals gained depth, and the album received high praise as a work exuding the presence unique to veterans.

3.6 A New Golden Age: "Face the Music" (2019–Present)

After leaving Whitesnake in 2014, Doug Aldrich actively engaged in activities with supergroups such as The Dead Daisies and Revolution Saints, but returned to BURNING RAIN once again in 2018.

Another lineup change for the rhythm section took place this time, but the faces were even more luxurious.

• Brad Lang: Bass (ex-Y&T)
• Blas Elias: Drums (ex-Slaughter)

The addition of Blas Elias, the original drummer of Slaughter who made a huge breakthrough in the early 1990s, and Brad Lang, who supported West Coast hard rock giants Y&T, brought an "arena rock" sense of scale and glamour to the band.

Thus, the fourth album "Face the Music," released in 2019, became an extremely pure blues hard rock album born from BURNING RAIN truly facing their own music, just as the title implies. The groove seen in the lead singles "Midnight Train" and "Face the Music" was more organic than in any of their past works, conveying a strong sense of unity as a band.

As of 2026, the band is still active, and while running parallel with the members' individual projects, the next development is highly anticipated. For Doug Aldrich, BURNING RAIN remains a "place to return to" and an existence that forms the core of his musical identity.

4. Detailed Member Profiles

4.1 Current Members [2019 - Present]

Doug Aldrich - Guitar

• Tenure: 1998–2001, 2013–2014, 2018–Present
• Origin: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
• Equipment Used: Gibson Les Paul, Marshall JMP/JCM800, Suhr Guitars (Whitesnake era)
• Biography Supplement: Started playing guitar at age 11, influenced by Kiss and Deep Purple. After moving to Los Angeles, he joined Lion through an audition. Following the dissolution of Lion, he also worked as a guitar instructor, and his instructional videos gained popularity in Japan as well. His playing style is characterized by pinpoint accurate picking and vibrato that directly expresses emotional ups and downs. During his Whitesnake era, David Coverdale called him by the nickname "Goldielocks," placing total trust in him. In BURNING RAIN, he also takes on the role of producer, constructing the overall sound.

Keith St. John - Vocals

• Tenure: 1998–2001, 2013–2014, 2018–Present
• Related Bands: Montrose, Kingdom Come, Lynch Mob, Raiding the Rock Vault
• Biography Supplement: The stage presence he cultivated through long-standing activities with Ronnie Montrose is spectacular. He is also highly evaluated as an entertainer, appearing in the rock musical show "Raiding the Rock Vault" held in Las Vegas. In terms of lyrics, he chronicles life's struggles, passions, and the subtleties of love in straightforward words, resonating with listeners.

Brad Lang - Bass

• Tenure: 2018–Present
• Related Bands: Y&T, Foreigner, War & Peace
• Biography Supplement: A craftsman bassist who supports the bottom of songs by alternating between fingerpicking and pick-playing. When Y&T's original bassist Phil Kennemore fell ill, he joined the tour as a substitute and later became an official member. His stability is trusted by many musicians.

Blas Elias - Drums

• Tenure: 2018–Present
• Related Bands: Slaughter, Blue Man Group, Trans-Siberian Orchestra
• Biography Supplement: Shot to stardom after Slaughter's debut album "Stick It to Ya" achieved double platinum status. While his flashy performance of thrashing his long hair while drumming is his trademark, he also has experience with the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas, giving him a deep knowledge of percussion in general.

4.2 Past Members

Ian Mayo - Bass

• Tenure: 1999–2001
• Profile Supplement: A key figure in the creation of the band. With Herricane Alice, he made his major debut through Atlantic Records. He also had experience performing as a touring member for Bad Moon Rising alongside Doug Aldrich, sharing an unspoken chemistry.

Alex Makarovich - Drums

• Tenure: 1999–2001
• Profile Supplement: His playing on Steelheart's second album "Tangled in Reins" possessed a level of perfection that could be called a textbook for hard rock drumming.
• In BURNING RAIN's initial two works as well, his busy fills and powerful kick emphasized the aggressive side of the band.

Sean McNabb - Bass

• Tenure: 2013–2014
• Profile Supplement: A handsome bassist who also works as an actor. He has a career spanning crucial L.A. metal bands such as Dokken, Great White, and Quiet Riot.

Matt Starr - Drums

• Tenure: 2013–2014
• Profile Supplement: His recognition in Japan surged after he served as a touring drummer substituting for Mr. Big's Pat Torpey when Torpey was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He also has an established reputation for his backing vocals.

5. Discography

BURNING RAIN's works often feature different tracklists or running orders between the Japanese and international (Europe/US) editions. Here, we clarify those differences while explaining the musical characteristics of each album.

5.1 Studio Albums Analysis

Below is a comparison of the basic data and tracklists of the studio albums.

Track No.	Title (Original)	Writer(s) / Notes
1	Smooth Locomotion	Aldrich, St. John / Signature track
2	Superstar Train	Aldrich, St. John
3	Jungle Queen	Aldrich, St. John
4	Making My Heart Beat	Aldrich, St. John
5	Fool No More	Aldrich, St. John
6	Cherry Grove	Aldrich, St. John
7	Can't Cure The Fire	Aldrich, St. John
8	Can't Turn Your Back On Love	Aldrich, St. John
9	Heaven's Garden	Aldrich, St. John / Renowned ballad
10	Tokyo Rising	Aldrich, St. John / A song showing respect to Japan
11	Seasons Of Autumn	Aldrich, St. John
Bonus	Smooth Locomotion (Acoustic)	2013 Reissue / Some Japan Editions
Bonus	Can't Turn Your Back on Love (Acoustic)	2013 Reissue

Insight: The inclusion of "Tokyo Rising" is infused with gratitude toward Japanese fans since the Bad Moon Rising era, demonstrating from the very start of their debut that BURNING RAIN placed clear emphasis on the Japanese market.

Track No.	Title (Original)	Notes
1	Fireball	High-speed hard rock tune
2	Love Emotion
3	Stone Cold n' Crazy
4	Cherie Don't Break My Heart	Features a catchy chorus
5	Shot Down
6	Love De Jour
7	Faithfully Yours
8	Sex Machine	Funky groove
9	Metal Superman
10	Judgement Day
11	Devil Money
Bonus	Live for That Rush (Demo)	2023 Reissue Bonus
Bonus	Cherie Don't Break My Heart (Acoustic)	2013 Reissue Bonus

Region Note: In some pressings of Europe's Z Records edition, versions exist where the running order is vastly jumbled (e.g., "Sex Machine" as track 2, etc.), but the original order intended by the artists is considered to be that of the Japanese edition.

1. Sweet Little Baby Thing
2. The Cure
3. Till You Die
4. Heaven Gets Me By
5. Pray Out Loud
6. Our Time Is Gonna Come
7. Too Hard To Break
8. My Lust Your Fate
9. Made For Your Heart
10. Ride The Monkey
11. Out In The Cold Again
12. When Can I Believe In Love

Bonus Tracks Variations:

Edition	Bonus Track Title	Japanese Title
Japan	Fell Outta Love (Demo)	Fell Outta Love (Demo)
Japan	Made For Your Heart (Candlelight Version)	Made For Your Heart (Candlelight Version)
Japan	When Can I Believe In Love (Acoustic)	When Can I Believe In Love (Acoustic)
Int'l	Kashmir	Kashmir

Insight: The Japanese edition received exceptional treatment with as many as three bonus tracks included, which is proof of how significantly the Japanese market was valued. Meanwhile, the international edition's bonus, "Kashmir" (a Led Zeppelin cover), is a crucial take that directly indicates BURNING RAIN's musical roots.

1. Revolution
2. Lorelei
3. Nasty Hustle
4. Midnight Train
5. Shelter
6. Face The Music
7. Beautiful Road
8. Hit And Run
9. If It's Love
10. Hideaway
11. Since I'm Loving You

Bonus Track (Japan):
• Shelter (Acoustic Version)

Insight: The distributor in Japan changed from Warner to Marquee / Avalon, highly renowned as a hard rock/heavy metal specialty label. This allowed for reaching a more core fan base.

5.2 Singles & Compilations

• My Lust Your Fate (2013) - Digital Single
• Midnight Train (2019) - Digital Single / Music Video
• If It's Love (2019) - Digital Single
• Face the Music (2019) - Digital Single

6. Reception and Evaluation in the Japanese Market

6.1 The Context of "Big in Japan" and the Role of Burrn! Magazine

BURNING RAIN is one of the bands in the lineage of so-called "Big in Japan" (foreign artists who are particularly popular in Japan). The existence of the Japanese hard rock specialty magazine Burrn! is heavily involved in this. Even during the 1990s when the grunge whirlwind was raging in the United States, the magazine continued to advocate for melodious hard rock.

Doug Aldrich had been an idol-like figure since his Lion days, even gracing the cover of the magazine, and just being his new band made it a huge topic. Interview articles were frequently published, and they consistently scored high marks in album reviews. For instance, there are records of them receiving exceptional treatment, such as editorial staff traveling all the way overseas (such as to New York) at the time of an album release to conduct interviews.

6.2 Characteristics of the Fan Base

Japanese fans deeply love Doug Aldrich's "crying guitar" and Keith St. John's "passionate vocals." Furthermore, the sincere attitude BURNING RAIN shows during their Japan tours and their respect for Japanese culture (producing songs like "Tokyo Rising") are also factors in maintaining a highly loyal fan base over many years.

When "Face the Music" was released in 2019, a Japan-first release took place, and it was grandly displayed at major CD shops like Tower Records and Disk Union. This is a phenomenon unique to the Japanese market where physical media like CDs still hold strong power, and the band takes a strategy fully understanding that.

7. The Unceasing Rain of Passion

The history of BURNING RAIN is a history of sticking to the "hard rock aesthetic" they believed in, without drifting with trends. The partnership between Doug Aldrich, a rare guitar hero, and Keith St. John, a rare frontman, has survived numerous difficulties and hiatuses, being maintained for nearly a quarter of a century.

BURNING RAIN's music holds an extremely vital value today as the legitimate successor to the blues hard rock pioneered by Led Zeppelin and refined by Whitesnake. Especially in Japan, BURNING RAIN's music transcends being mere "foreign music" and serves as a spiritual anchor for fans who adore a certain kind of "stylistic beauty."

Although the members are currently pursuing busy individual careers, the mothership that is BURNING RAIN will likely never vanish. Just as rain cannot extinguish fire, the passion of BURNING RAIN will never burn out.