Bad City

Last updated
Bad City
Origin Chicago, Illinois United States
Genres Hard rock, glam metal
Years active2008–2011
Labels Atlantic Records
Past membersJosh Caddy
Alec Cyganowski
Tommy English
Kevin Kane
Max Perenchio
Jake Serek
Rich Vallone
Rich Lombardo
Ryan Choy
Website www.badcitymusic.com

Bad City was a five-piece rock band from Chicago, Illinois. They were signed to Atlantic Records in 2010. The band released their debut album Welcome to the Wasteland , produced by Grammy Award nominated producer Johnny K, on August 24, 2010. [1] [ failed verification ]

Contents

History

Bad City was formed in early 2010, but began in 2008 when Chicago-based band Powerspace, including members Kevin Kane and Tommy English, recruited Chicago natives Max Perenchio and Jake Serek as touring musicians. Before Powerspace broke up, Perenchio and Schleiter began writing songs together for a new project. Temecula, California vocalist Josh Caddy soon finalized the lineup, which became known as Bad City. The band's name is inspired by its members' experience producing their first album in an unfavorable neighborhood in western Chicago, which they referred to as a "bad city". [2] [3]

After the completion of their debut album, the band gained the attention of Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, who invited them to his 2010 Summer Rock 'n' Roll Party tour. [4] In August 2010, KISS frontman Paul Stanley noticed Bad City'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". [5] [ failed verification ] After a midwest tour with Hinder, Bad City continued supporting Welcome to the Wasteland on another tour with The Smashing Pumpkins, followed by Canadian and West Coast shows with Slash. [6] The album reached U.S. No. 182.[ citation needed ]

Bad City performed the theme song, "Fight as One", for the Marvel Entertainment animated television series The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes . [7] [8] [9]

In June 2011, Caddy left the band and was replaced by former Powerspace vocalist Alec Cyganowski. [10] That December, Bad City played a farewell show in Chicago and disbanded.

Max Perenchio died in a single-vehicle car crash on November 26, 2020, aged 33. [11]

Musical style

Bad City is praised for its anachronistic mixture of various rock genres, including 70s KISS 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. [12] [13] 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." [14] 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. It's just a label, it's 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."

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smashing Pumpkins</span> American alternative rock band

The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band from Chicago. Formed in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, the band has undergone several line-up changes since their reunion in 2006, with Corgan being the primary songwriter and sole constant member since its inception. The current lineup consists of Corgan, Chamberlin, and Iha. The band has a diverse, densely layered sound, which evolved throughout their career and has contained elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, grunge, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegaze, dream pop, and electronica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Chamberlin</span> American drummer and record producer

James Joseph Chamberlin is an American drummer and record producer. Described as "one of the most powerful drummers in rock," he is best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. Following the 2000 breakup of the band, Chamberlin joined Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan in the supergroup Zwan and also formed his own current group, the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zwan</span> American alternative rock band

Zwan was an American alternative rock supergroup formed in 2001 by lead guitarist and singer Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, from The Smashing Pumpkins. Other members included bassist Paz Lenchantin of A Perfect Circle, and guitarists David Pajo of Slint, and Matt Sweeney. The band released only one album, Mary Star of the Sea (2003), before breaking up acrimoniously that year during their world tour to promote the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Corgan</span> American musician (born 1967)

William Patrick Corgan Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, primary songwriter, singer, and only constant member of alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. Corgan is credited with helping popularize the alt rock genre. He has also been the owner and promoter of the National Wrestling Alliance since 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Iha</span> American rock musician

James Yoshinobu Iha is an American rock musician. He is best known as a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. He was a member until the band's initial breakup in 2000 and rejoined in 2018.

<i>Gish</i> 1991 studio album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Gish is the debut studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on May 28, 1991, by Caroline Records. The album was produced by Butch Vig and frontman Billy Corgan, with the latter describing Gish as a "very spiritual album" and "an album about spiritual ascension".

<i>Siamese Dream</i> 1993 studio album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Siamese Dream is the second studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on July 27, 1993, by Virgin Records. The album was produced by Butch Vig and frontman Billy Corgan. Despite its recording sessions being fraught with difficulties and tensions, Siamese Dream debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200, and was eventually certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with the album selling over six million copies worldwide, catapulting the Smashing Pumpkins to mainstream success and cementing them as a significant group in alternative music.

<i>Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness</i> 1995 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the third studio album and first double album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on October 23, 1995, in the United Kingdom and on October 24 in the United States by Virgin Records. It was produced by vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan, alongside producers Flood and Alan Moulder. The lengthy 28-track album was released as a two-disc CD and a triple LP. It features a wide array of musical styles, including art rock, grunge, alternative pop, and heavy metal.

<i>Machina/The Machines of God</i> 2000 studio album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Machina/The Machines of God is the fifth studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on February 29, 2000, by Virgin Records. A concept album, it marked the return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and was intended to be the band's final official LP release prior to their initial breakup in 2000. A sequel album—Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music—was later released independently via the Internet, and in highly limited quantities for the physical version.

<i>Adore</i> (album) 1998 studio album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Adore is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on June 2, 1998, by Virgin Records. After the multi-platinum success of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and a subsequent world tour, Adore was considered "one of the most anticipated albums of 1998" by MTV. Recording the album proved to be a challenge as the band members struggled with lingering interpersonal problems, musical uncertainty in the wake of three increasingly successful rock albums, and the departure of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Frontman Billy Corgan would later characterize Adore as made by "a band falling apart". Corgan was also going through a divorce and the death of his mother while recording the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bullet with Butterfly Wings</span> 1995 single by the Smashing Pumpkins

"Bullet with Butterfly Wings" is a song by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was released as the lead single from their 1995 double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and is the sixth track on the first disc. This song was the band's first top-40 US hit, peaking at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also spent six weeks at number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and peaked at number four on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number 18 on the RPM Top Singles chart and spent four weeks at number one on the RPM Alternative 30 chart, becoming Canada's most successful rock song of 1995. It also reached number one in Iceland for a week.

<i>TheFutureEmbrace</i> 2005 studio album by Billy Corgan

TheFutureEmbrace is the debut solo album by American musician Billy Corgan, frontman of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. Released in June 2005, the album's sound was markedly different from most of Corgan's earlier work, eschewing his characteristic "drums, bass, (and) big-guitars sound" in favor of an electronic sound punctuated with heavily distorted guitar parts reminiscent of shoegaze.

<i>Zeitgeist</i> (The Smashing Pumpkins album) 2007 studio album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Zeitgeist is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on July 10, 2007 on Martha's Music and Reprise Records. Recorded solely by returning band members Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin, the album was the band's first since reuniting in 2006, and was produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Terry Date, alongside Corgan and Chamberlin themselves.

Powerspace was a four-piece power pop band from Chicago, Illinois. They were signed to Fueled by Ramen. The band released their debut album, The Kicks of Passion produced by Marc McClusky, on July 31, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Tulin</span> American musician

Mark Shalom Tulin was an American bass guitarist who played with the psychedelic rock band The Electric Prunes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Schroeder</span> American musician (born 1974)

Jeffrey Kim Schroeder is an American musician. He is best known as a former guitarist in the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, performing with them from 2007 to 2023. He recorded five studio albums with the band, from 2012's Oceania to 2022's Atum. After bandleader Billy Corgan, and longtime drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, Schroeder is the third-longest-serving member of the group.

<i>Welcome to the Wasteland</i> (Bad City album) 2010 studio album by Bad City

Welcome to the Wasteland is the only studio album by Chicago rock band Bad City.

<i>Monuments to an Elegy</i> 2014 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Monuments to an Elegy is the ninth studio album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on December 9, 2014 on Martha's Music. Band leader Billy Corgan noted that—like the band's previous release, Oceania—the album is part of the 34-track music project, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. It turned out to be the last part of the series due to cancellation of the project in 2018. Corgan and guitarist Jeff Schroeder recorded the album as a duo, with Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee adding drum parts. This was the last album before the return of original guitarist James Iha and drummer Chamberlin in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solara (song)</span> 2018 single by Smashing Pumpkins

"Solara" is a song by American rock band Smashing Pumpkins. It was the band's first song to be released after reforming three fourths of the band's original lineup in 2018, featuring Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin performing on a track together for the first time since 2000's Machina/The Machines of God album and subsequent non-album single "Untitled" prior to their original breakup. It was released as a single on June 8, 2018, as the first song from a set of two upcoming EPs that were set for release in 2018 before a full-length album titled Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. was announced in September. The song peaked at number 47 on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.

References

  1. ↑ Atlantic Records, Atlantic Records Signs Bad City. Atlantic Records via Earthtimes.org. Accessed June 25, 2010.
  2. ↑ AbsolutePunk.net, Powerspace Members Form Bad City. AbsolutePunk. Accessed June 25, 2010.
  3. ↑ FeedTheBeat.com, Bad City Gets Thumbs Up from Paul Stanley and Billy Corgan. FeedTheBeat. Accessed November 23, 2010. Archived November 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Daday, Eileen (September 3, 2010). "Suburban Rockers Bad City living their dream". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020.
  5. ↑ PaulStanley.com Paul Stanley News Paul Stanley. Accessed August 30th, 2010.
  6. ↑ Setlist.fm Bad City Tour Statistics: Slash 2010 World Tour.
  7. ↑ Possehl, Eddie (November 4, 2023). "10 Best Superhero Cartoon Openings, Ranked". Collider . Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  8. ↑ Meenan, Devin (May 29, 2021). "10 Best Superhero Cartoon Openings". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  9. ↑ Brownfield, Troy (March 30, 2020). "The 40 Greatest Animated TV Series Theme Songs". The Saturday Evening Post. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  10. ↑ Wade, Amber (June 27, 2011). "Bad City replace vocalist". Alt Press. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  11. ↑ Daily Herald . Daily Herald. Accessed December 20th, 2020.
  12. ↑ About.com Archived 2010-08-30 at the Wayback Machine About.com. Accessed September 3rd, 2010.
  13. ↑ ArtistDirect.com Archived 2010-08-30 at the Wayback Machine ArtistDirect.com Accessed September 3rd, 2010.
  14. ↑ Rock Eyez Interview with Josh Caddy. Rockeyez.com. Accessed November 23rd, 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.