The Badloves are an Australian R&B, soul band that formed as DC3 in 1990 by founding mainstay member Michael Spiby on guitar and lead vocals. They changed their name after a year. Their debut studio album, Get on Board, was issued in July 1993, which peaked at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994 they won Best New Talent and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Get on Board and Breakthrough Artist – Single for its first single, "Lost" (1993). The Badloves' second album, Holy Roadside (October 1995), reached the top 20. Their highest-charting single, "The Weight" (1993), is a cover version of the Band's 1968 single and features Jimmy Barnes on co-lead vocals. It reached the ARIA singles chart top 10.
The Badloves | |
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| Also known as | DC3 |
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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| Labels | |
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| Past members |
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| Website | thebadloves |
History
edit1990–1994: Get on Board
editThe Badloves were formed in Melbourne in January 1990 as DC3, an R&B, soul band by John "Jak" Housden on lead guitar, Stephen "Irish" O'Prey on bass guitar, John Spiby on keyboards and saxophone, his brother Michael Spiby on lead vocals and guitar and Chris Tabone on drums.[1][2][3] Housden, O'Prey and Michael Spiby were members of Daryl Braithwaite's touring band during 1989.[1][2] After John Spiby left they changed their name to the Badloves and used a succession of temporary keyboardists.[1][3] According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, they provided, "laid-back, 1970s-styled blues, Memphis soul and New Orleans R&B; material."[1] Tony Featherstone, on Hammond organ and guitar, joined the group.[1][2] The band were signed to Mushroom Records late in 1992 after label boss, Michael Gudinski, saw their support of United States visitors, Hall & Oates.[1]
In March 1993 they released their debut single "Lost", which peaked at number 51 on the ARIA singles chart.[1][4] "I Remember" was issued in May 1993 and reached number 48.[1][4] Their debut album Get on Board appeared in July providing further singles "Green Limousine" (March) and "Memphis" (July).[1][4] Bevan Hannan of The Canberra Times, observed, "[it] is brimming with a likeable cruising sound and should quickly, strike-up an urban chorus", which "gives off a similar feel to The Black Crowes, only the guitar artillery has been pruned back substantially. The similarities are the bluesy organ and soulful backing vocalists, although frontman [Spiby] is still very much the band's show-piece."[5]
The band collaborated with Australian rock vocalist Jimmy Barnes n November 1993 for a cover version of the Band's 1968 single, "The Weight".[1] Their version peaked at number 6 in following month.[1][4] At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994 they won Best New Talent and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Get on Board and Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Lost". During 1994 they completed a European tour supporting Barnes and an Australian tour backing US singer, Lenny Kravitz.[1][6] After the European tour O'Prey was replaced on bass guitar by John "Bullfrog" Favaro.[1][2]
1995–1997: Holy Roadside and Everybody Everywhere
editThe Badloves started recording their second album, Holy Roadside, in early 1995 with Doug Roberts producing.[1][2] It was preceded by the single "Caroline" (August), and appeared in October.[1][2] The Canberra Times' Liz Armitage felt, "The tracks are catchy and poppy" and "tight and well-polished" while the "lyrics reflect a honesty that's given weight with vocalist [Spiby]'s sensual voice."[7] A limited edition version of the album included the disc, Live in Amsterdam, which was recorded at Paradiso during European tour with Barnes in the previous year.[1][2] In 1996 the band recorded another live album, at the Continental Café in Melbourne which was released in 1997 as Everybody Everywhere. Later that year the band dissolved, each member following individual pursuits.
1998–2013: Occasional reforming and Best Ofs
editIn November 1998, The band regroups to play at the Mushroom Records 25th Anniversary Concert in November. In 2000 Michael Spiby releases his first solo album, Ho's Kitchen. The band's first greatest hits album was released in November 2000 under the title The Mushroom Tapes. In June 2002, the band briefly reformed, recorded and release an EP titled 14. In September 2004, The Mushroom Tapes was re-released as The Definitive Collection.
The Badloves re-formed in September 2008 and performed limited live shows in Sydney and Melbourne. The line-up for these shows was: Michael Spiby (vocals and guitar), John Favaro (bass), Tony Featherstone (keys), Robbie Ragg (keys), Jak Housden (guitar) and Dave Hibbard (drums). In July 2010, The Badloves officially broke up again.[8]
2014–present: Reformation
editIn November 2014, The Badloves reformed again. In 2016, a live album recorded at The Caravan Music Club was released. In October 2019, The Badloves released "Soulbrothertruckin'song", their first single in over 20 years.[9] This was followed by "Tribal" in July 2020.[10]
Members
editCurrent
edit- Michael Spiby – vocals, guitar (1990–)
- James Ryan – guitar, vocals (2018–)
- Kit Riley – bass, vocals (2019–)
- Samuel Cope & Tim Neal – organ, vocals (2020–)
- Jeff Consi – drums, vocals (2015–)
- Susie Ahern – backing vocals (1992, 2020–)
Past
edit- Jak Housden – guitar, vocals (1990–1996, 2000, 2008–2011)
- John Spiby – keyboards, saxophone (1990–1991)
- Chris Tabone – drums, percussion (1990–1996, 2000)
- John Favaro – bass, vocals (1994–1996, 2000, 2008–2010)
- Tony Featherstone – keyboards (1991–1996, 2000, 2008–2011, 2014–2020)
- Stephen "Irish" O'Prey – bass, vocals (1990–1994, 2014–2020)
- Robbie Ragg – keyboards (1994–1996, 2008–2010)
- Adam Rigley – keyboards (2016–2018)
- Dave Hibbard – drums (2008–2011)
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [4] | |||
| Get on Board |
|
5 | |
| Holy Roadside |
|
14 |
|
Live albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [4] | ||
| Everybody Everywhere |
|
82 |
| Raw Honey |
|
— |
Compilation albums
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Mushroom Tapes |
|
| The Definitive Collection |
|
Extended plays
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| 14 |
|
| Gimme 5 |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [4] | ||||
| "Lost" | 1993 | 51 | Get on Board | |
| "I Remember" | 48 | |||
| "The Weight" (with Jimmy Barnes) | 6 |
|
Flesh and Wood | |
| "Green Limousine" | 35 | Get on Board | ||
| "Memphis" | 1994 | 73 | ||
| "Caroline" | 1995 | 65 | Holy Roadside | |
| "Slave" | — | |||
| "Living Things" | 1996 | — | ||
| "Barefoot Bride" | 75 | |||
| "Soulbrothertruckinsong"[17] | 2019 | — | TBA | |
| "Tribal"[18] | 2020 | — |
ARIA Awards
editThe ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. The Badloves have won 3 award from 8 nominations.[19]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Get on Board | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Best New Talent | Won | ||
| Breakthrough Artist - Album | Won | ||
| "Lost" | Single of the Year | Nominated | |
| Breakthrough Artists - Single | Won | ||
| 1995 | Get on Board | Highest Selling Album | Nominated |
| 1996 | Holy Roadside | Best Group | Nominated |
| The Badloves, Doug Roberts for Holy Roadside | Producer of the Year | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p
- McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Badloves'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004.
- McFarlane, Ian (31 March 2017). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Badloves'". The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) (2nd ed.). Gisborne, VIC: Third Stone Press (published 2017). p. 33. ISBN 978-0-9953856-0-3.
- ^ a b c d e f g Holmgren, Magnus. "The Badloves". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 19 March 2004. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ a b Dillon, Charlotte. "The Badloves Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
- Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com > The Badloves in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 22.
- "Memphis": "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 15 May 1994". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 4 March 2016. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
- "Caroline": "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 03 Dec 1995". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 17 July 2017.
- "Barefoot Bride": "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 26 May 1996". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ Hannan, Bevan (5 August 1993). "A Down to Earth Aussie Style". The Canberra Times. Vol. 67, no. 21, 296. p. 26. Retrieved 9 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Javin, Linda (10 November 1995). "Metro Features: Badloves". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 14 January 1997. Retrieved 9 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Armitage, Li (30 October 1995). "Home Entertainment: Good Listening in Badloves' Sequel". The Canberra Times. Vol. 71, no. 22, 110. p. 32. Retrieved 9 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Badloves Call it Quits (again)". Undercover story. July 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ "The Badloves Debut Video For First New Song in 20 Years "Soulbrothertruckin'song"". noise11. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "The Badloves Debut New Song "Tribal"". noise11. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ The ARIA Report. Vol. 181. ARIA. 25 July 1993. p. 20.
- ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 22.
- ^ The ARIA Report. Vol. 297. ARIA. 22 October 1995. p. 22.
- ^ "The Band". The Badloves. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ The ARIA Report. Vol. 372. ARIA. 13 April 1997. p. 20.
- ^ "Gimme 5 - The Badloves". iTunes Australia. 3 March 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ "Soulbrothertruckinsong - single". Apple Music. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "Tribal - single". Apple Music. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "ARIA Awards Search Results - The Badloves". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
