Big Audio Dynamite II

Biography

Big Audio Dynamite II was the reconfigured incarnation of the English band Big Audio Dynamite (BAD), formed in London in 1984 by Mick Jones, former lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of The Clash, after his dismissal from that group in 1983. Following the departure of original members Don Letts, Leo Williams, and Greg Roberts—who briefly formed the band Screaming Target—the lineup shifted for the 1991 album The Globe, featuring Jones as the sole original member alongside two guitarists, including Nick Hawkins, keyboardist Andre Shapps (Jones's cousin), and others. The band blended punk rock, dance music, hip-hop, reggae, and funk, earning genres like new wave and alternative dance, with The Globe marking their commercial peak via the hit single 'Rush,' which topped the US Modern Rock Tracks and Australian ARIA charts.[1][2][6]

BAD II released The Globe in 1991, designed by Shawn Stussy, before reverting to Big Audio for 1994's Higher Power with additions like DJ Michael 'Lord Zonka' Custance. By 1995, under the original Big Audio Dynamite name, they issued F-Punk on Radioactive Records, their least successful album, leading to a breakup in 1997 after Entering a New Ride. A reunion tour occurred in 2011. The band's style evolved from Jones's post-Clash experiments, influencing alternative dance while maintaining an eclectic legacy longer than The Clash itself.[1][2][6]

BAD II's era highlighted Jones's vision as a 'vanity project' allowing genre-mashing without prior band tensions, solidifying BAD's endurance through lineup changes and tours supporting U2.

Fun Facts

• BAD II's 'Rush' was their biggest hit, reaching No. 1 on US Modern Rock Tracks and Australian ARIA charts from The Globe, sleeve designed by Shawn Stussy.[1][6]
• Original BAD members minus Mick Jones formed Screaming Target in 1991, naming it after Big Youth's 1972 reggae album as a tribute.[1]
• Joe Strummer approached Mick Jones early on to reunite The Clash, but Jones declined, prioritizing Big Audio Dynamite.[5]
• Guitarist Nick Hawkins from BAD II died of a heart attack in 2005.[6]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• The Clash - Former band of founder Mick Jones, providing punk foundation and influences in reggae, hip-hop, and experimentation (The Clash albums pre-1983) [1976-1983]

Key Collaborators

• Mick Jones - Founder, constant leader, vocals and guitar (All BAD II albums including The Globe (1991)) [1984-1997]
• Andre Shapps - Keyboardist, programmer, co-producer, Mick Jones's cousin (The Globe (1991), Higher Power (1994), 5 studio LPs total) [1990-1998]
• Nick Hawkins - Guitarist in BAD II lineup (The Globe (1991), Rush single) [1990-1993]
• Don Letts - Original member, vocals and samples; left before BAD II but key early collaborator (This Is Big Audio Dynamite (1985)) [1984-1990]
• Leo Williams - Original bassist; left to form Screaming Target and Dreadzone (Early BAD albums) [1984-1990]
• Greg Roberts - Original drummer; left to form Screaming Target and Dreadzone (Early BAD albums) [1984-1990]

Artists Influenced

• Screaming Target - Formed by ex-BAD members Don Letts, Leo Williams, Greg Roberts as tribute to Big Youth (Hometown Hi-Fi album, singles Who Killed King Tubby?, Knowledge N Numbers) [1991]
• Dreadzone - Electronic band formed by Greg Roberts and others including Leo Williams and Dan Donovan (Second Light (1995), Little Britain single) [1993-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia