Though music changes with the times, there is the fact that every 20 years or so, what was once old becomes new again. Not since Grunge Rock overtook Glam Metal has the shift in musical taste been so apparent. Last year in Pryor, Oklahoma a Festival called Rocklahoma steam rolled the notion that good old fashion revival in Glam Rock, Heavy Metal, and feel good Melodic Rock was shown to be back in; in ways that even the organizers of Rocklahoma could imagine! Now going for a second go around, the organizers have proven without a doubt that GLAM ROCK in all its glorious forms is back. This year the demand was so high an extra day had to be added, with more acts. So instead of three days in July, Rocklahoma will go on for four days; July 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. This historic event, taking up 3 stages, over 85 acts and having fans of almost every genre of Rock N’ Roll will be gathering for what is now the largest Music Festival in the US!
While many acts that hit it big in the 1980’s will be appearing on stage 1, and newer more modern rock acts will be appearing on stage 2. What may turn out to be the most happening stage; may happen on stage 3; where Sam McCaslin of Retrospect records will be bringing bands that had formed at the tail end of the first go around of Glam Rock will be appearing. I spoke with Bad Candy’s Kevin Hauk the bands spokes-man about the past and excitement and some nerves that the entire band is feeling; and it is apparent that J.T Mueller (lead vocals), Kevin Hauk (Guitar), Troy “Bones” Heigl (guitars/back-up vocals), Nikki Sottile (bass), and Ryan “Bam Bam” White (drums) are excited to be Bad Candy once more. The band formed by as teenagers back in 1988, got a record deal; and in 1991 put out their one and only 7 songs Ep originally called “Welcome to the Party”. Retrospect records a Record Label who takes bands that where just starting to hit, and some who even had minor hits and has turned the bands and their members back into the Rock Stars they had been so very close to becoming, repackaging their Ep’s and Cd’s and selling the music to die hard Glam Rock fans. In the case of Bad Candy, the Ep was renamed Welcome Back to the Party; showing what the band looked like in 1991 and what they look like now, adding a song “Hangin’ On”, and helped to give the guys from Missouri a second chance to be the Rock Stars they were beginning to be when the bottom fell out of the always great feel good music of the 80’s and early 90’s.
Though the band had some changes in their earlier line up’s they rocked the Mid-West in the late 80’s and early 90’s; before Grunge hit and stopped the always fun feel good music dead in its tracks. Like most bands that hit in the late 80’s and early 90’s; Bad Candy had built up a good following in and around their hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, however, like Kevin Hauk told me “ Not many bands have made it big coming out of St. Louis, and we were on the verge when seemingly overnight; the bottom dropped out”. For Bad Candy and many other bands like them, one day they had a great shot at major mainstream success; the next Glam Rock just seemed to die a very quick death on radio stations across the country. For several years after, they would be broken up; but in 1997 they thought “WHAT THE HELL” and got back together and did some performances.
Sam McCaslin owner of Retrospect Records found them around this time, and said “Hey I have a record label of bands like yours, do you want to jump on board?” Though the band was a bit weary at first, they did their research and found that Retrospect Records was a genuine Glam Loving record company and signed them.
In Between doing shows here and there in 1997 and today most of the band members have settled into their lives away from music; most of the members of Bad candy have gone on to have families and jobs outside of music, ranging from construction to sales and everything in between.
Though the band has not played together in quite some time, they have embraced the opportunity to be part of the re-emerging Glam Rock scene and have been slowly working up to be ready for their two days of playing at Rocklahoma. When they started practicing a year ago one day a week, they instantly felt the love for the music that they all thought was part of their youth; now really gearing up with more and more practices, the guys; though more responsible and mature, are ready to leave their daily lives, wives and kids to hit the biggest festival in the US; ROCKLAHOMA!
With their look more family man then Glam Rockers, they are ready to roll. You can visit their My Space page myspace.com/badcandystl and see them rock on the world stage on July 12, 2008 at 2:00pm and July 13, 2008 at 11:00am in Pryor, OK for ROCKLAHOMA! May the good times roll… again!
