The Badloves

The Badloves
The Badloves
Also known as	DC3
Origin	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Soul; blues; R&B; alternative rock;
Years active	1990–1997; 2008–2010; 2014–present;
Labels	Warner; Mushroom; Festival Records; TCB;
Members	Michael Spiby; James Ryan; Kit Riley; Samuel Cope; Jeff Consi; Susie Ahern;
Past members	John "Jak" Housden; Stephen "Irish" O'Prey; John Spiby; Tony Featherstone; John Favaro; Chris Tabone; Robbie Ragg; David Hibbard;
Website	thebadloves.com.au

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.

History

1990–1994: Get on Board

The 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

The 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

In 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

In 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

Current

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

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

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Certifications
Title	Album details	AUS ^[4]	Certifications
Get on Board	Released: 26 July 1993^[11] Formats: CD, Cassette, LP Label: Mushroom Records	5	ARIA: 2× Platinum^[12]
Holy Roadside	Released: 23 October 1995^[13] Formats: CD, Cassette, LP Label: Mushroom Records	14	ARIA: Gold^[14]

Live albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	AUS ^[4]
Everybody Everywhere	Released: 14 April 1997^[15] Formats: CD + VHS Label: Mushroom Records	82
Raw Honey	Released: October 2016 Formats: CD, DD Label: Michael Spiby	—

Compilation albums

Title	Album details
The Mushroom Tapes	Released: October 2000 Formats: CD Label: Mushroom Records
The Definitive Collection	Released: September 2004 Formats: CD, download Label: Festival Records, Warner Music Australia

Extended plays

Title	Album details
14	Released: March 2002 Formats: CD, download Label: TCB (TCB7009)
Gimme 5	Released: March 2007^[16] Formats: DD Label: Warner Music Australia

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Certifications	Album
Title	Year	AUS ^[4]	Certifications	Album
"Lost"	1993	51		Get on Board
"I Remember"		48		Get on Board
"The Weight" (with Jimmy Barnes)		6	ARIA: Gold^[12]	Flesh and Wood
"Green Limousine"		35		Get on Board
"Memphis"	1994	73		Get on Board
"Caroline"	1995	65		Holy Roadside
"Slave"	1995	—
"Living Things"	1996	—
"Barefoot Bride"	1996	75
"Soulbrothertruckinsong"^[17]	2019	—		TBA
"Tribal"^[18]	2020	—		TBA

ARIA Awards

The 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
	"Lost"	Breakthrough Artists - Single	Won
1995	Get on Board	Highest Selling Album	Nominated
1996	Holy Roadside	Best Group	Nominated
1996	The Badloves, Doug Roberts for Holy Roadside	Producer of the Year	Nominated

References

^ ^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.