Bad News: Every Mistake Imaginable - The Complete Frilly Pink Years 1987-1988, 2CD

•    Complete collection of the recordings by “spoof” metal act Bad News.

•    Bolstered with a number of bonus tracks.

Created for Channel 4’s The Comic Strip Presents series in 1983, the pathos-filled Bad News Tour followed a day in the life of spoof heavy metal band, Bad News. Preceding the release of This Is Spinal Tap by more than a year, Bad News were led by singer and guitarist Vim Fuego (played by Ade Edmondson), joined by bassist Colin Grigson (Rik Mayall), drummer Spider Webb (Colin Richardson) and guitarist Den Dennis (Nigel Planer). Filmed as a fly on the wall rockumentary, Bad News Tour followed the band to a gig in Grantham, while detailing their relative failures on the elusive road to success.

The band made their live debut at the 1986 Monsters Of Rock festival, Castle Donington. The show was filmed for Comic Strip sequel, More Bad News on a bill featuring Def Leppard, Scorpions, Motorhead and headlined by Ozzy Osbourne, all of whom made cameos in the eventual programme. By the time that More Bad News was broadcast in February 1988, Bad News had released their Brian May produced, self-titled debut (CD1).

In a short, but meteoric career, Bad News released their second album, ‘Bootleg’ (CD2), in 1988. Appearing on CD for the very first time, ‘Bootleg’ is best summed up as, where, “The first album features music and some arguing between the band members, this album is almost entirely arguing.” It’s probably best to leave the final word to singer and guitarist, Vim Fuego: “I could play ‘Stairway To Heaven’ when I was 12. Jimmy Page didn't actually write it until he was 22. I think that says quite a lot.”

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

Bad News (1987)

1  Hey Hey Bad News

2  Warriors Of Ghengis Khan

3  Bohemian Rhapsody

4  Bad News

5  Masturbike

6  Drink ’Til I Die

Bonus Tracks

7  Cashing In On Christmas (Let's Bank Mix)

8  Cashing In On Christmas (7" Version)

9  Pretty Woman

10  Life With Brian

11  Bohemian Rhapsody (Take 1)

12  Hey Mr. Drummer

DISC TWO

Bootleg (1988)

1  Bad Dreams

2 A.G.M.

3  Double Entendre

4  Locked In

5 Aids

6  O’Levels

7  Wedding

8  H.M. Farmer

9  Masturbike

10  Cashing In On Christmas (Dub)