Bad//Dreems

Bad//Dreems

Bad//Dreems are an Australian rock band from Adelaide, formed in 2012. The group consists of James Bartold, Alex Cameron, Ben Marwe and Miles Wilson, and they play alternative rock, garage rock and post-punk.

Early development and first release

The band begins in Adelaide in 2012, with the four members starting out in a whitegoods warehouse on the banks of the River Torrens. Their first release is the Badlands EP, which draws attention from Triple J and US college radio and leads to a recording deal with Ivy League/Mushroom.

Albums and touring

Their debut album, Dogs At Bay, appears in 2015 and is produced by Mark Opitz. A follow-up album, Gutful, follows in 2017, also produced by Opitz. Over this period the band tours widely in Australia and overseas, and appears at Splendour in the Grass, Falls and Laneway. They also support Midnight Oil, At The Drive In, The Avalanches, Wolf Alice, Scientists and Cold Chisel.

Later activity and style

In 2019, long-time live member and engineer Ali Wells joins the band. Their third album is recorded in Adelaide with production from Burke Reid and Jack Ladder. Musically, Bad//Dreems draw on Australian guitar groups from the 1970s and 1980s, along with US acts including Wipers, DEVO and Television. Their lyrics explore Australian dystopia and isolation, suburban ennui, male identity and, later, the absurdity of a post-truth world.