Breakfast Club (band)

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Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club
Background information
Origin New York, United States
Genres New Wave, dance, synthpop
Years active 1979–1990
Labels ZE, MCA
Past members Dan Gilroy
Ed Gilroy
Gary Burke
Stephen Bray
Paul Kauk
Hannah Watkins
Megan Watkins
Alex Potts
Austin Phillips
Randy Jackson
Madonna
E. Doctor Smith
Angie Smit

The Breakfast Club were an American pop group. Their biggest hit single was "Right on Track", which peaked at No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was remixed for a commercial release in a 12" version for dance and club play by John "Jellybean" Benitez and became a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Magazine Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Band history

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. In 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 and the Emmys.[1]

In 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 and the Emmys.[2]

They signed with ZE Records and released their eponymous album in 1987 on MCA Records, 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", from the 1988 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. A majority 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.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 1987 - The Breakfast Club

Singles

  • 1984 - "Rico Mambo"
  • 1986 - "Right on Track" (No. 7 U.S., No. 54 UK[3])
  • 1986 - "Rico Mambo" (re-recorded)
  • 1987 - "Kiss and Tell" (No. 48 U.S.)
  • 1987 - "Never Be the Same"
  • 1988 - "Expressway to Your Heart"
  • 1988 - "Drive My Car"

References

  1. http://www.last.fm/music/Emmy+and+the+Emmys+%28Madonna%29
  2. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/breakfast-club-mn0000512922
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 77. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

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