Tony Kennedy born in Glasgow in 1966, is the founding and now only remaining member of the jazz punk band Badgewearer founded in April 1989. Earning critical acclaim from many quarters including single of the week in the Melody Maker and numerous other international accolates including John Peel. He turned down Jelo Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label to remain with independent Glasgow label Gruf Witt, releasing over a ten year period: four LP’s and six 7” singles. In the meantime teaming up with Pakito Bolino and Caroline Sury as part of the Marseille art collective Le Derniere Crie to form the art noise phenomenon Mug, who performed at festival Mimi. His last performance was a live improvisation with legendary Can singer Damo Suzuki in Edinburgh. Badgewearer then became a solo project,involving collaborations with dancers, poets and writers.
He currently plays one of the three basses with the new Mexico based Albuquerque band Tiny Americans, with former members of 3 Mile Pilot and Trumans Water, specializing in live film soundtracks. Which has led to his most recent collaboration with the Rotterdam based video artist Marit Shalem.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played Badgwearer's debut single in the summer of 1990 and would play further material from the group, including a session they recorded for his radio programme in 1995. He also kept interest in Tony Kennedy's project Mug, who also did a session for his show in during 1995. After his death in 2004, it was later found out that Peel had a couple of Badgewearer's albums in his Record Collection: B.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1995-01-24. First Broadcast: 24 February 1995
- One Two Look At Your View / Blue Gorillas Are The Only Jazz Gorilla In The Mist / Diamonds & Dogfood / More Sore / Private Verandah / Anthem Garrison (Verse III Force 10)
- Mug
1. Recorded: 1995-03-16. First Broadcast: 07 April 1995
- Sitting Frog Imitator / Compilation Dog Food / Tout Est Anatomique / Parents Express Shock Attitude
Other Shows Played[]
- 16 July 1990: Book / Rhino (7" EP - This Bag Is Not A Toy) Gruff Wit
- 24 July 1990: You Don't Look At The Fireplace When You're Poking The Mantlepiece (7" EP - This Bag Is Not A Toy) Gruff Wit
- 30 July 1990: Book / Rhino (7" EP - This Bag Is Not A Toy) Gruff Wit
- 01 February 1992: N'Alien Head (album - F.T.Q.) Gruff Wit
- 18 April 1992: 'Too Much Soap (LP – F.T.Q)' (Gruff Wit)
- 18 November 1994: More Land Home (EP - Badgewearer) Guided Missile
- 26 November 1994 (BFBS): 'More Land Home (7" EP-This Is Not A Door)' (Guided Missile)
- 03 December 1994: Short Fast Control (7" - This Is Not A Door) Guided Missile
- 17 November 1995: 'Blue Gorillas Are The Only Jazz Gorillas In The Mist (LP-A Toy Gun In Safe Hands)' (Guided Missile)
- 25 November 1995 (BFBS): 'Blue Gorillas Are The Only Jazz Guerilla In the Mist (LP-A Toy Gun In Safe Hands)' (Amanita)
- 16 December 1995: Inkwell Disaster Fund (album - A Toy Gun In Safe Hands Guided Missile
- 18 August 1996: Touch Pretend Angus (LP - Thank You For Your Custom) Guided Missile
- 07 September 1996: Victorian Policeman (album - Thank You For Your Custom) Guided Missile
- 29 September 1996: Terminal Headboy (album - Thank You For Your Custom) Guided Missile
- 15 May 1997: ‘The Tall Lonely Cowboy In A Ten Gallon Fez (7 inch - Criterion Adjournments Secret Cowboy Agenda)’ Guided Missile
- Mug
- 20 May 1994: ‘Mr Pig Friend (2x7 inch – Headgun Jimmy )’ Amanita
- 03 June 1994: Copulation Box (2x7 inch – Headgun Jimmy )’ Amanita
- 18 June 1994: Mr Pig Friend (2x7 inch - Headgun Jimmy ) Amanita
- 18 June 1994 (BFBS): Le Bras Du Traitre (2x7" - Dead Men Don't Rape / Catatonic Workout) Aminata
- 01 July 1994: ‘Arm Head Periscope (2x7 inch - Headgun Jimmy )’ Amanita
- 08 October 1994: Arm Head Periscope (2x7”: Dead Men Don't Rape / Catatonic Workout) Amanita