Customer Reviews

Bad News

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When it comes to parody bands, two reign supreme. Spinal Tap's story, told in their famous "Rockumentary", is the classic 70s Rock dinosaur has-beens who had trouble adapting to the challenges of the 1980s. The band saw their career slipping away due to a combination of comical disasters and general apathy from the listening public, only to be rescued by unexpected popularity in Japan.

Whether the Japanese even know who Bad News are or not, their story is far more pathetic, and far, far less classy. Bad News were so bad they weren't even has-beens. The quintessential struggling Heavy Metal band, Bad News were the subject of a 1982 documentary, which followed the band on the tour which basically spelled the end because it was so disastrous. However, the album `Bad News' was the result of a reunion five years later, as the band prepared to play at the famous Donnington festival.

The album is a number of studio outtakes of songs being recorded, behind-the-scenes incidents, demoing songs, the band arguing, and then there's the odd actual song. Kicking off with "Bad Dreams Rehearsal", where the four distinct personalities of the band combine to create something mind blowingly... awful. Thick as a plank rhythm guitarist Den Dennis presents the embryonic song to the rest of the band, using acoustic guitar and unfinished lyrics. Self-proclaimed creative genius and band leader Vim Fuego (real name Alan Metcalfe) hates it, and makes a few suggestions. Musically inept bass player Colin Grigson tries to make the song sound tough, but it turns camp. Meanwhile, drummer Spider Webb contributes very little due to being wasted on some substance or other. The band's "A.G.M." follows, the second such meeting in a week, in which names for the new album are discussed. Next, the band introduces themselves, which features Den twice, because Spider didn't turn up.

The band don't actually play a song until the fourth track, "Bad News". The song is basically fourth rate NWOBHM mixed with hackneyed 70s Hard Rock clichés, with a little 80s Glam Rock thrown in. The band's solo spots are thoroughly incompetent, with Colin's out of time bass solo, and Den forgetting his break altogether. Vim Fuego steals a Queen riff ("Brighton Rock", I do believe), and the song falls apart. It is a mess, but is a glorious mess, a loving, if inept, tribute to the glory of Rock and Metal.


As far as the rest of the songs go, "Masturbike" is a terrible pun with some of the silliest lyrics ever recorded, mostly because Vim forgets the proper ones half way through the song, and ad libs the final part of the song. "Drink `Til I Die" includes some wonderfully silly lines, and like the title indicates, it's a tribute to alcohol, played in a Blues Rock/Metal style. "Hey Hey Bad News" is a disastrous live track, including a false start to the song, and a lot of swearing from Vim, at the rest of the band and the audience alike. The audience gets in on the act, replying in kind to Vim's chant. His solo is also suitably tuneless.

"Warriors Of Genghis Khan" however, is a different story. It's actually not bad, with a catchy tune, sing-along lyrics, and a good dose of humour. Many real bands have escaped with recording cheesier songs than this. The Blues-y Metal is underpinned with sounds of war, horses galloping, and samurai fighting (complete with Oriental guitars). "Cashing In On Christmas" is a poke at over blown, over produced festive rubbish which bands sometimes release as a seasonal cash in. It's the cleanest sounding song on the whole album. The band are quite forthcoming with their money grabbing attitude ("Every Christmas we're rocking/Rocking all the way to the bank").

The centrepiece of the whole album is a delightful cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". The opening guitar passage is dreadfully out of tune and sets the tone for the entire song. The drums miss the beat, and Vim Fuego's wail/shout is utterly tuneless. The operatic vocal passage is undertaken by the whole band who sound drunk and clueless at the same time, complete with strained falsetto voices. Vim almost nails the main solo, but not the vocals, which are still a mile out. The song deteriorates into a bad karaoke breakdown, but the band seem suitably pleased with themselves.

There are several more spoken pieces interspersed between the songs, discussing topics from stuffing vegetables down your pants to money, more song writing and recording, and Den's interview with a French magazine. Liberal use of four letter words, toilet humour and Rock clichés abound, making for hilarious listening.

Of course, being a parody, there are some real people behind the characters portrayed here. Adrian Edmondson (Vim), Rik Mayall (Colin) and Nigel Planer (Den) found success as three quarters of The Young Ones, while Peter Richardson (Spider) was a member of the Comic Strip. All four actors could actually play their instruments, but whether or not they were playing to the best of their abilities or playing badly on purpose has never been revealed. Queen's Brian May had a hand in the production of the album, and possibly played some of the guitar parts.

Bad News did actually tour in the late 80s, and played Donnington. By all reports, the band live were as hilarious as they were on record. The songs here are utterly clichéd, simplistic and poorly executed, but they were like that intentionally. The spoken interludes are side splittingly funny at times. Even non-Rock fans will find this appealing. `Bad News' should be compulsory listening for anyone who ever wants to start a band.

"Hey Mr Bassman! What is your name! My name is Colin Grigson And playing the bass guitar is my game! So lets play the bass guitar now! ..."

This CD got me and my friend through college. It is absoutely hysterical - an audio Spinal Tap. Vim Fuego, Den Dennis, Colin Grigson and Spider Web are hilarious with their arguments and egos getting in the way of their musical attempts at every opportunity. A must have for any fan of the Young Ones or anything by Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson

i find that 'spoof' bands are usually rubbish or suffer a limited lifespan - and i include Spinal Tap in this.

yet i've listened to Bad News since it was released and one can never get bored of it. although the songs are oddly listenable it's the banter between the 'musicians' which give this CD its long life.

i must also warn you though, after listening to this you will be prone to stating:

"That's a load of b*ll*cks!"

"Well why dont you just F*ck off then!"

"Everytime i sing 'eat my brains' my rectum seems to prolapse."

If swearing, violence and toilet humour is your cup of tea then this is the best CD you can get. I wish I was involved in the creation of The Young Ones, Comic Strip etc. Lets just hope they never give it up. Bad News rocks (the deaf).

Why is that? Because Bad News do what the creators of Spinal Tap didn't want to; they make the music obviously total crap. Like Tap the lyrics are funny, but unlike Tap there is no attempt to pass of the songs as anything other than UTTERLY AWFUL HILARIOUS CRAP. Den and Colin's solos are two of the funniest moments in comedy! The 'studio talk' between the songs is great too. Really. Trust me, trust the other reviews: Buy this and laugh again and again.

As an enthusiastically recruited Warrior of Ghenghis Khan, I can reccomend this to anyone whose values in life are similar to mine. If you're into music, partake of a shallow lifestyle and enjoy thigh-slapping laughter, the kind that will make your sphincer prolapse, then this is for you. Join up immediately, I say.

This album had me in hysterics. Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planner and Peter Richardson were absolutely terrific in portraying these unruly rockstar wannabees. The dialogue is hilarious and the songs are even better, especially their version of "Bohemian Rhapsody." I'd highly recomend this album.

Adrian Edmonson is one of the best comedy writers of the last fifteen years. This look at heavy metal is probably his bet work. If you're a fan of 'The young ones', 'bottom' and any of the comic strip stuff, you will get a kick out of this. Intelligent and very real. Anyone whos ever been in a band will recognise themselves. A must.

I have listened to this CD over and over and over and have never stop laughing. When you've sampled it this many times, you realize how much of it is improvised and how sharp these guys are! Though Den, Colin and Vim are the standouts, Spider Webb slides in quiet background commentary that occasionally makes its way to the fore and keeps the ball rolling! Vile, yet honest humor, it's not for everyone, but EveryThing for those whom it IS for, or, something like that, er.....

I remember watching Bad News the first time in the eighties when MTv was still a valid channel and showed videos of merit. Shows like Young Ones and Comic Strip Presents were available only on this channel in the States. I have followed Rik Mayall's career from Kevin Turvey in 1984 to Bottom Live 4 in 2002. Everything in between is worth seeking out.
This CD differs from the cassette version with extra cuts, also if you can find the 45 of Bohemian Rhapsody or the Bad News Live Bootleg it is worth it at any price.

Brian May should be knighted for his undertaking this fictional yet talented group.