The Bad Examples
The Bad Examples have been a staple of the Chicago scene since their heyday in the early '90's, when their song Not Dead Yet was burning up the airwaves on Chicago's WXRT and on radio stations from coast to coast in America and across the ocean in Holland. They've toured from LA to New York to Amsterdam, and played shows with bands including Los Lobos, Squeeze, Del Amitri, Steppenwolf, Wilco, The Lemonheads, Golden Earring, and BB King. Their eight albums have been met with critical acclaim, and recent years have seen them active again, rocking crowds and recording new music.
The band has gone through line up changes through the years, but continues to record and play shows with the same spirit and rocking energy as ever.
““Bad Is Beautiful is a flat-out wonderful collection of thoughtful, intelligent, and witty pop songs... one of the top 50 pop albums of all time.””
Behind The Records
MEAT
Recorded the same week as The Bad Examples first gig, MEAT is a shimmering debut that reflects the future of the band’s sound – bristling pop, tender ballads, the bluesy grind of “I Want A Bad Girl,” and the first version of “Not Dead Yet.” Wake up, world. The Bad Examples have arrived.
Bad Is Beautiful
The classic album that put the band on the map. An indie album with major label swagger from the days before indie bands were a thing. On Goldmine Magazine’s list of Best 50 Pop-rock Albums. Tommy O’Brien’s guitar work shines.
Cheap Beer Night
The explosive line up of John Duich, Pickles Piekarski, Terry Wathen, and Ralph Covert had been touring for a year, and this live album captures just how great they’d become as they play a set that includes brand new songs and favorites.
Kisses 50c
Steve Gerlach’s energetic sound helps the bands erupt into 3D alternative energy, recorded at Chicago’s legendary Idful Studios. Witty lyrics, cascading chord sequences, and devil-may-care virtuosity crash out the speakers.
Popscape
An excellent introduction featuring the first six albums of Ralph Covert and The Bad Examples catalog, peppered with unreleased songs that stand among their finest, like “Let Her Go” and “Adam McCarthy.”
Two Meter Sessions
The “Cheap Beer Night” line-up plays acoustic versions of “Bad Is Beautiful” for Dutch National Radio, plus unreleased songs from John Duich and Ralph Covert. The CD book documents the band’s first European tour in epic prose.
5000 Days
A bruising and joyful celebration of the first decade plus of the band’s journey, captured live, and featuring consecutive line-up changes that follow the growth and evolution of the band over the years. Exhilarating.
Good Examples of Bad Examples
Favorites plucked from the catalog to tickle the ears of Ralph’s World kids and their rocking parents. Includes a clean-lyric version of “Not Dead Yet,” as well as new songs like “Find Your Cherry Bomb.”
Smash Record
If “Bad Is Beautiful” and “Kisses 50c” got drunk and had a baby. The experience and wisdom gleaned from ten Ralph’s World albums filtered back through The Bad Examples’ grit and glitter.