Steve Riley (drummer)

Steve Riley (born January 22, 1956) is an American rock drummer, best known for his work with Keel, W.A.S.P., and L.A. Guns.[1]

Steve Riley
Riley performing with L.A. Guns in 2008
Riley performing with L.A. Guns in 2008
Background information
Born (1956-01-22) January 22, 1956
Revere, Massachusetts, US
GenresHard rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
Years active1976–present
LabelsCapitol, Polydor, Shrapnel, Cleopatra

Career

After graduating high school in the 70s, Riley moved to Los Angeles to pursue a music career.[2] In 1979, he joined a revival of Steppenwolf, but the lineup broke up later that year.[3]

Riley joined up-and-coming L.A. band Keel and recorded their breakthrough album The Right to Rock with them in 1984.[4] Later that year, Riley departed Keel to replace founding member Tony Richards in W.A.S.P., another L.A. band whose debut album had recently achieved gold status in sales. As a member of W.A.S.P., Riley performed on the albums The Last Command, Inside the Electric Circus, and Live...In the Raw.[5] Vocalist Ron Keel has described Riley as "driven to succeed and to play". Keel applauded Riley's decision to leave his band for the opportunity with W.A.S.P., saying "I mean, you've got to be ready for those opportunities when they knock". Keel and Riley remain friends.[4]

Riley left W.A.S.P. and immediately joined rising Sunset Strip band L.A. Guns in 1987, becoming part of the band's "classic" lineup alongside guitarists Tracii Guns and Mick Cripps, vocalist Phil Lewis and bassist Kelly Nickels.[6][7] He appeared on the albums Cocked & Loaded, and Hollywood Vampires. Riley was fired from the band in 1992[7] but returned in 1995.[7]

In 2006, there were two L.A. Guns lineups, Phil Lewis's and Tracii Guns's. Riley was a member of Lewis's lineup until it folded in 2016 when merging with Guns's version.[8] Subsequently, Riley created his own version of L.A. Guns in 2019. This version released an album, Renegades, through Golden Robot records. Following lawsuits over the band name, a settlement was reach in April 2021, allowing this band to continue as Riley's L.A. Guns.[9]

Discography

With Roadmaster
  • Roadmaster (1976)

With The Lawyers
  • The Lawyers (1981)

With The B'zz
  • Get Up (1982)

With Keel

With W.A.S.P.

With L.A. Guns

References
  1. Parks, John (August 30, 2012). "L.A. Guns Steve Riley talks Hollywood Forever, Tracii Guns and even a little W.A.S.P. with LRI".
  2. knac
  3. "Steve Riley Interview – Sleaze Roxx". sleazeroxx.com.
  4. "Ron Keel describes Steve Riley who played on Keel's 'The Right To Rock' as "always driven to succeed"". sleazeroxx.com. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  5. "W.A.S.P. - Biography & History – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  6. Hill, Gary. "Steve Riley Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  7. Schmitt, Greg. "Interview with Steve Riley". Rock Eyez. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
  8. "Singer-Guitarist Phil Lewis to Exit L.A. Guns". Loudwire.
  9. "STEVE RILEY's Version Of L.A. GUNS Unveils New Logo Reflecting Name Change". Blabbermouth.net. April 25, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.


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