Riley Gale: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American singer-songwriter}} |
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'''Riley Gale''' (30 April 1986 – 24 August 20) was an American [[singer-songwriter]] who founded and performed with [[crossover thrash]] band [[Power Trip (band)|Power Trip]] as its lead vocalist. Gale co-founded the band in 2008; with him as songwriter and vocalist, Power Trip released two well-received [[Album|studio albums]], in addition to multiple [[Single (music)|singles]] and [[Extended play|EPs]]. He was known for his heavy, growled vocals and outspoken [[Progressivism|progressive]] politics, which he wove into his lyrics. |
'''Riley Gale''' (30 April 1986 – 24 August 20) was an American [[singer-songwriter]] who founded and performed with [[crossover thrash]] band [[Power Trip (band)|Power Trip]] as its lead vocalist. Gale co-founded the band in 2008; with him as songwriter and vocalist, Power Trip released two well-received [[Album|studio albums]], in addition to multiple [[Single (music)|singles]] and [[Extended play|EPs]]. He was known for his heavy, growled vocals and outspoken [[Progressivism|progressive]] politics, which he wove into his lyrics. |
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Gale was found unresponsive in his home in [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]] on 25 August, 2020; he had died due to an accidental overdose of [[fentanyl]] the night before. As a part of Power Trip, he was posthumously nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance]]. |
Gale was found unresponsive in his home in [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]] on 25 August, 2020; he had died due to an accidental overdose of [[fentanyl]] the night before. As a part of Power Trip, he was posthumously nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance]]. |
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== Early life == |
== Early life == |
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Revision as of 01:54, 3 July 2024
Riley Gale | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | April 30, 1986 |
| Died | August 24, 2020 (aged 34) Dallas, Texas |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2005-2020 |
| Known for | Power Trip |
Riley Gale (30 April 1986 – 24 August 20) was an American singer-songwriter who founded and performed with crossover thrash band Power Trip as its lead vocalist. Gale co-founded the band in 2008; with him as songwriter and vocalist, Power Trip released two well-received studio albums, in addition to multiple singles and EPs. He was known for his heavy, growled vocals and outspoken progressive politics, which he wove into his lyrics.
Gale was found unresponsive in his home in Dallas, Texas on 25 August, 2020; he had died due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl the night before. As a part of Power Trip, he was posthumously nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
Early life
Riley Gale was born 30 April 1986 in Dallas, Texas to businessman Brandon Gale and his wife, Gina. His parents met in Dearborn, Michigan in the 1970s and moved to Dallas in 1980. Gale was the first of four children; he had two younger brothers, Zachary and Dylan, and a younger sister, Sarah. His father recalled playing classical music for Gale while he was still in the womb.[1]
As a child, Gale was remembered as being mischievous, and noted for his anti-authoritarian attitude. His father claimed that Gale frequently had difficulty accepting direction from his parents and teachers. Conversely, he was also described as kind and compassionate to his peers, as well as a voracious reader.[1] He was further described as the kind of young man who confronted bullies in school and volunteered at soup kitchens.[2] Physically, he was a "small" and "scrappy" child who competed in taekwondo.[1][3]
In a 2021 interview, Gale's father theorized that he and his wife were responsible for Gale's musical interest, claiming that he grew up surrounded by classic rock and Motown. During his youth, Gale became an avid fan of rock music across multiple subgenres, including metal and hardcore, and was deeply knowledgeable regarding the subject.[1] Gale graduated from the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas[4] in 2004 and the University of North Texas in 2010.[5]
Career
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Balls Out
Before the founding of Power Trip in 2008, Gale was the vocalist for Balls Out, a Dallas-based hardcore band. The band began performing after Gale petitioned booker Tyler Berry for the opportunity to open for punk band Kids Like Us. Berry described Gale as a charismatic "little dude" who attracted people towards him.[3]
Power Trip
Gale met guitarist Blake Ibanez in late 2007 with an idea for a band that would become Power Trip. [5] The two began messaging each other through MySpace, discussing their similar musical interests. Joined by guitarist Nick Stewart and Chris Whetzel from Ibanez's former band Reality Check,[2] they recorded an initial demo in Richardson, Texas and began performing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.[5] The initial influences of the band were East Coast hardcore groups such as Cro-Mags; the band also subsequently adopted elements of thrash metal.[6] Originally, Marcus Johnson served as the band's drummer;[7] he would later be replaced by Chris Ulsh.[2]
Power Trip's first official release was the EP Armageddon Blues, released in 2009. In 2011, the band released a self-titled EP. These early releases were heavily inspired by Gale's admiration for New York hardcore. These releases were later compiled into the album Opening Fire: 2008-2014, released in 2018.[8] In 2013, Power Trip released Manifest Decimation, its first studio album with heavy metal record label Southern Lord Records. The album received generally positive reviews; Brandon Stousy of Pitchfork called it "bleak, dirty, heavy...[and] very catchy" and a "great" album.[9] Brad Sanders specifically praised Gale's performance, describing it as "brilliant".[10] Power Trip followed their first album with Nightmare Logic, also released with Southern Lord, in 2017.[11] Nightmare Logic was critically acclaimed; D Magazine called it the band's "masterpiece".[3] Critic Zoe Camp compared Gale's vocals to a "rabid wolf" and praised his politically satirical lyrics.[11]
Personal life and death
Gale was well-known for his progressive political opinions.[1] In 2018, he distanced his music from what he called "weird, racist, meathead[s]".[6] He was against organized religion as a whole, and a supporter of the LGBT community in Dallas.[2][12] He often wove his social perspective into his lyrics;[2] for example, the song "If Not Us Then Who" from Nightmare Logic was born from Gale's desire to create a song representing women and minorities.[12] At the time of his death, Gale lived in Dallas with his girlfriend, Marsella, and three dogs.[1] He suffered from insomnia and sleep paralysis, and had a history of abusing Xanax.[12][13]
On 24 August 2020, Gale died in his sleep at his home in Dallas.[1][2] A May 2021 report from the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office found his cause of death to be a pulmonary edema caused by an accidental fentanyl overdose.[13][14] He was found unresponsive at his home on 25 August. The report also noted his past use of Xanax, though the only other drug found in his system at the time of his death was marijuana.[13] His death was confirmed by the band through a Facebook post published on 26 August;[15] the band's Twitter page also published a statement from Gale's family announcing his death.[14] Power Trip had been working on a third album at the time of his death.[7]
Gale's death was met with grief, shock, and tributes by many in the music industry, including Ice-T, Anthrax, and Jay Weinberg.[7] Fox News host Greg Gutfeld, who had formed a friendship with Gale despite their drastic political differences, memorialized him on the 26 August episode of The Five.[16] Following Gale's death, his family created the Riley Gale Foundation, which collects donations in support of homeless LGBT youth in Dallas.[2] He was also posthumously nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance as a part of Power Trip for a live version of the song "Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)".[17]
Discography
Power Trip
Guest appearances
| Year | Group | Titel | Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Bleach Everything | SDK X RFTCC | "On A Rope" |
| 2020 | Body Count | Carnivore | "Point the Finger" |
| 2020 | Masterpiece Machine | Rotting Fruit / Letting You In On a Secret | "Rotting Fruit", "Letting You In On a Secret" |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Pessaro, Fred (25 August 2021). "Power Trip's Riley Gale Remembered by His Father, Brandon Gale". Revolver. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Minsker, Evan (28 February 2024). "Power Trip returns, reshaped by loss". NPR. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Mosley, Christopher (4 September 2020). "Riley Gale's Dallas: Remembering the Late Diplomat of Texas Hardcore". D. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ White, Michael (8 May 2014). "Interview with Riley Gale '04". Jesuit Roundup. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b c DeLeón, Jessica. "Power of Words and Music". North Texan. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b Appleford, Steve (27 August 2018). "Power Trip: "This Is Not a Band for White Males to Enjoy and Be Dumb Rednecks"". Revolver. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Lim, Eddy (26 August 2020). "Tributes paid to Riley Gale of Texas thrash band Power Trip, dead at 34". NME. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ O'Connor, Andy (22 December 2018). "Opening Fire: 2008-2014". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Stousy, Brandon (28 June 2013). "Manifest Decimation". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Sanders, Brad (8 June 2023). "Manifest Decimation Turns 10". Stereogum. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b Camp, Zoe (1 March 2017). "Nightmare Logic". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Frankiln, Dan (16 March 2017). "Manifest Proclamation: The Life & Opinions Of Power Trip". The Quietus. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "Power Trip's Riley Gale - Cause of Death Confirmed". Loudwire. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b Legaspi, Althea (25 May 2021). "Riley Gale, Singer for Thrash Metal Band Power Trip, Dead at 34". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Gotrich, Lars (26 August 2020). "Riley Gale, Fiery Singer Of Power Trip, Dead At 34". NPR. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Patrick (27 August 2020). "Fox News host Greg Gutfeld pays tribute to Riley Gale of Power Trip". NME. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Brown, August (11 March 2021). "For the surviving members of metal band Power Trip, the Grammys are a bittersweet coda". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 March 2021.