Breakfast Club (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Breakfast Club


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Origin = New York, United States
Genre = Dance-pop
Years_active = 1979–1988
Label = Ze Records
MCA Records
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Current_members = Dan Gilroy
Ed Gilroy
Angie Smit
Gary Burke
Stephen Bray
Paul Kauk
Past_members = Randy Jackson
Madonna
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Breakfast Club was an American dance-pop group. Their biggest hit was "Right On Track," which went to #7 on the U.S. pop charts.

Band history

The group was formed in New York in the late-70s, and went through several lineups including one in which future pop icon Madonna was the drummer. By the early 1980s, the band included Madonna, Angie Smit on bass, and the Gilroy brothers, Dan and Ed, both on guitar (Dan sang lead vocals as well). Dan Gilroy was also briefly Madonna's boyfriend, and he eventually allowed her to sing some lead vocals. Madonna ultimately left to form a new band Emmy, but the remaining members soldiered on. By the mid-'80s, the band consisted of the Gilroys (with Dan now concentrating exclusively on vocals, while Ed provided all guitars), Gary Burke (bass), Paul Kauk (keyboards), and Stephen Bray (drums). Both Bray and Burke had previously been Madonna's bandmates in Emmy. Bray had also dated Madonna for a while, and reportedly, Madonna had initially suggested him as her replacement in Breakfast Club. They signed with Ze Records and released their eponymous album in 1987, which spawned the US Top Ten hit "Right On Track." Later, Randy Jackson (bass) and E. Doctor Smith (The Drummstick) (percussion) joined the band.

A second album was recorded but never released. Their last single was a remake of The Beatles classic song "Drive My Car" from the movie "License to Drive". Shortly afterwards the band broke-up. Bray later co-wrote several big hits with and for Madonna. They were nominated in the category of Best New Artist at the grammy awards in 1988, losing out to Jody Watley. Many of their music videos, including "Right on Track," were filmed by Jeff Stein, director of The Who documentary The Kids are Alright.

Dan Gilroy later went on to star in the kids' movie "Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme" as Gordon Goose.

Discography

tudio albums

#1987 - "The Breakfast Club"

ingles

#1987 - "Kiss and Tell" (#48 U.S.)
#1987 - "Never Be the Same" (#91 UK)
#1987 - "Right on Track" (#7 U.S., #54 UK)
#1988 - "Rico Mambo"
#1988 - "Expressway to Your Heart"
#1988 - "Drive My Car"

References

*Allmusic [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:5tk9ikn6bbo9~T1 link] - last accessed on Mar 15, 2006.
*http://www.madonnashots.com/1981.html Includes early photos of the band with Madonna
*http://www.drownedmadonna.com/punk/#breakfastclub Contains a brief clip of Madonna's stint with the band; includes interviews with Gary Burke and Stephen Bray.