The Bodeans

BoDeans
BoDeans in 2014
Background information
Origin	Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States
Genres	Heartland rock Alternative rock
Years active	1983–present
Labels	F&A Slash, 429, Zoë, He & He, Megaforce/MRI
Website	www.bodeans.com

BoDeans is a rock band formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1983. In 1985, the band signed a contract with Slash Records and recorded their critically acclaimed debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams. Early on, the BoDeans' sound was largely influenced by roots rock and heartland rock, but they began to move more into the genre of alternative rock by their second album. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band had several singles in the top 40 mainstream rock charts. In the mid-1990s, the band had two top 10 songs in the adult contemporary charts. In recent years, the band has made a return to their roots rock origins. BoDeans have a permanent installation at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland.

Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas met at Waukesha South High School in 1977. After discovering that they both had similar music interests, the duo began writing songs together. Llanas entered college, but soon left after Neumann urged him to pursue music with him. At the time, Neumann did not sing much and considered himself to primarily be a drummer, while Llanas had little experience as a guitar player. However, the two decided to get serious about music and both began to sing and play guitar under the name Da BoDeans in 1980. Though there are several stories of how their name came into existence, Sam has often explained that he got the name from The Beverly Hillbillies character Jethro Bodine. For Kurt, BoDeans conjured up the image of rock n' roll icons Bo Diddley and James Dean for a familial name, similar to The Smiths and The Connells. Early on, Neumann and Llanas were often credited as Beau and Sammy BoDean.