Badflower is an American rock band founded in Los Angeles, California. The band is composed of singer/guitarist Josh Katz, lead guitarist Joey Morrow, bass guitarist Alex Espiritu and drummer Anthony Sonetti. The band is signed to Republic Records and was named Artist of the Week by Apple Music after the release of their EP Temper in 2016. Their debut studio album, titled OK, I'M SICK, is scheduled for release on February 22, 2019.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Formation and indie label releases (2013–2014) 1.2 Major label signing and Temper EP (2015–2016) 1.3 Touring and debut studio album (2017–present) 2 Discography 2.1 Studio albums 2.2 EP 2.3 Singles 2.4 Music videos 3 References History Formation and indie label releases (2013–2014)

After years of playing music together, singer/guitarist Josh Katz and guitarist Joey Morrow formed Badflower after writing a few songs together. The name "Badflower" came out of a random conversation the two were having with a family member.[1] Bass guitarist Alex Espiritu and drummer Anthony Sonetti were recruited to join the band shortly after. They played several shows in Los Angeles including a weekly residency at The Key Club[2] and gained attention from satellite radio personality and former NSYNC member Lance Bass.[3] After a performance at The Troubadour, opening for Kongos,[4] the band signed with former independent record label Hundred Handed and began recording their first music release.

Major label signing and Temper EP (2015–2016) Group photos of the Badflower

Badflower released their debut single "Soap" via Hundred Handed records on March 4, 2015, and debuted its music video on Loudwire the same day.[5] Shortly after the release the band flew to Europe to support Australian pop duo The Veronicas and played to sold out venues including London's Heaven. Then, upon returning home to the US, the band headed straight back on tour to play several showcases in Austin, TX for SXSW and South by So What?! in Grand Prairie, Texas supporting Circa Survive.[6] A demo version of the band's song "Animal" was also used in record label executive John Varvatos's show during New York Fashion Week.[7] The band was then flown out to New York City to showcase for Varvatos and head executives at Republic Records with the prospect of making a deal.[citation needed] After the performance, the label immediately began negotiations which included a buy-out from their previous deal with Hundred Handed.[citation needed]

Impatient with the negotiations, the band took it upon themselves to begin recording an album in their garage. On March 10 the band signed with John Varvatos / Republic Records. When the conversation about making an album began, the band confessed they had already begun making it in their garage and submitted a nearly complete version of "Temper" to the label. To the band's surprise, the label loved the self-produced collection and began preparing to release the unanimous favorite, "Animal," as the first single.[8] "Animal" was premiered on Guitar World website and released on September 1, 2016.[7] Following the release of the single, the band performed across the US in support of Billy Talent on the "Afraid of Heights" tour in September, 16. While on tour, the band gained attention from active rock radio stations and top programmers for iTunes and Apple Music.[citation needed]

The band's debut EP, Temper dropped on November 4, 2016 and Badflower was named Apple Music's Artist of the week.[9] "Good, Old-Fashioned Rock n' Roll May Have Just Made a Modern Comeback," declares Nylon Magazine[10] Active and Alternative rock radio began spinning "Animal" regularly and was added by stations such as SiriusXM Octane and was voted #1 on KROQ locals only for multiple weeks in a row.[11] iTunes named "Animal" among the best rock songs and Temper among best rock albums of 2016.[12] A few songs from Temper were also featured on Spotify's most streamed music playlists including New Music Friday[13] Following the buzz, Badflower was asked to headline KCRW's School night in West Hollywood, CA on December 19, 2016. The band recruited friend and Big Bang Theory actor Johnny Galecki to join them on stage to close the show.[14] On December 31 "Animal" entered into the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream Rock Chart and peaked at number 28.[15] In addition, by March 2017 their single "Animal" from Temper had cracked at 1 million Spotify streams and as of 2018 has garnered them over 2,000,000 streams.[citation needed] Soon after the release of Temper EP on December 12, 2016, Badflower began touring to promote the release.[16]

Touring and debut studio album (2017–present)

Badflower as well as American rock band Red Sun Rising would be opening acts for Pop Evil on their "Rock 'N' Roll Now" Tour from January to February 2017.[17] After the tour, they would be the supporting bands with Bleeker and Beware of Darkness, as well as two additional shows with Red Sun Rising, playing at various music festivals like Buzzfest, Rock on Range and River City Rock Fest.[18] They would also put on a Summer tour with the rock group Goodbye June from Nashville, Tennessee, and In addition, it was announced they were to do several more headlines at major festivals like Louder Than Life Festival in Kentucky[19] During the tour, a previously unreleased track, "Move Me", was released on the band's Facebook page. Katz explained he wrote the song while heartbroken at a truckstop in Texas in 2013.[20] However, four days after the release of "Move Me", their tour van was broken into outside a venue in Los Angeles. Their Backpacks, wallets, laptops, cameras, gear etc. were stolen and they were forced to cancel two shows in Santa Cruz and Berkeley, California.[21] The tour reconvened soon after, and their track "White Noise", from their Temper EP, reached 1 million plays on Spotify.[22]

On September 9, it was revealed on Facebook they were to start recording for their first full length album with their record label John Varvatos /Big Machine Label Group, being the first rock group to sign a deal with the label.[23] Badflower began recording sessions for the new album in Nashville, Tennessee were Big Machine Label Group is based at as well as with independent record producer Noah Shain.[24] December 11 saw the release of their official music video for the song "Heroin".[25]

At the end of 2017, Badflower has had over 1,000,000 fans from 61 countries playing over 312,000 hours of their music from their Spotify alone, and has shown how far they have come over the past year from previous years.[26]

As of February 2018, they have been doing various private events to prepare for new singles and tour for the album, and are to perform at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas on February 22.[citation needed]

On November 1, Badflower announced their debut album will be titled OK, I'M SICK and will be released on February 22, 2019.[27]

Discography Studio albums Title Release details OK, I'M SICK Released date: February 22, 2019 Label: Big Machine Formats: CD, LP, digital download