Personnel: Ralph Covert, lead vocals, rhythm guitar; Terry Wathen, drums; John Duich, lead guitar; Tom ”Pickles” Piekarski, bass.
Formed: March 1987.
Current lineup together since: Summer 1990, when blues guitarist Duich replaced Tommy O`Brien.
Sound: Covert calls it ”energetic, guitar-driven pop.”
Influences: Covert cites the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Elvis Costello.
Songwriting: Covert writes the songs and tries to set new standards for being prolific. ”Last year I set myself a goal to write 100 songs in a year, and I hit my goal on New Year`s Eve.”
Onstage cover versions: The band avoids covers, though Duich occasionally takes center stage on Robert Johnson`s ”Walkin` Blues.”
Getting covered: Covert`s ”Not Dead Yet” turned up on Styx`s last album, ”Edge of the Century.” Covert says Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung contacted him after hearing the band`s first tape, ”Meet the Bad Examples.” ”He called me at home and said, `You probably don`t know me and/or care, but this is Dennis DeYoung, and I heard your cassette and I`m a big fan and don`t quit.` When they started working on the new album, he called up and said Styx had never done a cover song, but he loved the song and wanted to get my permission to do it.” As for the Styx version, ”I thought it was a very respectful homage. I was very flattered by it.”
Memorable concert experience: ”We were playing a couple months ago in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Pickles` bass amplifier blew,” Covert says. ”Someone came up to us and said he was a roadie with the Scorpions, and he offered to go borrow a bass amp for us. He came back with bass amp and members of the Scorpions, Great White and Mr. Big and about 75 drunken roadies. We ended up having a gonzo jam session, the highlight of which was members of the bands doing (the Who`s) `My Generation` and `Can`t Explain.”`
Namesake: ”I brainstormed about 600 names and weeded it out until I found the one that said what I wanted it to say,” the ever-prolific Covert says. ”I wanted to say something that had a little bit of an attitude but also a sense of humor.
Recordings: The band`s new CD, ”Bad Is Beautiful,” is due on locally based Waterdog Records next week. Most of the album was recorded more than a year ago and features former guitarist O`Brien. Mike Freeman produced at Short Order Recorder in Zion and Jor-Dan Studios in Wheaton.
Philosophy: ”We`re serious about not taking ourselves too seriously,”
Covert says. ”We work real hard, but we try to have a sense of humor.”
Goals: ”To find out how good we are, to see how big we can become and how good we can become,” Covert says.
Next appearances: Friday night at P.J. Flaherty`s and an album-release party Aug. 30 at FitzGerald`s.
