From left to right, top row: Jerry Foster, Gene Clarke and Ernie Bands; bottom: John Reynolds and Donald Hodge
The Bad Seeds came from northern Kentucky, in the greater metropolitan Cincinnati area. The Enquirer featured the band in its Teenager section on January 14, 1967. At the time the members were John Reynolds, Donald Hodge, Jerry Foster, Gene Clarke and Ernie Bands [sic – should probably read Ernie Banks]. The article notes the Bad Seeds appeared at Granny’s teen club in Elsmere, that the group would have an album in addition to the single, and also that “all except Ernie hail from Northern Kentucky”.
As far as I know, the album never materialized, but nine months earlier a different version of the group traveled to New York to cut a single for Columbia Records featuring two original songs by the band, the Dylanesque “King of the Soap Box” (written by John Reynolds) and the fine 12-string song “He’s Lying”, written by Jerry Foster, both songs published by Red Brick Music, Inc BMI. Robert Mersey conducted and produced the single, released on Columbia 4-43670 in May, 1966
According to a comment by Lloyd McGlasson, the band’s members on the single were:
Jerry Foster – six string guitar and backing vocals
Lloyd McGlasson – 12 string guitar and backing vocals
John Reynolds – bass and lead vocals
Earnie Banks – drums (Ernie Banks?)
Other sources list additional members, including Vicki Spencer on backing vocals on the single, and even Charlie Brown. Vicki Spencer would sing with The Bubble Gum Machine on their 1967 LP for Senate Records.
These Bad Seeds were not the Texas group who had three singles on J-Beck, nor the group from Oxnard, California with a single “Why Oh Why” / “Hearts of Stone” on TVA.
Who was in The Bad Seeds as bass player in 1964?
Did Tom Moellers ever play in this band and if so, was it the same Tom Moellers I knew that played in a band called The Gentrys?
The bad seeds in 1964 were called the teddy boys & John Reynolds was the bass player !
Jerry Foster….so what did my dad Donald play…lead guitar???
Donald joined the band in the summer of 1966 . He played 6 string & 12 string. He was a fun guy !
There is two tracks that came out from the vault of Saxony records by a band called The Teddy Bears, titled Voice Of The Lonely People along with King Of The Soapbox. They were never issued at the time and nothing is known about them but the two songs are on youtube.
The singer seems to be the same in the two bands, maybe they were related.
Does anyone has any infos?
I mean The Teddy BOYS, sorry about that. Moreover I looked the video again, and the youtube artist attribution gives the name of John Reynolds, so it is apparently the same band. I don’t know however if it is an early or a late incarnation.
The bad Seeds were one hell of a band loved their songs John, Jerry, Charlie and Lloyd they were ahead of their time great band. TW
Saw Jerry, Tom Moellers, Lloyd McGlasson and Gary Spalding when they were JESSE — Hung with them though many gigs at the Cabana, Round-Up and different high school gigs -was fortunate enough to play drums for Jerry & Tom in the late 70’s – miss those days -the great local scene (East Orange Express/Big Orange, Whalefeathers, Haymarket Riot….Gary’s pre-Jesse band…STARBUCK….)
Hope everyone is doing well !
Thanks for the site!
The Bad Seeds now have their own site with the full story!
Check it out here: http://www.badseedsweb.com/