Bad News: The Satirical Heavy Metal Legends of The Comic Strip Presents...
In the landscape of British comedy, few acts have managed to blur the line between fiction and reality as effectively as Bad News. Originally conceived as a fictional heavy metal band for the Channel 4 series The Comic Strip Presents..., the group evolved from a televised joke into a legitimate charting act that performed at some of the biggest rock festivals in the UK.
Combining the aggressive energy of thrash metal with the chaotic humor of the Comic Strip troupe, Bad News served as a biting parody of the rock-and-roll lifestyle, characterized by incompetence, internal strife, and an utter lack of musical talent.
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Key Facts
- Origin: United Kingdom (created for The Comic Strip Presents...).
- Active Years: 1983–1988.
- Genre: Heavy metal, comedy rock, and parody music.
- Chart Success: Their cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" reached No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart in 1987.
- Notable Collaborator: Queen guitarist Brian May produced their debut album.
- Core Members: Vim Fuego, Den Dennis, Colin Grigson, and Spider Webb.
The Origins: The "Bad News Tour"
Bad News first appeared in 1983 in the episode "Bad News Tour." Written by Ade Edmondson, the episode was a mockumentary—a satirical documentary—that followed the band's disastrous journey to a gig in Grantham. The episode mirrored the style of Mark Kidel's 1976 BBC documentary So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star?
The plot highlighted the band's utter ineptitude: they had no manager, no recording contract, and their "tour" consisted of a single show where only four people attended. The episode introduced the band's volatile dynamics, featuring a journalist named Sally Freidman (Jennifer Saunders) and a groupie named Tracy (Dawn French). Interestingly, this episode was produced around the same time as the famous film This Is Spinal Tap.
Early Musical Rarities
The songs featured in the 1983 debut, such as "The Motorbike Song" and "Mr Rock N Roll," are unique because they are the only Bad News recordings not co-produced by Brian May. These tracks were written by Edmondson and Simon Brint.
From Fiction to Festival Stages
By 1986, Bad News transitioned from a TV sketch into a real-world entity. The band was invited to perform at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington. In a display of their comedic approach to performance, the band spent much of their set dodging plastic bottles thrown by the crowd, with Colin Grigson using his guitar as a bat to hit missiles back into the audience.
The band's real-world activity expanded to include a show at the Marquee Club and opening slots for Iron Maiden, featuring guest appearances by rock legends Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Brian May.
Chart Success and Studio Work
To support their live appearances, the band released the self-titled album Bad News in 1987, produced by Brian May. The album blended thrashy rock with recordings of the band members arguing. Their cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" became their most successful release, peaking at No. 44 in the UK charts.
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The "More Bad News" Era and Legacy
In 1988, Channel 4 aired "More Bad News," a one-hour follow-up mockumentary. The plot explained that the band had split in 1983 due to personality conflicts but were reunited by Sally Freidman to record the single "Warriors of Ghengis Khan." The film culminated in a disastrous performance at Monsters of Rock that allegedly caused a riot, leaving the band members hospitalized.
The group later released Bootleg (1988), an album consisting almost entirely of spoken-word arguments recorded during their studio sessions. While the band ceased active operations after 1988, their legacy lived on through various compilations and a 2012 documentary revealing the fictional fates of the members: Vim returned to painting and decorating, Colin became a bank clerk, and Spider retired to the West Country.
Band Summary
| Member (Character) | Actor | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Vim Fuego (Alan Metcalfe) | Ade Edmondson | Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar |
| Den Dennis | Nigel Planer | Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals |
| Colin Grigson | Rik Mayall | Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals |
| Spider "Eight-Legs" Webb | Peter Richardson | Drums & Backing Vocals |
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Bad News a real band?
They began as a fictional creation for The Comic Strip Presents..., but the actors performed the roles in real life, released charting records, and played major festivals like Monsters of Rock.
Who produced the Bad News album?
The 1987 self-titled album was produced by Brian May, the lead guitarist of Queen.
What was their most successful song?
Their cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" was their biggest hit, reaching number 44 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1987.
What is the album "Bootleg"?
Released in 1988, Bootleg is a comedy album consisting primarily of dialogue and arguments between the band members recorded during their studio sessions.
What happened to the characters after the band split?
According to a 2012 documentary, Vim returned to being a painter and decorator, Den assisted him, Colin became a bank clerk, and Spider retired to the West Country.