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Ward, 1980
Dale, 1981 |
Where are they now?
Dale: "These guys from Washington managed the Jamaican reggae star Eek-A-Mouse, and they became Bad Sneakers' managers in 1985. But we never did get to meet Eek, and worse, we suddenly had a lot of down time. So of course I became a part-time journalist. Songwriting, journalism – it's all just telling stories. And some of them are true." » Read more Neal: "I suppose I knew Bad Sneakers was over when Dale quit, but I remained in denial for a while. Making the 'Big Ducks' album was a miserable experience, and to this day I can't listen to it. Within its tortured tempos and chaotic arrangements I can only hear the sound of our grand experiment ending – not with a bang, but with a quack." » Read more Marc: Producer, engineer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with more than 150 CD projects to his credit, Marc is owner of Target Studios and one of the most respected producers in the mid-Atlantic region. » Read more Shane: Originally from Miami, Fla., Shane left Bad Sneakers in 1986. He worked as a recording engineer at Calliope Studios in New York City, and went on to engineer, mix and produce several gold, platinum and Grammy-winning records over the next 15 years. » Read more Ward: Ward left Bad Sneakers in mid-1983 and purchased the M&K recording studio in North St. Georges, Del. He produced two live albums recorded at Wilmington's Grand Opera House: "Animals, Vegetables and Mineral Springs" by Jerry "Crabmeat" Thompson and "You Shoulda Been There" by the Johnny Neel Band. Ward ended his own life Dec. 29, 1983. » Ward's obituary Keith Moss: In the mid-‘80s, Keith ran Bad Sneakers’ stage lighting and later worked as audio technician. From 1988 to 1991, he played guitar with Neal in Newark, Del.-based Laura and the Levelheads. A Levelheads standout: Neal's ballad "Hit and Run." » Read more Joe Dombroski: Joe directed Bad Sneakers' first videos in early 1980 and joined the crew as audio technician. He is now president of event production company Brandywine Electronics Ltd. » Brandywine Electronics Scott Humphrey: Scott, who sometimes preferred to call himself "Pierre OmFRAY," ran Bad Sneakers' stage lighting. He is now president of Light Action Inc., a full-service production company specializing in theatrical lighting, roofing and staging systems. » Light Action Dante Pagano: Dante toured with Bad Sneakers as audio technician in 1981. Where is he now? Good question. Neal recollects. » Read more Greg Mack, Martin LeMaire: Both served terms as Bad Sneakers' audio technician – Greg in 1981-'82 and Martin in 1985-'86, when he and Marc recorded and mixed "Big Ducks." Both are currently members of the Funsters, a Delaware-based 10-piece band with a 15-year track record. Coincidence? You decide. » The Funsters Joe McFadden: Audio technician circa 1984. Credited on "Beat the Meter" as "live sound, security head." Current whereabouts unknown. » Report a Joe McFadden sighting Paul Lohr: Paul handled management and promotion for Bad Sneakers as well as the Johnny Neel Band circa 1983. Paul is now president of New Frontier Touring in Nashville, Tenn. » New Frontier Touring |
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Ward, 1981 |
The venues
Landmarks on the rock 'n' roll highway Bruce Springsteen never thought, "Wow. I'm playing on the same stage that Bad Sneakers did." But the other way around? Sure. » Read more The wreck of Big Red Neal: "We knew it was to have been the last voyage of Big Red, our faithful but worn-out equipment truck, because we had already purchased its replacement. We never imagined that Big Red would go out like a true rock star, with a spectacular show that almost took two band members out with it." » Read more All Week: Snake Beards Dale: "We weren't the kind of band that trashed hotel rooms. Mindless vandalism was just too boring. With us, it had to be creative vandalism." » Read more |
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Promo photo, 1981 |
Fan mail: good, bad and just weird
Lusty Maria Rickie: "I am from London, England, and need Love 'BAD.' If you take me up on the offer of a sexy foreign woman you must [illegible] me. I was once in a band. I wrote two top hit singles in Liverpool, England. I'll sell them to you for a million pounds or my body for a million dollars." » Read more So how come you guys never made it? Did you suck, or what? Neal: "This is an entirely reasonable question to ask, and I've thought about it a lot through the years. I've come to two conclusions. First, I'm pretty sure we didn't suck. Second, I'm absolutely certain that Bad Sneakers was doomed from the start." » Read more 'You were a big part of our lives' A fan looks back: "You guys were awesome! Nothing like anything we had been hearing at the time locally or on mainstream radio. ... One of the best live shows I have ever experienced. " » Read more |