Run DMC

Reverend Run

After their 10th anniversary, Run DMC had taken a long studio hiatus seeing each member partaking in individual conquests. Unfortunately by 1997 Darryl McDaniels had fallen into a deep depression finding the rigorous routine of touring and laborious performing taking a toll on his family life, being away from his wife and newborn son. He had sunk back into the solace of drug and alcohol dependency to ease the pain. Several occasions saw McDaniels arrested and dangerously intoxicated while in the public eye. While on tour he noticed his voice failing him and was subsequently diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a vocal disorder which causes involuntary spasms of the larynx muscles. He himself believed it was a result of his aggressive vocal performances and a lifestyle of heavy drinking. Joseph ‘Run’ Simmons had continued his Christian life by being ordained a reverend priest in the Zoe Ministries and has been known professionally as Rev Run. His vision of the group was to continue in the same hard-rock fashion in which they are famous for unlike McDaniels who had been snapped out of depression by hearing Sarah McLachlan’s song "Angel" and felt the need for a change into a slower-paced tempo which suited his faltered voice. This difference between the two founders managed to separate the ultimate collaboration in their following album, "Crown Royal" released in early 2000. Record sales were low and DMC was only apparent on three tracks despite being credited through every track on the album’s sleeve. The album was promoted with a blockbuster concert on MTV with Aerosmith and Kid Rock. By the summer of 2002 following the release of two greatest hits albums they toured the U.S. co-headlining with Aerosmith performing "Walk This Way" as a transition between both sets. Weeks after the tour finished the story of Run DMC took a horrific close with the untimely death of super DJ Jam Master Jay on October 30, 2002 as he was murdered in a studio session in Queens, New York at only 37 years young. News of this spread quickly throughout the industry and hip-hop luminaries who took time out to pay homage to the fallen legend on New York radio stations. Consequently the group officially retired from performing and recording as Run DMC. Prior to Jay’s passing Run DMC had filmed a television commercial spot for Dr. Pepper soft drink with their protégé LL Cool J. By the time the commercial was aired in the following winter of 2002 a dedication to Jay was appended to the initial airings. Jay’s death was the definite end of an era and senselessly became another body count in the violent cycle of politics that haunted the genre since its inception.

Discography:

• 1984 Run-D.M.C. (Profile)
• 1985 King of Rock (Profile)
• 1986 Raising Hell (Profile)
• 1988 Tougher Than Leather (Profile)
• 1990 Back From Hell (Profile)
• 1991 Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983–1991 (Profile)
• 1993 Down With The King (Profile)
• 1999 Crown Royal (Arista/Profile)
• 2002 High Profile: The Original Rhymes
• 2002 Greatest Hits
• 2003 The Best of Run DMC
• 2003 Ultimate Run-D.M.C.
• 2004 Artist Collection: Run DMC

• Accomplishments:

• The first rap act to have a #1 R&B charting rap album
• The first rap act to have a Top 10 pop charting rap album
• The first rap act to earn RIAA gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums
• The first rap act to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine
• The first rap act to receive a Grammy Award nomination
• The first rap act to have a video added to MTV
• The first rap act to appear on Saturday Night Live and American Bandstand
• The first rap act to win crossover appeal with rock and hip-hop fans
• The first rap act signed to an athletic product endorsement deal
• The only rap act to perform at Live Aid in 1985

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