Bad Dreems (stylised as Bad//Dreems) were an Australian rock band from Adelaide, South Australia. The band was co-founded in 2011 by lead vocalist Ben Marwe, lead guitarist Alex Cameron, bassist James Bartold and drummer Miles Wilson. Rhythm guitarist Ali Wells joined the band in 2017, having toured with the band since 2014, while Bartold departed the band in 2022 and was replaced by Deon Slaviero. The band first formed in 2011, releasing their debut EP in 2013. They released five studio albums to date, with all of them reaching the top 40 on the ARIA charts. The group performed alongside the likes of Midnight Oil, DMA's, the Scientists and the Chats, and have toured internationally on numerous occasions.
History 2011–2013: Origins and Badlands Bad//Dreems were formed in the middle of 2011, after guitarist Alex Cameron had moved back to Adelaide following a stint in Melbourne as a member of indie-rock band Dardanelles.Interview with Bad//Dreems. Alex Gordon, Happy, 26 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014. While playing at a local football club, Cameron crossed paths with Ben Marwe, with whom he began writing songs. Soon, the pair were joined by drummer Miles Wilson and bassist James Bartold, who had both played with Marwe's brother Wolfgang in the now-defunct band The Shiny Brights.
Originally adopting the name Young'n, the group officially solidified their original lineup in August 2011, playing a small handful of shows around their native Adelaide and honing their skills in a warehouse next to the West End Brewery.Bad//Dreems - Triple J Unearthed Profile. Bad//Dreems, triple J Unearthed, 26 February 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012. Influenced by an array of Australian artists from the '70s and '80s, including The Saints, Paul Kelly, and The Go-Betweens, as well New Zealand artists from the Flying Nun Records label, and similarly styled groups from the US, including the Wipers and The Replacements, Bad//Dreems' musical style was initially dubbed "outsider rock" by the press, though the group have since distanced themselves from this classification.A strange, sonic place: the evolution of Bad Dreems. Craig Mathieson, The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
Working with Johnny Mackay of Children Collide, Bad//Dreems recorded their first songs towards the end of 2011, releasing debut single "Chills" (paired with B-side, "Close2God") on 3 January 2012.Bad//Dreems - Bandcamp: Chills. Bad//Dreems, Bandcamp, 3 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
In July 2012, Bad//Dreems released their next single, "Too Old".Bad//Dreems - Bandcamp: Too Old. Bad//Dreems, Bandcamp, 23 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012. The following month, the group embarked on their first large-scale tour of the country, performing across Australia with Dune Rats as the main support acts for Children Collide during their Monument album tour.Children Collide announce supports. Staff Writer, Kill Your Stereo, 7 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
Throughout the end of 2012 and the start of 2013, Bad//Dreems began working with Paul "Woody" Annison to record their debut EP, Badlands. Released in July 2013Bad//Dreems To Drop 'Badlands' EP. Staff Writer, The Music, 27 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013. via independent label Mirador Records, Badlands featured a re-recorded version of debut single "Chills", along with a handful of other singles, including "Tomorrow Mountain" and "Caroline", which were issued as singles.NEW MUSIC: Bad Dreems | Caroline. Doubtful Sounds, 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
In December 2013, Bad//Dreems were named as part of triple j Unearthed's annual Next Crop list, appearing alongside the likes of The Bennies, Cosmo's Midnight, and Gang Of Youths.Annual Triple J Next Crop List Revealed. Natassia Baroni, Music Feeds, 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
2014–2015: Dogs at Bay Across 2014, Bad//Dreems played dozens of live shows, performing alongside names such as Regurgitator, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Violent Soho, the Scientists and Cosmic Psychos. In March 2014, the group performed one of their largest shows to date, appearing at the Clipsal 500 concert series on the same bill as Empire Of The Sun and Kimbra.
The following month, the band announced the release of new single "Dumb Ideas" and their subsequent signing to Ivy League Records.EXCLUSIVE: Bad//Dreems Sign With Ivy League, Release New Song. Scott Fitzsimons, The Music, 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014. The single was recorded in Melbourne with producer Mark Opitz, best known for his work with Australian acts such as INXS, Cold Chisel, and The Angels, and was issued as a double A-side 7" single with "My Only Friend" in August 2014.Bad//Dreems Drop New Tour Dates, Share New Single ‘My Only Friend’. Tom Williams, Music Feeds, 4 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
In October 2014, Bad//Dreems embarked on their first US tour, performing eight shows between Los Angeles and New York City, and playing alongside bands such as Tkay Maidza, Dune Rats and Cloud Nothings. For these US shows, guitarist Ali Wells played in Alex Cameron's stead due to his commitments as a surgeon. Wells would later repeat this in May 2015 during the group's debut UK tour, and would later occasionally step in at live shows for several years to play rhythm guitar – in turn, freeing up Marwe to focus solely on vocals.
In August 2015, the group released their debut album, Dogs at Bay. The record, recorded with both Opitz and Colin Wynne, debuted at #33 on the ARIA charts, and in 2021, was named in the "Honourable Mentions" section of Rolling Stone Australias list of the 'Greatest Australian Albums of All Time'.Rolling Stone Australia’s 200 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time: Honourable Mentions. Rolling Stone Australia, Rolling Stone Australia, 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
In September 2015, the group played a headline show at Adelaide venue Fowler's Live which was recorded and released by local record label Rad Jams Exchange.Live at Fowler's. Rad Jams Exchange, Bandcamp, 15 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015. The following month, the group made their debut as part of triple j's Like a Version series, performing a cover of The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face" with guest vocals from Isabella Manfredi from Sydney outfit The Preatures.Bad Dreems cover The Weeknd for Like A Version. triple j, 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
In November 2015, The Go-Betweens' Robert Forster guest-programmed an episode of Australian music programme Rage, broadcasting Bad//Dreems' "My Only Friend" and describing the track as "a masterpiece of Australian rock".The Go-Betweens’ Robert Forster Is Officially Bad//Dreems’ Biggest Fan. Greg Moskovitch, Tone Deaf, 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015. Two years later, Forster would join the band during their performance at the Splendour in the Grass festival, playing the song with the band, along with a version of The Go-Betweens' "Spring Rain".Here’s All The Surprise Collaborations You Missed At Splendour In The Grass. Adam Lewis, Junkee, 24 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
2016–2017: Gutful In 2016, Bad//Dreems returned to the studio with Opitz and Wynne to record their second album, Gutful. The band gave fans their first taste of the new album in October 2016, sharing lead single "Mob Rule". The track was critical of racist attitudes throughout Australia, and was described as "painting a disturbing picture of dystopic Australia with pure pub rock perfection".Bad//Dreems are tired of your racist bullsh*t on new single, Mob Rule. Troy Mutton, Pilerats, 12 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
In February 2017, the band shared their next single, "Feeling Remains". The single was also accompanied by a video which saw Bad//Dreems joined by former Recovery host Dylan Lewis as they performed a set in the style of the long-defunct programme.
Bad//Dreems released Gutful in April 2017, with the record debuting at #23 on the ARIA charts. In an interview released alongside the record, guitarist Alex Cameron explained that Gutful saw the band trying to push towards more of '70s-influenced post-punk sound, with the focus being that of capturing the group in their live element with little additional production.Bad//Dreems’ Alex Cameron on the group’s new record, politics, and meeting your idols. Tyler Jenke, Tone Deaf, 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
Later in 2017, Bad//Dreems were chosen as one of the support acts for the Adelaide leg of Midnight Oil's Great Circle tour, with the band opening Midnight Oil's first South Australian performance in 15 years alongside Spiderbait.11,000 screaming fans at Midnight Oil’s Adelaide concert. Nathan Davies, Tone Deaf, 26 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017. Also in 2017, Wells was inducted as a full-time member of Bad//Dreems, expanding the line-up officially to a five-piece.
2018–2019: Doomsday Ballet 2018 served as an uncharacteristically quiet year for Bad//Dreems, with the group performing less than ten public shows throughout the year. Towards the end of the year, the group entered Adelaide's Twin Earth Recording with Burke Reid and Jack Ladder to begin the recording of their third album.
In May 2019, the group were announced as the latest signing to Wollongong label Farmer And The Owl ahead of the release of their new album,Bad//Dreems sign with Farmer And The Owl ahead of their new record. Tyler Jenke, The Music Network, 8 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019. with lead single "Double Dreaming" released just weeks later.Hear Bad//Dreems Return With Rowdy New Punk Slice, ‘Double Dreaming’. Emmy Mack, Music Feeds, 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019. The release of the single coincided with the band's second UK tour, which also featured two support performances for Midnight Oil during the band's appearances at the O2 Apollo in Manchester and the O2 Academy in Brixton.Postcards from England and Ireland. Midnight Oil, Midnight Oil, 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
In October 2019, the group released their third album, Doomsday Ballet, with the record hitting #38 on the ARIA charts, and becoming their third consecutive release to chart within the top 40. In an interview conducted in support of the album, guitarist Alex Cameron explained that the record had emerged from roughly 100 different demos.Bad//Dreems’ Alex Cameron gives the skinny on ‘Doomsday Ballet’. Zoë Radas, Stack, 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019. Meanwhile, a separate interview saw drummer Miles Wilson allude to a stylistic shift within the record's sound, explaining that the band's motto within the studio had been "less pub, more art", indicating a concerted effort to avoid being pigeonholed within the pub rock genre.[INTERVIEW] BAD // DREEMS Explain Their New Sound on Doomsday Ballet, and How A Conversation with Peter Garrett was Tainted by Hot Bagging. Brooke Tunbridge, Volume Media, 11 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
In November 2019, Bad//Dreems again appeared as part of triple j's Like A Version series, this time covering the Warumpi Band's "Blackfella/Whitefella" alongside guests Peter Garrett, Emily Wurramara and Mambali.Peter Garrett Joined Bad//Dreems For A Moving And Pointed ‘Like A Version’. Jared Richards, Junkee, 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019. The same month saw the group return to the UK for a 15-date tour supporting The Chats.BAD//DREEMS ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE AND UK TOUR 2020. TotalNtertainment, TotalNtertainment, 29 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.