Riley Gale
Riley Gale | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | April 30, 1986 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 2020 (aged 34) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2005–2020 |
| Formerly of | Power Trip |
Riley Gale (April 30, 1986 – August 24, 2020) was an American singer and 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 harsh, growled vocals, intense stage presence, and outspoken progressive politics, which he wove into his lyrics.
Gale was found unresponsive in his home in Dallas, Texas, on August 25, 2020; he had died due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl the night before. He was remembered by his peers for his talent as a vocalist and lyricist, his poignant social commentary, and his kindness and compassion. 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 noted 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 multiple genres of music, ranging from metal and hardcore to soul, and was deeply knowledgeable regarding the subject.[1][4] Gale graduated from the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas[5] in 2004 and the University of North Texas in 2010.[6]
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 naturally 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.[6] 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, in 2008, and began performing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.[6] The initial influences of the band were East Coast hardcore groups such as Cro-Mags; the band also subsequently adopted elements of thrash metal.[4] 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, and 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]
As Power Trip's frontman, Gale was recognized for his intense, explosive stage performances.[12][13] Matt Pike of High on Fire referred to him as the "Bon Scott of punk rock" and a "born frontman" in a 2024 interview.[14] His voice was described as "throat-shredded",[15] "jagged",[10] and "feral,"[11] exemplifying his harsh vocal style. Additionally, his lyricism was praised due to its poignant commentary on topics including social inequity.[4][13] With Power Trip, he maintained a highly active touring schedule.[13]
Personal life
Gale was well-known for his progressive political opinions.[1][3] In 2018, he distanced his music from what he called "weird, racist, meathead[s]".[4] He was critical towards organized religion as a whole, and a passionate supporter of the LGBT community in Dallas.[2][16] 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.[16] He believed that, as average people heavily outnumbered those in power, there would be a day in which the majority revolted against the "1 percent".[16] He was also described as a kind and considerate person who often looked out for vulnerable or weak people.[12][13]
At the time of his death, Gale lived in Dallas with his girlfriend, Marsella, and his three dogs.[1] He suffered from insomnia and sleep paralysis, and had a history of abusing Xanax.[16][17] The reading habit he had developed as a child continued into his adulthood; according to his father, he would purchase entire boxes of books to read while touring.[1] He had been compiling a comics anthology, featuring the works of some of his personal friends and favorite artists, when he died. It was released more than three years after his death by Lockin' Out Records.[18]
Death
On August 24, 2020, Gale died in his sleep at his home in Dallas.[1][2] He had been found on the floor, unresponsive, the previous day. 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.[17][19]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.[17] His death was confirmed by the band through a Facebook post published on August 26;[15] the band's Twitter page also published a statement from Gale's family announcing his death.[19] 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, Randy Blythe, and Jay Weinberg, among many others.[1][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.[4][20] Outside of his musical contributions, he was also remembered for his compassion and kindness.[12][13][14] Following Gale's death, his family created the Riley Gale Foundation, which collects donations in support of homeless LGBT youth in Dallas.[2] Dallas Hope Charities also named a transitional home for LGBT youth and a library for Gale.[21] He was 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)".[22]
After Gale's death, Power Trip entered a period of uncertainty.[2] Apart from a studio-recorded tribute to Gale recorded with Obituary in March 2021,[23] the band was mostly inactive from 2020 until December 1, 2023, when the band performed live for the first time after his death. His position was filled by vocalist Seth Gilmore, the lead signer of Texas hardcore band Fugitive. The band later announced multiple concerts spread throughout 2024. Following the 2023 performance, Gale's father issued a statement denouncing the fact that he was not informed prior to the show; he later expressed remorse and apologized for the statement.[2]
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 h i Pessaro, Fred (August 25, 2021). "Power Trip's Riley Gale Remembered by His Father, Brandon Gale". Revolver. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Minsker, Evan (February 28, 2024). "Power Trip returns, reshaped by loss". NPR. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Mosley, Christopher (September 4, 2020). "Riley Gale's Dallas: Remembering the Late Diplomat of Texas Hardcore". D Magazine. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Appleford, Steve (August 27, 2018). "Power Trip: "This Is Not a Band for White Males to Enjoy and Be Dumb Rednecks"". Revolver. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ White, Michael (May 8, 2014). "Interview with Riley Gale '04". Jesuit Roundup. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c DeLeón, Jessica. "Power of Words and Music". North Texan. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lim, Eddy (August 26, 2020). "Tributes paid to Riley Gale of Texas thrash band Power Trip, dead at 34". NME. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ O'Connor, Andy (December 22, 2018). "Opening Fire: 2008-2014". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Stousy, Brandon (June 28, 2013). "Manifest Decimation". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Sanders, Brad (June 8, 2023). "Manifest Decimation Turns 10". Stereogum. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Camp, Zoe (March 1, 2017). "Nightmare Logic". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Dunlea, Reed (August 27, 2020). "Remembering Power Trip's Riley Gale, a Ferocious Frontman Who Made You Feel Like Family". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Allison, Max (September 5, 2020). "Remembering Power Trip's Riley Gale". River Cities' Reader. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Hadusek, Jon (May 9, 2024). "High on Fire's Matt Pike: Power Trip's Riley Gale "Was a Bon Scott of Punk Rock"". Consequence. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Gotrich, Lars (August 26, 2020). "Riley Gale, Fiery Singer Of Power Trip, Dead At 34". NPR. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Frankiln, Dan (March 16, 2017). "Manifest Proclamation: The Life & Opinions Of Power Trip". The Quietus. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Power Trip's Riley Gale - Cause of Death Confirmed". Loudwire. May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Hatfield, Amanda (November 6, 2023). "Riley Gale-compiled comics anthology 'Cicadas' available now". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Legaspi, Althea (May 25, 2021). "Riley Gale, Singer for Thrash Metal Band Power Trip, Dead at 34". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Patrick (August 27, 2020). "Fox News host Greg Gutfeld pays tribute to Riley Gale of Power Trip". NME. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Hadusek, Jon (November 5, 2020). "Dallas Transitional Home for LGBTQ Youth Named After Power Trip's Riley Gale". Consequence. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ Brown, August (March 11, 2021). "For the surviving members of metal band Power Trip, the Grammys are a bittersweet coda". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Turman, Katherine (March 30, 2021). "Power Trip and Obituary Honor Riley Gale With 'Executioner's Tax (Swing of the Axe)' Performance". Spin. Retrieved July 3, 2024.