By Erik Bilstad, Diane Pathieu and Jay Sorgi
News Radio 620
The Milwaukee Common Council spent part of its session Tuesday morning honoring one of the most successful rock bands the area ever produced.
The BoDeans, led by co-frontmen Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas, received a special commendation at City Hall on Tuesday.
Neumann and Llanas created the band while they attended Waukesha South High School, but they developed much of their sound and climbed the musical ladder while living in Milwaukee.
"The first time playing together in a friend's garage, the police came and shut the band down, but Kurt and Sam were not deterred," said Alderman Nic Kovac.
"Little did the two know their band, named because it sounded cool and combined Bo Diddley and James Dean, would soon have a video on MTV and become part of Milwaukee and Wisconsin music history."
The band's debut album came out in 1986, and it is still going strong.
"We always kept our music real simple, and good melodies and stuff like that where people could sing along, and so I think that's why young and old can relate to it," explained Neumann to TODAY'S TMJ4 HD's Diane Pathieu.
The band released its debut CD in 1986 and had smash hits such as "Closer to Free" and "Good Things."
"I've always believed in my heart that Milwaukee gave us that chance to do it and supported us," said Neumann.
"Some of their early magazines and articles would talk about if Milwaukeeans would set their down their beers and get up and dance, that was a great accomplishment. We were able to achieve that, so I felt like we could go anywhere."
The band will perform at the Marcus Center in Downtown Milwaukee on Friday evening, promoting their new CD, "Mr. Sad Clown."
"As long as fans show up and want to hear what we play, we'll keep playing," said Neumann.
