Bad City
Encyclopedia
Bad City is a five-piece rock band from Chicago, Illinois. They are signed to Atlantic Records
. The band released their debut album "Welcome to the Wasteland"
, produced by Grammy Award
nominated producer Johnny K
, on August 24, 2010.
, including members Kevin Kane and Tom Schleiter, recruited Chicago natives Max Perenchio and Jake Serek as touring musicians. Just before the breakup of Powerspace, Perenchio and Schleiter began writing songs together for a new project. Temecula, California
vocalist Josh Caddy soon finalized the lineup which became Bad City. The band takes its name from its experiences writing and recording the album in an unfavorable neighborhood in the west side of Chicago
. Explained in an interview, "We were chased by gangs, constantly harassed by the dead-looking street people, even the kids out there are nasty. Don’t get me wrong, I love the city, but it is a bad city."
After completion of their debut album, the band gained the attention of Billy Corgan
. Describing the band as a "super fresh take on the Rock", he invited the band onto the Smashing Pumpkins 2010 Summer tour. In August 2010, KISS
frontman Paul Stanley
noticed the band's song "Call Paul Stanley" and further endorsed the band, calling their album "an absolute knockout and the best album I've heard in ages. A killer, cohesive album of great rock and bombastic production that has been sorely missing. Every track is a winner and Bad City raises the bar out of most band's reach. It's really that good". After a midwest tour with Hinder
, the band continued supporting "Welcome to the Wasteland"
on another tour with The Smashing Pumpkins
, followed by Canadian and West Coast shows with Slash
.
In June 2011, it was announced that Bad City had parted ways with their vocalist, Josh Caddy, due to a "very serious personal conflict" with other members of the band. His replacement is ex-Powerspace vocalist, Alec Cyganowski.
and Alice Cooper
inspired hard rock, ambitious 90s alternative rock such as Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden
, 80s-style sleaze metal, 2000-era riff-rock oriented bands such as The White Stripes
, and power pop a la Cheap Trick
. Regarding influences, Caddy said, "We took influences from all our favorite bands which happen to be from different decades, modernized it and brought it to a new level." Upon the release of "Welcome to the Wasteland"
many critics pinned the band as Hair Metal, Perenchio responded, "I think it’s a semantic issue. I think people hear harmonized guitar solos, big hooks, and gang vocals and quickly assume Hair Metal for convenience sake. Its just a label, its not a big deal. When I think of Hair Metal I think of a very cookie-cutter period that lifted the aesthetic value of Ratt’s Out of the Cellar and drove it into the depths of decadence. I don’t really associate Bad City with that, and our hair isn’t nearly big enough." Bad City does the theme song "Fight as One" for Marvel
's show, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
.
, but it has not yet been confirmed for a future album release. It is quite possible it won't, however, due to its rights possibly belonging to Marvel.
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. The band released their debut album "Welcome to the Wasteland"
Welcome to the Wasteland (Bad City album)
-Track listing:All songs composed by guitarists Max Perenchio and Tom Schleiter#"Showdown in Central Park" - 4:40#"Take Me For A Ride" - 3:43#"Do You Believe In Rock N Roll" - 3:44#"Wildlife" - 4:17#"Fire In The Pouring Rain" - 3:56#"Call Paul Stanley" - 4:38...
, produced by Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominated producer Johnny K
Johnny K
John Karkazis, better known as Johnny K, is a Grammy Award nominated producer/engineer/mixer/musician and songwriter. He owns Groovemaster Recording Studios in Chicago...
, on August 24, 2010.
History
While technically formed in early 2010, the evolution of the group began in 2008 when Chicago-based band PowerspacePowerspace
Powerspace was a five-piece power pop band from Chicago, Illinois. They are signed to Fueled by Ramen. The band released their debut album, The Kicks of Passion produced by Marc McClusky, on July 31, 2007. Drummer Kevin Kane announced the band's break up on February 17, 2010.-History:The band first...
, including members Kevin Kane and Tom Schleiter, recruited Chicago natives Max Perenchio and Jake Serek as touring musicians. Just before the breakup of Powerspace, Perenchio and Schleiter began writing songs together for a new project. Temecula, California
Temecula, California
Temecula is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States with a population of 100,097 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it the lowest populated American city over 100,000 population. It was incorporated on December 1, 1989...
vocalist Josh Caddy soon finalized the lineup which became Bad City. The band takes its name from its experiences writing and recording the album in an unfavorable neighborhood in the west side of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Explained in an interview, "We were chased by gangs, constantly harassed by the dead-looking street people, even the kids out there are nasty. Don’t get me wrong, I love the city, but it is a bad city."
After completion of their debut album, the band gained the attention of Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
. Describing the band as a "super fresh take on the Rock", he invited the band onto the Smashing Pumpkins 2010 Summer tour. In August 2010, KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
frontman Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley
Stanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
noticed the band's song "Call Paul Stanley" and further endorsed the band, calling their album "an absolute knockout and the best album I've heard in ages. A killer, cohesive album of great rock and bombastic production that has been sorely missing. Every track is a winner and Bad City raises the bar out of most band's reach. It's really that good". After a midwest tour with Hinder
Hinder
Hinder is an American rock band from Oklahoma that was formed in 2001 by drummer Cody Hanson, guitarist Joe Garvey, and singer Austin Winkler. The band was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2007.-Formation and early history:...
, the band continued supporting "Welcome to the Wasteland"
Welcome to the Wasteland (Bad City album)
-Track listing:All songs composed by guitarists Max Perenchio and Tom Schleiter#"Showdown in Central Park" - 4:40#"Take Me For A Ride" - 3:43#"Do You Believe In Rock N Roll" - 3:44#"Wildlife" - 4:17#"Fire In The Pouring Rain" - 3:56#"Call Paul Stanley" - 4:38...
on another tour with The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
, followed by Canadian and West Coast shows with Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
.
In June 2011, it was announced that Bad City had parted ways with their vocalist, Josh Caddy, due to a "very serious personal conflict" with other members of the band. His replacement is ex-Powerspace vocalist, Alec Cyganowski.
Musical Style
Bad City is praised and criticized alike for its anachronistic mixture of various rock genres including 70s KISSKISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
and Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
inspired hard rock, ambitious 90s alternative rock such as Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, 80s-style sleaze metal, 2000-era riff-rock oriented bands such as The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
, and power pop a la Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
. Regarding influences, Caddy said, "We took influences from all our favorite bands which happen to be from different decades, modernized it and brought it to a new level." Upon the release of "Welcome to the Wasteland"
Welcome to the Wasteland (Bad City album)
-Track listing:All songs composed by guitarists Max Perenchio and Tom Schleiter#"Showdown in Central Park" - 4:40#"Take Me For A Ride" - 3:43#"Do You Believe In Rock N Roll" - 3:44#"Wildlife" - 4:17#"Fire In The Pouring Rain" - 3:56#"Call Paul Stanley" - 4:38...
many critics pinned the band as Hair Metal, Perenchio responded, "I think it’s a semantic issue. I think people hear harmonized guitar solos, big hooks, and gang vocals and quickly assume Hair Metal for convenience sake. Its just a label, its not a big deal. When I think of Hair Metal I think of a very cookie-cutter period that lifted the aesthetic value of Ratt’s Out of the Cellar and drove it into the depths of decadence. I don’t really associate Bad City with that, and our hair isn’t nearly big enough." Bad City does the theme song "Fight as One" for Marvel
Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC , formerly Marvel Enterprises and Toy Biz, Inc., is an American entertainment company formed from the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and Toy Biz, Inc....
's show, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is an American animated television series by Marvel Animation in cooperation with Film Roman based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers. The show debuted on Disney XD in Fall 2010 starting with a 20 part micro-series. A second season has been...
.
Members
- Alec Cyganowski - Lead Vocals
- Kevin Kane - Drums
- Rich Vallone - Guitar
- Max Perenchio - Guitar
- Jake Serek - Bass
Albums
- 2010: "Welcome to the Wasteland"Welcome to the Wasteland (Bad City album)-Track listing:All songs composed by guitarists Max Perenchio and Tom Schleiter#"Showdown in Central Park" - 4:40#"Take Me For A Ride" - 3:43#"Do You Believe In Rock N Roll" - 3:44#"Wildlife" - 4:17#"Fire In The Pouring Rain" - 3:56#"Call Paul Stanley" - 4:38...
(release date: Tuesday, August 24, 2010)(album) U.S. #182
Songs
"Fight as One" is used as the theme for The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest HeroesThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is an American animated television series by Marvel Animation in cooperation with Film Roman based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers. The show debuted on Disney XD in Fall 2010 starting with a 20 part micro-series. A second season has been...
, but it has not yet been confirmed for a future album release. It is quite possible it won't, however, due to its rights possibly belonging to Marvel.