| Breakfast Club | |
|---|---|
Breakfast Club |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | New York, United States |
| Genres | New Wave Dance Synthpop |
| Years active | 1979–1988 |
| Labels | ZE Records MCA Records |
| Members | |
| Dan Gilroy Ed Gilroy Gary Burke Stephen Bray Paul Kauk Hannah Watkins Megan Watkins Alex Potts Austin Phillips |
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| Past members | |
| Randy Jackson Madonna E. Doctor Smith Angie Smit |
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Breakfast Club was an American New Wave group. Their biggest hit single was "Right on Track", which went to #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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The group was formed in New York in the late 1970s, and went through several line-ups including one in which Madonna was the drummer. By the early 1980s, the band included Madonna, Angie Smit on bass, and the Gilroy brothers, Dan and Ed, both on guitar (Dan sang lead vocals as well). Dan Gilroy was also briefly Madonna's boyfriend, and he eventually allowed her to sing some lead vocals. Madonna ultimately left to form a new band Emmy, but the remaining members soldiered on.
By the mid 1980s, the band consisted of the Gilroys (with Dan now concentrating exclusively on vocals, while Ed provided all guitars), Gary Burke (bass), Paul Kauk (keyboards), and Stephen Bray (drums). Both Bray and Burke had previously been Madonna's bandmates in Emmy. Bray had also dated Madonna for a while, and reportedly, Madonna had initially suggested him as her replacement in Breakfast Club. They signed with ZE Records and released their eponymous album in 1987, which spawned the U.S. Top Ten hit "Right On Track". Later, Randy Jackson (bass) and E. Doctor Smith (The Drummstick, percussion) joined the band.
A second album was recorded but never released. Their last single was a cover version of The Beatles' song "Drive My Car", used in the film, License to Drive. Shortly afterwards the band broke-up. Bray later co-wrote several big hits with Madonna. They were nominated in the category of Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards in 1988, losing out to Jody Watley. Many of their music videos, including "Right on Track", were filmed by Jeff Stein, director of The Who documentary, The Kids Are Alright.
Dan Gilroy later went on to star in Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme as Gordon Goose and in Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle as Pete the Postman.