Red Dragon Cartel singer Darren James Smith doesn’t want to go into the details of how he got his job back with Jake E Lee’s band.
He’s just glad to be given a second chance after leaving in March.
Lee struggled to replace him, with four other men having taken on the role before the original frontman’s comeback was confirmed this week.
Smith tells SleazeRoxx: “I don’t know the reasons – but I like to think it’s because I’m the guy for the gig, I guess.”
He also won’t discuss the details of his departure, although he’d previously put it down to lack of work.
“I don’t want to dredge up the dirt,” he says. “I’m not one to hold grudges. The right people are involved and I really love the songs.”
He’ll soon start co-writing the group’s second album – which he says could sound like Lee’s former band Badlands.
“It’s going to be a band effort,” Smith reports. “I haven’t heard anything yet, but I’m hoping it’s going to be a little Badlandsish. I really love that stuff. Jake is quite a creative guy, so who knows what he’s going to toss at us?”
He admits to never having enjoyed rehearsals until joining Red Dragon Cartel in 2013, and can’t wait to get back to work – and he says he remains friends with some of the singers who didn’t manage to keep his position.
“I’m just fortunate that it worked to my advantage,” he reflects. “I’m fortunate to be asked back.”
