Dear readers,

Over the years, as I've covered rock music for The Times Leader and The Weekender, I've had the opportunity to do some pretty cool stuff and talk to some very talented people. But through all of those columns and articles, there's nothing that I've enjoyed more than writing about Pennsylvania's own Badlees.

Today, more than 15 years after my first story on the band, the members of the Badlees continue to write and record some of the best rock music I've ever heard. They are clearly among the most talented songwriters I've encountered, and it has been a pleasure bringing their story to you through the pages of our newspapers.

Here, we've archived all of my Badlees articles, all in the order in which they originally appeared in the paper. We've also tried to link them up with the original artwork from the stories, or a photo of the band from that particular period. I think they serve as an interesting time piece for the various eras of the group, and I myself enjoyed reading through them again as we prepared to launch this Website. Here, if you're a new fan of the band, you can learn more about their colorful background. And if you're one of their longtime devoted fans, where the fond musical memories are plentiful ... well, to quote a line from their most recent album, looking at these stories again can feel, in many ways, like a "drive back home."

I hope you also enjoy revisiting their story. And believe me — whether it be as The Badlees or with their solo projects — there will certainly be much more to come from these guys.

September 2009