Big Audio Dynamite
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 in London, England |
| Founder | Mick Jones |
| Defunct | 1997 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited in 2011 for performances |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Studio albums, live performances |
Big Audio Dynamite—also identified as Big Audio Dynamite II and Big Audio, and commonly abbreviated as BAD—was an English musical group established in London in 1984 by Mick Jones, formerly the lead guitarist and co-vocalist of the Clash. Their sound was an eclectic fusion of genres such as punk rock, dance music, hip-hop, reggae, and funk. After producing multiple well-received studio albums and embarking on extensive tours throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Big Audio Dynamite dissolved in 1997. The band later reunited for a series of performances in 2011.
T.R.A.C. (1984)
Following his exit from the Clash in 1983 and a short stint with the new wave ensemble General Public, Mick Jones initiated Top Risk Action Company (T.R.A.C.). He brought together bassist Leo "E-Zee Kill" Williams, saxophonist John "Boy" Lennard (formerly of post-punk outfit Theatre of Hate), and ex-Clash drummer Topper Headon. Due to Headon's heroin addiction, he was soon removed from the group, while Lennard either departed or was dismissed, resulting in the band's breakup. Although T.R.A.C. produced only demo recordings that remain unreleased, it acted as a foundational step toward the creation of Big Audio Dynamite, much like how London SS served as a precursor to the Clash.
Big Audio Dynamite (1984–1990)
Mick Jones assembled Big Audio Dynamite with film director Don Letts, bassist Leo Williams, drummer Greg Roberts, and keyboardist Dan Donovan. Their first album, This Is Big Audio Dynamite (1985), presented the band as a quartet, with Donovan absent from the performing lineup but credited for the cover photograph.
The 1986 release No. 10, Upping St. marked a reunion with former Clash lyricist and vocalist Joe Strummer, who co-produced and co-wrote five tracks on the album. During this period, BAD supported U2 on select dates of their The Joshua Tree Tour. Subsequent albums included Tighten Up Vol. 88 (1988) and Megatop Phoenix (1989). The album Tighten Up, Vol. 88 featured "Just Play Music!", which became their second track to top Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.
In 1990, the original lineup recorded the song "Free" for the movie Flashback. This project was their final collaboration before disbanding. The track "The Bottom Line" was remixed to serve as the film’s title theme but did not appear on the official soundtrack; it is accessible via 12" vinyl or digital download. Later that same year, Jones introduced Big Audio Dynamite II, issuing the UK-exclusive album Kool-Aid, which included Donovan’s contribution to a revamped version of "Free" titled "Kickin' In".
Big Audio Dynamite II (1991–1993)
By the time of 1991’s The Globe, Mick Jones remained the only original member within Big Audio Dynamite II, which had expanded its lineup to include two guitarists. The album’s artwork was created by designer Shawn Stussy. It contained the hit single "Rush", which achieved No. 1 positions on both the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and Australia’s ARIA Chart. In 1991, "Rush" was reissued in the UK as a double A-side alongside the Clash’s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"; despite this pairing, official credit for the No. 1 spot was given solely to the Clash. Additional singles from this period included "Innocent Child" and "The Globe".
During this era, BAD II toured as support for U2’s Zoo TV Tour, headlined MTV’s 120 Minutes tour alongside bands such as Public Image Ltd, Live, and Blind Melon, and released a live EP entitled On the Road Live '92.
Concurrently in 1991, original members of BAD briefly regrouped under the name Screaming Target, producing one album titled Hometown Hi-Fi along with two singles before disbanding again. This venture paid tribute to Jamaican reggae deejay Big Youth’s 1972 record Screaming Target.
In 1993, Greg Roberts went on to establish electronic music group Dreadzone with Tim Bran; bassist Leo Williams and keyboardist Dan Donovan joined before their sophomore album Second Light (1995). Dreadzone continues to be active today with Roberts and Williams still involved.
Big Audio (1994)
The lineup expanded with the inclusion of keyboardist Andre Shapps—known for co-producing The Globe, and related to MP Grant Shapps and Mick Jones—and DJ Michael "Lord Zonka" Custance, who contributed as both DJ and vocalist. Both artists appeared on the band's seventh studio release, Higher Power (1994), issued under the abbreviated name "Big Audio".
Final years and subsequent activities (1995–2010)
In 1995, after signing with Gary Kurfirst's Radioactive Records, the group reverted to their original moniker, "Big Audio Dynamite," and released F-Punk (1995), which became their least commercially successful album.
Radioactive Records opted not to distribute the next planned record, Entering a New Ride, which included MC performances by Joe Attard, Ranking Roger, and drummer Bob Wond. In 1998, the band created a website primarily to share tracks from this unreleased album. Only six songs were made available before the site ceased operation in 2001, coinciding with the band's breakup. Although never officially launched, the complete album eventually circulated online.
From 2005 onward, Mick Jones teamed up with Tony James (formerly of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik) on their collaborative project, Carbon/Silicon.
Early in 2007, a live DVD featuring eight tracks from BAD II titled Big Audio Dynamite Live: E=MC² was released.
2011 reunion
In 2010, Don Letts announced intentions for a potential Big Audio Dynamite reunion in 2011, dependent on Mick Jones's schedule. Letts expressed optimism regarding additional Legacy Edition releases drawn from unreleased archival materials, underscoring the band's lasting impact.
On 25 January 2011, the original members confirmed their reunion with a UK tour. This nine-date series proved both commercially and critically successful. Their sold-out performances at Shepherd's Bush Empire earned four-star ratings from The Times and commendations from The Observer. Their headline set at the Beautiful Days festival also received favorable reviews.
Throughout 2011, Big Audio Dynamite appeared at prominent festivals such as Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Glastonbury Festival 2011, Rock en Seine, and Lollapalooza.
Timeline
Big Audio Dynamite (1984–1990, 2011)
- Mick Jones – vocals, guitar
- Don Letts – vocals, samples
- Dan Donovan – keyboards, backing vocals
- Leo Williams – bass, backing vocals
- Greg Roberts – drums, backing vocals
Big Audio Dynamite II (1990–1993)
- Mick Jones – vocals, guitar
- Nick Hawkins – guitar, backing vocals
- Gary Stonadge – bass, backing vocals
- Chris Kavanagh – drums, backing vocals
Big Audio (1994–1995)
- Mick Jones – vocals, guitar
- Nick Hawkins – guitar, backing vocals
- Gary Stonadge – bass, backing vocals
- Chris Kavanagh – drums, backing vocals
- Andre Shapps – keyboards, programming, samples, percussion
- Michael 'Zonka' Custance – DJ, keyboards, samples, percussion, backing vocals
Big Audio Dynamite (1996–1998)
- Mick Jones – vocals, guitar
- Nick Hawkins – guitar
- Andre Shapps – keyboards, programming, samples, percussion
- Michael 'Zonka' Custance – DJ, keyboards, samples, percussion, gang vocals
- Daryl Fulstow – bass
- Bob Wond – drums
- Joe Attard – MC
- Ranking Roger – vocals
| Big Audio Dynamite (1984–1990) | Big Audio Dynamite II (1990–1993) | Big Audio (1994–1995) | Big Audio Dynamite (1996–1998) | Big Audio Dynamite (2011) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mick Jones | vocals, guitar | vocals, guitar | vocals, guitar | vocals, guitar | vocals, guitar |
| Don Letts | vocals, samples | vocals, samples | |||
| Dan Donovan | keyboards, backing vocals | keyboards | |||
| Leo Williams | bass, backing vocals | bass | |||
| Greg Roberts | drums, backing vocals | drums, backing vocals | |||
| Nick Hawkins | guitar, backing vocals | guitar, backing vocals | guitar | ||
| Gary Stonadge | bass, backing vocals | bass, backing vocals | |||
| Chris Kavanagh | drums, backing vocals | drums, backing vocals | |||
| Andre Shapps | keyboards, samples | keyboards, programming | |||
| Michael 'Zonka' Custance | DJ, percussion, backing vocals | DJ, keyboards, samples | |||
| Daryl Fulstow | bass | ||||
| Bob Wond | drums | ||||
| Joe Attard | MC | ||||
| Ranking Roger | vocals |
Discography
- This Is Big Audio Dynamite (1985)
- No. 10, Upping St. (1986)
- Tighten Up Vol. 88 (1988)
- Megatop Phoenix (1989)
- Kool-Aid (1990)
- The Globe (1991)
- Higher Power (1994)
- F-Punk (1995)
- Entering a New Ride (1997)
External links
- Articles with short description
- Big Audio Dynamite
- The Clash
- English dance music groups
- Musical groups established in 1984
- Musical groups disestablished in 1997
- Musical groups reestablished in 2011
- 1984 establishments in England
- Punk rock groups from London
- Alternative dance musical groups
- English post-punk music groups
- British dance-rock musical groups
- English funk rock musical groups