The Atomic Fireballs

The Atomic Fireballs is a Detroit band led by vocalist/songwriter John Bunkley. The group was formed during 1996 and is composed of Bunkley on vocals, James Bostek on trumpet, Tony Buccilli on trombone, Duke Kingins on guitar, Shawn Scaggs on double bass, Eric Schabo on tenor sax, Geoff Kinde on Drums and Randy Sly on piano; from September 1999 until the band's demise, Scaggs was replaced by Seán E. Harris on double bass and Bostek was replaced by Kenneth Ferry, Jr. on trumpet. The band was discovered by former Kid Rock manager Michael Rand. After booking the band nearly 60 concerts Michael began the process of introducing the band to several major record labels. Eventually Lava Records President Jason Flom came on board with Rand. The band was signed to Lava Records by A&R executives Rick Goetz and Jason Flom.

The Atomic Fireballs have released two albums: Birth of the Swerve, which was released independently in 1998, produced at Tanglewood Studio in Brookfield, IL, and Torch This Place, which was released on Atlantic Records in 1999. Though they are jump blues inspired, some listeners have placed them under the Swing Revival label. The band's biggest hit, "Man with the Hex", was included on the soundtracks of American Pie, Scooby Doo and The Haunted Mansion, was used in several TV shows, most notably Dawson's Creek, and was featured on both Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance as a quickstep. Visuals of the band performing "Swing Sweet Pussycat" are shown in the closing credits of the 1999 film Three to Tango.

Bunkley was the former frontman for Ska band Gangster Fun.

Geoff Kinde now teaches drums and percussion out of the Allen Park Marshall Music, and solo performs as Roland Remington. Eric Schabo now teaches history at Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. ^[1]

Discography

• Birth of the Swerve (1998)
• Torch This Place (1999)

References