BAD BOY were a late 70's to mid-80's HR/AOR band that released an EP and four albums and "Best of" draws from the band's 80's releases. This is very appealing guitar rock in the vein of Talas and Coney Hatch, although these guys were around in the 70's opening for the likes of Alice Cooper. First three cuts are harder edged rockers from 1981's "Private Party"; then things seem to soften up a bit come 1984's "Electric Eyes" which saw the use of poppier drum beats, more harmonies and catchy choruses. The three tracks from 1986's "Girl on the Run" EP see the band go for more of an arena sound with more adverturous production such as using sax, keys, and the big drum sound of "She Can Drive You Crazy". The last two tunes are new tracks. - Kevin Julie, Extreme Magazine (Canada, Upstate New York), Fall, 1999

These American rockers have been about sometime, dating back to the 1970's and have at least 3 acclaimed albums to their name. They are lead by vocalist and multi-talented Steve Grimm. This CD was sent for review and it's such a pleasure to listen to it as it holds some exceptional tunes and 14 is way too short. They have even cut 2 new songs especially for this release, but even the old compositions kick ass big time. Songs which cut the mustard include the pulsating "Cheat on Me" and the great "Stay with me Tonight" both overflowing with good melodic chunky riffage and infectious tune! I must add Steve Grimm has won a bucket load of awards for best song and singer so this Milwaukee group have plenty to show off about. At present, the ex-Cheap Trick singer Xeno is singing for them (No, I have never heard of him either!), but he does a brilliant job. The last 2 new traxx are AOR rock at its very best. One listen to "Gotcha!" will have you hooked. Check out that cool drumming and the guitar solo from melodic heaven - some melody! "Sex Thang" is like a sleazy Poison meets Survivor and has a wicked tune. I wish I'd found out about this Amercan act sooner. - Julia James, Scrap=Metal, UK, January, 1999

Between 1977 and 1986, this American band from Wisconsin produced 4 LPs and one EP. Musically, you could clssify them as heavy rock with enough pop content to go through life as a pop rock band. This CD is a compilation of 10 songs, with 2 never before released bonus tracks and 2 tracks only released on single. From what I hear on this CD, this band is a very well kept secret that his finally seen the light of day. Fans of American hard rock in the late 70's, early 80's will undoubtably enjoy this. This swings like nobody's business! - Mindview, Belgium, December 1998

As is evident by their hard driving rock and roll, this band was the top of the heap. Now they're back with this explosive "Best of" album which take thes best of the old and the new to re-establish this legendary Milwaukee band. - Allen Foster, Songwriter's Monthly, November, 1998

What could be more preposterous than picking up a "Best of" album by someone you've never heard of before? On the other hand, could there be any better way to evaluate an artist than by listening to a set comprising 17 years of a group's best recordings? That's what most of us are in for when listening to "Best of Bad Boy", a new collection from Marietta-based Surgeland Records. Turns out, Bad Boy were - and still are - a glam/pop/metal act with a sonic resemblance to Cheap Trick that's more than mere coincidence; one of the Boy's two vocalists (the cryptically-named Xeno) sang in an early lineup of the Trick. Headquartered up in Wisconsin - where they apparently enjoy a large fanbase even today - Bad Boy scored a two-album deal with United Artists in the late '70s and released two more LPs, several singles and an EP on assorted smaller labels over the next decade. Althought UA material is still missing action, "Best of Bad Boy" assembles tracks from the band's '80s releases, Private Party, Electric Eyes and Girl on the Run, along with two singles and two newly recorded tunes. Playing this disc opens a time capsule back to the days of long hair, spandex, block-long limos and leopard-print leotards. The silliness begins with three songs from '81: the Def Leppard-spotted "Run from Yourself," AC/DC-electric "Here I Am," and "Private Party," on which the Boys kick up a quiet little riot. Although lyrics like "Oh no! Run from yourself! Run! Run!" and "Come on baby/Don't say maybe!" aren't gonna cause Leiber-Stoller any sleepless nights, the terrific ascending power chords on the choruses - as well as the textbook-perfect artillery barrage drumming - will put a shimmy down the stiffest backbone. Four songs from 1984's "Electric Eyes" offer less bang: only the April Wine whine of "Something Ain't Right" shows much personality. The Boys are back in form though, on tracks culled from 1986's Girl on the Run: "She Can (Drive You Crazy)" is a Bon Jovial rave-up propelled by crashing power chords, lingering sustain and more of those amazing drums with just the right mix of boom and kerwhack (unforunately a lost art among the new crop of '90s heavy rock acts); "Girl on the Run" - which actually uses backward masking - delivers an evil laugh with a line about a "nice tight sweater." Those were the days, right? Apparently, these STILL are the days for Bad Boy, as testified by the new tunes, the funky "Sex Thang" and a Scorpions-styled styling called "Gotcha!". "Best of Bad Boy" makes this material available for the first time of CD. It's a shame Surgeland Records hasn't issued the dam thing on 8-Track tape. Somewhere, I'll bet, there's a Camaro Z/28 dashboard that's hungry for it. - Gregory Nicoll, Creative Loafing, October 31, 1998

Milwaukee - Bad Boy, one of the more popular bar bands in the Midwest during the '80s, has been resurrected. Its new material nicely represents its signature melodic hard-rock style. The band currently consists of two original members - singer/guitarist/songwriter Steve Grimm and drummer Lars Hanson - as well as singer/guitarist/songwriter Xeno and bassist Craig Evans. Bad Boy recently began gigging in its hometown area, playing sets that combined new and old material. Among the more notable gigs was one at Shank Hall, during which the band was joined onstage by a number of notable local musicians, including WKLH Milwaukee radio personality Kevin Brandt and saxophonist Jay Bartholomew. Bad Boy is booking tour dayes and is also writing material for a release featuring all-new songs. - Continental Drift, Billboard, October 17, 1998

The band that Milwaukee made famous is finally getting their dues with the release of this greatest hits package. While these guys did tour in small clubs all over the US, Milwaukee was their home base. I recognized a handful of songs on this album, but was never quite sure who sang them. I now have the answer. I think the whole album is killer, but the three songs that have stuck in mind ever since the first time I heard them are "Thunder and Lightning", "Cheat on Me" and "Midnight Love". I would highly recommend this hard rockin' CD to anyone. Not only are the songs great, but these guys are very talented musicians. - Kevin Brown, Eternal Jam, October, 1998

"Best of...?" I didn't even know Bad Boy existed. Shot from the backfire of '80s power rock by way of the Dokken, Kix or Keel songbook - especially on the intro to opener "Run from Yourself" - Bad Boy is Rock and Roll High School 20 years late. It's equally reverent and ridiculous like any great band of the mad, bad boneheaded glam metal era is perceived now. Lots of melodic guitar lines and sing-along choruses wound around themes of girls ("Cheat on Me"), girls ("She Can (Drive You Crazy)") and, uh, girls ("Stay With Me Tonight") keep the hormones flowing, while a low budget-but-slick production gives this collection just the right amount of rebel charm. Nostalgians will alternately gyrate and guffaw at the A-D-E progressions, but either way they'll be smiling, fondly recalling the goofy fun those crazy '80s party days bring back. - Dennis Walkling, Morava Media, October 1998

To be honest, I'd normally be totally against reviewing a "Best of" release from anyone. It's always much better to track down the artist's individual albums. However, in the case of Bad Boy, I'll make an exception: hardly anyone outside of Milwaukee will have heard of them and the tracks are taken from their three independent releases which were not that easy to find even at the time of release. They did have two earlier major label releases in the late 1970s on United Artists - 1978's "The Band Milwaukee Made Famous" and the far superior "Back to Back". The first three cuts are from the "Private Party" album which came out in 1981. Actually it's my least favourite of all their releases as it is really quite forced hard rock and the title track even sounds like a mixture of Cheap Trick and the Godz!. But wait till you get to track four - "Something Ain't Right" from 1984's "Electric Eyes" - and you'll find a band that had developed by a considerable measure and expanded their sound in a very systematic way and taken melody much more to heart. To me it's the best song they ever recorded, intensely melodic, yet spiky and hook-laden: thinking man's hard rock with AOR overtones and a sound clearly defined as their own. "Cheat on Me" from the same album is almost as good and constructed with real precision. By the time you reach track seven you've reached 1986 and the "Girl on the Run" EP which is initially represented by "She Can (Drive You Crazy)". All the tracks on that EP were fine old-school US melodic rock. Start listening to Montrose in 1973, but in the oven until the mid-1980s and this is what you get! Saxophones are also used a couple of tracks from the EP which then bring the direction closer to the US band Adrenalin. Another four recordings are also included. "Gotcha!" and "Sex Thang" are much better produced that the other two. The later in partiocular is studious melodic rock while the former might have some old-fashioned tendencies but is still cool. If you've never heard Bad Boy this is clearly a good place to start, yet if you're an established fan there's enough new material and the kudos of getting some of the old songs on CD to make it a very worthwhile addition to a collection. Oh and don't worry - prolonged exposure does no turn you into one of those cheese-head people! - Ian McIntosh, AOR Basement, October 1998

Bad Boy still goin' good They're as Milwaukee as a brat and a brew, and now you can take them home with you. Local heroes Bad Boy, a fixture on the Midwest rock n' roll scene for more than 20 years, have finally gotten around to releasing their first CD (earlier albums were released on vinyl and tape). Songs on "Best of Bad Boy" (Surgeland Records) were culled from the melodic hard rockers' '80s releases "Private Party", "Electric Eyes" and "Girl on the Run". The album also features two new singles written by founding band member Steve Grimm and vocalist Xeno. Both bad boys, as well as original drummer Lars Hanson and new bassist Craig Evans, will be on hand to rock the house tonight at a CD release party at Shank Hall. Doors open at 8pm, the show starts a 10PM. Tickers are $5, available at Shank Hall, 1434 Farwell Ave. - Gemma Tarlach, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - September 18, 1998