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Bad News was a spoof rock band created by Adrian Edmondson for the Channel 4 TV series The Comic Strip Presents....Its members are Vim Fuego (Alan Metcalfe), vocals and lead guitar (played by Adrian Edmondson); Den Dennis, rhythm guitar (Nigel Planer); Colin Grigson, bass (Rik Mayall); and Spider Webb, drums (Peter Richardson).

Their first appearance was in 1983, in the first series of The Comic Strip Presents... (written by Edmondson, and produced by Michael White/Comic Strip Productions). The episode, Bad News Tour, took the form of a spoof rockumentary, in which the incompetent band is followed on tour by an almost equally incompetent documentary crew. Coincidentally, it was in production at the same time as the similar film This Is Spinal Tap, which was released the following year to much greater acclaim. Beyond the premise, the two aren't that similar: Spinal Tap have some talent and a lot of success, while Bad News has neither.

The band also guested on some TV music shows and released a self-titled album which was produced by Brian May from the rock band Queen, consisting of thrashy rock songs interspersed with arguments amongst the band. Brian May of Queen produced the album, which included a cover of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

They also played a tour of universities and polytechnics as well as playing Reading Festival in 1987.They also had a suitably bad opening set at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington. This performance was featured in a second Comic Strip film, More Bad News, broadcast in 1988.

APPEARANCES +


Bad News
Completely Bad News
2019, 2xDVD-V, The Comic Strip Presents
Nasty Disaster
Satan, Whores, And Guys With Swords
2017, CD, MiniAlbum, Not On Label
Colostomy Baguette?
Awkward Lactose Tolerance ...A Complication Of Gore/noisegrind Love Songs From Our First Five Years
2015, CDr, Comp, Promo, Not On Label (Colostomy Baguette? Self-released)
Colostomy Baguette?
Radio #1
2011, CDr, Comp, Promo, Not On Label (Colostomy Baguette? Self-released)
Colostomy Baguette?
I Remember A Time When Once You Used To Felch Me...
2010, CDr, Single, Ltd, Not On Label (Colostomy Baguette? Self-released)
Various
One Night Only - The A.I.M.S. Gala (Live At The Royal Albert Hall)
2006
Happy Hour
Warriors Of Ghingis Khan
1991, Vinyl,
Various
Bradford's Noise Of The Valleys: The Missing Music 2: 1972-1987
2012, CD, Album, Comp, Bradford Noise
Various
Best Of The 80s - 1 Hit Wonders
2011, CD, Comp, P/Mixed, EMI Gold,
Various
Rock Collection Vol. 15: Greatest Heavy Metal Of The 70s & 80s
2006, 2xCD, Comp, Disky Special Products, ,
Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
Various
The Tube Anthology - The Best Of Series 1
2005, ,
Punk/Synth-pop/Alternative Rock/Electro/P.Funk/Interview/Comedy/New Wave/Funk/Heavy Metal
Various
The Lion Rocks Tonight
1992, 2xCD, Comp, RCA, ,
Arena Rock/Blues Rock/Pop Rock/Soft Rock
Various
Rock'N Up Sampler 1992 6-8
1992, CD, Comp, Promo, Smplr, EMI
Various
Hard'N'Heavy Hits
1989, Cass, Comp, EMI, ,
Glam/Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
Dr. Demento
Kids: Good And Otherwise Show #89-48 / November 20, 1989
1989, 2xLP, Transcription, Westwood One
Various
Emi Metal
1989, ,
Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
Various
Heavy Metal Mania
1988, Cass, Comp, EMI
Various
Instore Video Compilation (No.16)
1987, VHS, Comp, Mono, Promo, PAL, EMI, Capitol Records, EMI USA, Parlophone
Various
Monsters Of Rock 1986
2011, 6xCD, Ltd, Unofficial, Langley Deluxe, ,
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Jimmy Page
Session Man Into The 80's To The Future
2xCD, Comp, Unofficial, Patriot Label,