Ronnie Radke - Success or Failure?

Ronnie Radke is probably one of the most dividing characters in the music scene. In case you're unfamiliar, I'll give you a briefing: He used to be in a band called Escape the Fate, he went to jail, and now he's in a band called Falling in Reverse.

He released one album with Escape the Fate (Dying is Your Latest Fashion), and this is easily one of my all-time favourite albums. It also contains one of my all-time favourite songs - believe me, this is no easy feat. - and is, in my opinion, quite a work of art. To the left is 'Not Good Enough for Truth in Cliche', which remains my go-to song for when I have an annoying and/or awful song in my head. Songs like 'The Day I Left The Womb' are enough to bring me to tears!

Then, of course, Ronnie went to jail for his involvement in a fight that led to a man's death. Nothing to be proud of, I'm sure. Shortly afterwards, he was kicked out of his band. I suppose the silver lining of this was that jail was a way to get his head screwed on; he went from drug addiction to exercise addiction. I've never seen someone's neck at the same thickness as their head!
But it was here that Ronnie made most of the material for his next album with a new band - Falling in Reverse. Needless to say, I was looking forward to the new material, as I consider Ronnie a bit of a lyrical genius.
'Caught Like a Fly' was quite eye-catching for me, especially with the lines "your grandfather would probably roll in his grave/if he knew of that person that you had became". In case you hadn't guessed, this particular line is about Max Green, a now ex-member of Escape the Fate. As you've probably guessed, they had a pretty nasty fall out.
I'm quite fond of the album, even though my boyfriend plays it in his car so much it's enough to drive any ordinary person insane! It's the Taylor Swift kind of album, except it's a break up with a band instead of multiple guys.

Falling in Reverse released a new song, 'Alone' earlier this month (video above). Now, I had myself hyped up from the last album, and I guess a part of me was hoping that 'Fashionably Late', their new album, would be a bit like 'Dying is Your Latest Fashion'.
What I heard, however, was very different. Now, I know that Ronnie was a rap lover before he was a rock lover, but there are some passions that you don't go forth with; my love of dancing, for example. I guess a lot of people's opinions is that Ronnie should put rapping into a box, shove it under his bed somewhere and leave it alone. Forever.
Aside from that, I find the chorus for 'Alone' quite catchy, and it's one of those songs that just grows on you... eventually.
Another note to make on this song is that it lacked the creative lyrics that I'm so used to hearing from Ronnie, and I think all of the jibber-jabber about haters etc put me off slightly...
I haven't heard 'Fashionably Late', the most recent song that has been released, but apparently it's more so the style that I'm used to hearing from Ronnie.
I'm also sure that I'm not alone when I say that I'm not a fan of Ronnie's new hair. I have a creeper of a best friend who is obsessed with how hair looks, and I honestly wish I had been there to see her face when she watched the music video for 'Alone'.
It was also only recently that I noticed that there were a few new additions to Ronnie's head. The shark tattoo and, correct me if I'm wrong, the overlapping 'R's on the side of his face. I think he's running out of room to get tattoo'd.

Then, on top of everything else, there were the multiple rumours that Ronnie had abandoned Falling in Reverse because of a flop in ticket sales for their upcoming tour. Ronnie seems to just be a magnet for bad things. Granted, I have been witness to a few twitter spats between him and Craig, but I guess my excuse for him is that perhaps this attitude was built up while he was in prison.
Why do I make excuses for him?
I guess it's because I know that he hasn't had the easiest of lives. We've heard his story in 'The Day I Left the Womb' and 'The Westerner', for example, and it isn't pretty.
Back to my point, after some thorough research (aka brief partner-stalking on twitter), it seems as though Ronnie has temporarily taken a little break from Falling in Reverse in order to be with his partner when she gives birth.
Now, I didn't even know that Ronnie was with anyone, which goes to show how on top of everything I've been lately.

I realise now that I've strayed from my original question. I suppose Ronnie is a success, in his own way. He's gone through quite a few mishaps, and made some artwork in the process... And I'm not talking about tattoos. His music is something that I've always admired, and with 'Alone', I almost brand it as a success as well because he's dared to try something new, something that not many artists are willing to try out. Granted he may not be the most popular of artists, nor does he always get it right, but this experimentation is quite admirable. So good for you, Ronnie.