Rock city, Nottingham 22/04/86Bit rate: 320 kps
LINK: rockcitynottingham
01.Intro : This Is Big Audio Dynamite
02.Medicine Show
03.Stone Thames
04.Bad
05.Sony
06.Beyond The Pale
07.A Party
08.E=MC2
09.The Bottom Line
10.1999
11.Sudden Impact
Big Audio Dynamite
| Big Audio Dynamite | |
|---|---|
 Big Audio Dynamite, 1995 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Post-punk, alternative dance |
| Years active | 1984–1997 2011–present |
| Labels | Columbia Radioactive/MCA Records |
| Associated acts | London SS, The Clash, General Public, Carbon/Silicon, Dreadzone |
| Past members | |
| Mick Jones Don Letts Dan Donovan Leo Williams Greg Roberts Nick Hawkins Gary Stonadge Chris Kavanagh Andre Shapps Michael 'Zonka' Custance Darryl Fulstow Bob Wond Ranking Roger | |
Big Audio Dynamite (later known as Big Audio Dynamite II and Big Audio, and often abbreviated BAD) are a British musical group formed in 1984 by the ex-guitarist and singer of The Clash, Mick Jones. The group is noted for their effective mixture of varied musical styles, incorporating elements of punk rock, dance music, hip hop, reggae, and funk. BAD's one constant throughout frequent shifts in membership and musical direction are the vocals provided by Mick Jones. After releasing a number of well-received albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Big Audio Dynamite disbanded in 1997, but have announced a reunion as of January 2011.
History
T.R.A.C. (1984)
After being ousted from The Clash in 1983 and following a brief stint with the band General Public, Mick Jones formed a new band called Top Risk Action Company (T.R.A.C.) He recruited bassist Leo "E-Zee Kill" Williams, saxophone player John "Boy" Lennard (from Theatre of Hate), and ex-Clash drummer Nicky "Topper" Headon. However, Headon was quickly sacked for his heroin addiction and Lennard either left or was fired and the band folded. Although the band released no material (only demos were recorded which have yet to be officially released), T.R.A.C. can be seen as a forerunner to Big Audio Dynamite in much the same way London SS can be seen as an early incarnation of The Clash.
Big Audio Dynamite (1984–1990)
Jones then formed Big Audio Dynamite with film director Don Letts (maker of The Punk Rock Movie, various Clash music videos, and later The Clash documentary Westway to the World), bassist Leo Williams (from T.R.A.C.), drummer Greg Roberts, and keyboardist Dan Donovan. In 1985 the group's debut, This Is Big Audio Dynamite, was released. The album's cover shows the group as a four-piece (minus Donovan); the full group is pictured on the back cover.
1986's No. 10, Upping St. reunited Jones for one album with former Clash band-mate Joe Strummer, who was a co-producer of the album and co-writer of a number of its songs. BAD supported U2 on their 1987 world tour, then released 1988's Tighten Up, Vol. '88 and 1989's Megatop Phoenix. Tighten Up, Vol. 88 contained "Just Play Music!", which was the second #1 single on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks. The band also recorded an unreleased track called "Keep Off the Grass" which was a rock-style instrumental of the theme to the classic western film, The Magnificent Seven. A promo video can be seen on YouTube.
In 1990, the original line-up wrote and recorded the song "Free" for the soundtrack to the movie Flashback. This would be the final song written with the original lineup, as the band would dissolve shortly after. Interesting note... "Bottom Line" from the first lp was remixed and used as the title track for "Flashback." However this track was not included on the soundtrack. It can be found on the 12" or by possible download. Later in 1990, Mick Jones would debut Big Audio Dynamite II and release the UK only album Kool-Aid. Dan Donovan would remain in BAD II for one song, a re-working of the final BAD track "Free" renamed "Kickin' In".
Big Audio Dynamite II (1991–1993)
For 1990's The Globe, only Jones remained from BAD, and the band was now called Big Audio Dynamite II. This new line-up featured two guitarists. The Globe featured the band's most commercially successful single, "Rush" which hit #1 on both the US modern rock chart and the Australian National Aria Chart. "Innocent Child" and "The Globe" were also released as singles. BAD supported U2 on their ZooTV tour and released the live E.P. "On The Road Live '92".
Big Audio (1994)
The band later recruited keyboardist Andre Shapps (co-producer of The Globe) and Michael "DJ Zonka" Custance as DJ and vocalist. Both appeared on the band's 1994 album Higher Power, which was released under the shortened name "Big Audio".
Final years and subsequent activities (1995–2010)
After signing with Gary Kurfirst's Radioactive Records in 1995, the band reverted to the original "Big Audio Dynamite" moniker and released their least successful album to date, F-Punk.
Radioactive Records refused to release the next proposed BAD album, Entering a New Ride.[citation needed] The line-up contained Mc vocals by Joe Attard (Punks Jump Up), Ranking Roger (the Beat, General Public) and drummer Bob Wond (Under Two Flags) In 1998, the band launched a new web site, primarily as a means to distribute songs from the Entering a New Ride album.
As of 2005[update], Jones is working on a project with Tony James (ex-member of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik) called Carbon/Silicon.
In early 2007, a BAD II live DVD was released.Reunion (2011–present)
In April 2010, Don Letts revealed to Billboard.com that he and Mick Jones broached the idea of a Big Audio Dynamite reunion, which would likely happen in 2011. He explained, "I could lie to you and say 'Not in a million years,' but...if Mick wasn't tied up with Gorillaz it might happen this year. (Jones) has looked at me and said, 'Maybe next year,' but who knows. I've got to admit that in the past I'm not a great one for reformations; I always think if you're lucky in life, you get a window of opportunity, use it to the best of your ability and then fuck off and let someone else have their turn. But here I am 25 years down the line considering the thing." Besides a Big Audio Dynamite reunion, Letts says he's also hopeful for more Legacy Editions of the group's albums after finding more unreleased material—including live recordings—in the vaults. "There's definitely more stuff; whether Sony thinks it's worthwhile, that's another matter. But there seems to be a lot of respect for Big Audio Dynamite. Time has shown that a lot of the things we were dabbling in back then have come to manifest themselves today...so hopefully we'll get to do some more."
Big Audio Dynamite has since been confirmed for the 2011 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and has announced nine U.K. tour dates in March and April 1011 on their website.
Personnel
Big Audio Dynamite (1984–1990, 2011–present)
- Mick Jones - vocals and guitar
- Don Letts - sound effects and vocals
- Dan Donovan - keyboards
- Leo Williams - bass
- Greg Roberts - drums and background vocals
Big Audio Dynamite II (1990–1993)
- Mick Jones - vocals and guitar
- Nick Hawkins - guitar and background vocals
- Gary Stonadge - bass and background vocals
- Chris Kavanagh - drums and background vocals
Big Audio (1994–1995)
- Mick Jones - vocals and guitar
- Nick Hawkins - guitar and background vocals
- Gary Stonadge - bass and background vocals
- Chris Kavanagh - drums and background vocals
- Andre Shapps - keyboards
- Michael 'Zonka' Custance - DJ, percussion and background vocals
Big Audio Dynamite (1996–1998)
- Mick Jones - vocals and guitar
- Nick Hawkins - guitar
- Andre Shapps - keyboards
- Michael 'Zonka' Custance - Dj
- Darryl Fulstow - bass
- Bob Wond - drums
- Joe Attard - Mc vocals
- Ranking Roger - vocals
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [5][6] | U.S. | AUS | ||
| 1985 | This is Big Audio Dynamite
| 27 | 103 | – |
| 1986 | No. 10, Upping St.
| 11 | 135 | – |
| 1988 | Tighten Up Vol. 88
| 33 | 102 | – |
| 1989 | Megatop Phoenix
| 26 | 85 | – |
| 1990 | Kool-Aid
| 55 | – | – |
| 1991 | The Globe | 61 | 76 | 10 |
| 1994 | Higher Power
| – | – | – |
| 1995 | F-Punk
| – | – | – |
| 1997 | Entering a New Ride
| – | – | – |
Singles
| Year | Song | Album | Chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Singles [5][7] | AUS Singles [8] [9] | U.S. | |||||
| Hot 100 | Club Play | Modern Rock | |||||
| 1986 | "The Bottom Line" | This Is Big Audio Dynamite | 97 | 34 | – | 33 | – |
| "E=MC²" | 11 | 47 | – | 37 | – | ||
| "Medicine Show" | 29 | – | – | 42 | – | ||
| "C'Mon Every Beatbox" | No 10, Upping Street | 51 | – | – | 19 | – | |
| 1987 | "V. Thirteen" | 49 | – | – | 15 | – | |
| "Sightsee M.C.!" | 94 | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1988 | "Just Play Music!" | Tighten Up, Vol. 88 | 51 | – | – | 45 | 1 |
| "Other 99" | 81 | – | – | – | 13 | ||
| 1989 | "James Brown" | Megatop Phoenix | – | – | – | 19 | 2 |
| "Contact" | 86 | – | – | 18 | 6 | ||
| 1990 | "Free" | Flashback soundtrack | – | – | – | 47 | 22 |
| 1991 | "Rush" | The Globe | – | 1 | 32 | 36 | 1 |
| "The Globe" | – | 8 | 72 | 28 | 3 | ||
| 1992 | "Innocent Child" | – | 67 | – | – | – | |
| 1994 | "Looking for a Song" | Higher Power | 68 | – | – | – | 24 |
| 1995 | "I Turned Out a Punk" | F-Punk | – | – | – | – | – |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | UK | U.S. | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Flashback soundtrack | 98 | 86 | One track, 'Free', by "Big Audio Dynamite" |
| 1991 | Ally Pally Paradiso | - | - | Live promo album as "Big Audio Dynamite II" |
| 1992 | On the Road Live '92 | - | - | Live EP released during their 1992 US tour |
| 1993 | The Lost Treasure of Big Audio Dynamite I & II | - | - | Double album compilation of rare 12" cuts and b-sides |
| 1994 | Looking for a Song | - | - | 2CD promo, Greatest Hits (Radio Edits) & 'Looking For a Song' EP |
| 1995 | Planet B.A.D. | - | - | "Best of" compilation by all B.A.D. variants |
| 1999 | Super Hits | - | - | "Best of" compilation by all B.A.D. variants |
| 2000 | Big Audio Dynamite I & II | - | - | US only compilation of selected album tracks |
| 2009 | The Best of Big Audio Dynamite | - | - | "Best of" compilation by all B.A.D. variants |
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1 comment:
Many thanks for this. I was at the show, but have only vague memories of it, so nice to hear again + looking forward to the reunion show at Rock City tonight.
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