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The BoDeans
Origin	Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA
Genre(s)	Rock
Years active	1983 - present
Website	http://www.bodeans.com/

The BoDeans are a rock and roll band. They formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1983. Initially, they started out as a garage band. They got their big break playing on a small stage at Milwaukee's Summerfest.

Contents 1 History 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 3 Videography 4 Music Videos 4.1 Singles 4.2 Solo albums 5 References 6 External links

Initially, they called themselves, Da BoDeans. The character Jethro Bodean from the Beverly Hillbillies TV show was the inspiration for the band's name. The original duo was made up of Kurt Neumann (vocals & electric guitar) and Sam Llanas (vocals & acoustic guitar). In 1984 they teamed up with Guy Hoffman (drums). The trio quickly became a popular band on Milwaukee's East Side music scene. By the close of that year, Bob Griffin (bass) joined the group. In 1985 the quartet signed a contract with Slash/Warner Records and shortened their name to simply BoDeans. Under the guidance of producer T-Bone Burnett, they entered Hollywood's Sunset Sound Factory in October to record their first album. The critically acclaimed debut Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams was released in 1986.

In January 1987, a Rolling Stone reader poll voted them Best New American Band. They have rotated through various musicians, including keyboardists Michael Ramos and Susan Julian, and drummers Rick Jeager, Kenny Aronoff, Rafael Gayol, Nick Kitsos, Kevin Leahy and most recently, Noah Levy (formerly of HoneyDogs and Five For Fighting).

Their 1993 song "Closer to Free" was selected as the theme song to the TV series Party of Five.

The band took some time off in the late 1990s so Sam and Kurt could each record solo albums. Sam created Absinthe "A Good Day To Die" with the help of Milwaukee musicians Jim Eannelli (guitars and bass) and Guy Hoffman (formerly of Oil Tasters and Violent Femmes, currently of Radio Romeo). Kurt released his solo album called Shy Dog on which he plays all the instruments.

In 2001 the 17-song compilation The Best Of BoDeans - Slash and Burn was released on London/Slash/Rhino. In 2004 they returned with new songs on Resolution released on Rounder/Zoe. Their most recent CD, in 2005, is Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst. The group released the DVD for Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst at the end of 2005.

Around January 2006, Bob Griffin left the band for unknown reasons.

On November 8th, 2007 the BoDeans rocked out in Miller Park when they played at a party hosted by Metavante.

• Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams (1986) US #115
• Outside Looking In (1987) US #86
• Home (1989) US #94
• Black and White (1991) US #105
• Go Slow Down (1993) US #127
• Joe Dirt Car (1995) (2 CD live set) US #161
• Blend (1996) US #132
• Slash and Burn (2001) (Best of)
• The Leftovers (2003) (Rarities collection)
• Resolution (2004) US #196
• Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst (2005) (2 CD live set)

• Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst (2005) (DVD)

• She's a Runaway (1986)
• Fadeaway (1986)
• Only Love (1987)
• Dreams (1988)
• Good Work (1989)
• You Don't Get Much (1989)
• Good Things (1991)
• Black White & Blood Red (1991)
• Closer to Free (1993)

Year	Title	Chart positions[1]					Album
		US Hot 100	US Modern Rock	US Mainstream Rock	US Adult Top 40	US Top 40 Mainstream
1987	"Only Love"	-	-	#16	-	-	Outside Looking In
1988	"Dreams"	-	-	#32	-	-	Outside Looking In
1989	"You Don't Get Much"	-	#15	#20	-	-	Home
1991	"Black, White, and Blood Red"	-	-	#34	-	-	Black and White
1993	"Feed the Fire"	-	-	#34	-	-	Go Slow Down
1996	"Closer to Free"	#16	-	-	#3	#6	Go Slow Down
1996	"Hurt By Love"	-	-	-	#33	#39	Blend

• A Good Day To Die (1998) (Absinthe/Sam Llanas solo project)
• Shy Dog (1999) (Kurt Neumann solo project)

1. ^ Chart Positions at Allmusic.com

• BoDeans
• Guy Hoffman
• Lazy-i Interview: September 2004