Bad Sneakers» In the mid-‘80s, Keith ran Bad Sneakers’ stage lighting and later worked as audio technician. From 1988 to 1991, he played guitar with Neal in Newark, Del.-based Laura and the Levelheads. Laura Ludwig, a former Miss Delaware, fronted the band and married Keith in 1990. A Levelheads standout: Neal’s ballad “Hit and Run” from the … Read more
Neal: » “Dante Pagano’s real name was Dan Fleming, but he apparently didn’t think that name was cool enough. He was a great soundman and he maintained a commanding presence behind the sound board. “He refused to let anyone violate his work space, and on more than one occasion I watched as walked back to the … Read more
» “These guys from Washington managed the Jamaican reggae star Eek-A-Mouse, and they became Bad Sneakers’ managers in 1985. But we never did get to meet Eek, and worse, we suddenly had a lot of down time. So of course I became a part-time journalist. Songwriting, journalism – it’s all just telling stories. And some of … Read more
Landmarks on the rock ‘n’ roll highway Bruce Springsteen never thought, “Wow. I’m playing on the same stage that Bad Sneakers did.” But the other way around? Sure. Here are some of the historic venues where the band appeared – and some that earned their own place in the Bad Sneakers story. » Tony Mart’s, … Read more
“It’s always funny how music takes you back to the exact time in your past. My wife of 29 years and I first heard you guys in Rehoboth Beach, Del., when you released ‘Sneak Attack.’ “We hadn’t been married long, and were at the beach for the day. We just happened to go by a … Read more
Q: So how come you guys never made it? Did you suck, or what? Neal: “This is an entirely reasonable question to ask, and I’ve thought about it a lot through the years. I’ve come to two conclusions. First, I’m pretty sure we didn’t suck. Second, I’m absolutely certain that Bad Sneakers was doomed from the … Read more
You can learn a lot in a band, when you’re making something out of nothing and getting paid almost nothing to do it. What I learned from Dale was how to squeeze more out of life. More laughs, more adventures, more music. I always just assumed that there would be more time. I met Dale … Read more
Dale: “We weren’t the kind of band that trashed hotel rooms. Partly because we wanted repeat gigs, but also because we were tidy to the point of compulsion. At least as rock bands go. “Besides, mindless vandalism was just boring. Pour beer into a TV set? Some other bands, maybe. With us it had to … Read more