The Bad Examples
are a classic American pop band led by Ralph Covert that notched
up three quick hits in Holland off their debut European release,
Bad Is Beautiful. The premiere Continental tour's line-up was
the same outfit that was captured in concert on Cheap Beer Night:
guitarist John Duich (Legendary Blues Band, Lynne Jordan), Pickles
Piekarski (John Prine's Famous Potatoes), and founding drummer
Terry Wathen.
While on tour with Golden Earring, the Examples were asked to
perform on Jan Douwe Kroeske's long-running "Two-Meter Sessions,"
a Radio VARA show similar in stature and nature to BBC DJ John
Peel's programme. Playing together acoustically for the very first
time (on rented instruments, no less), the band's three-song set
was quickly expanded to 11. Included is the band's signature song,
"Not Dead Yet." Two Covert originals make their disc debut here:
"Battle Hymn of the Repugnant," and "The Master Thief Has Been
Murdered." Duich covers Robert Johnson's "Kind-Hearted Woman."
Lengthy (and hilarious) liner notes penned by Covert tell the
story of that magical first tour. Since then, Covert has logged
seven more trans-Atlantic tours, with the band and solo. After
you've read the stories behind the recording you'll find yourself
returning to the music often. The lengthy booklet also contains
numerous photos from that tour.
