THE BADLEES

Inducted Members: Bret Alexander, Jeff Feltenberger, Pete Palladino, Ron Simasek, Paul Smith

Though the Badlees have an origin story that spans much of Pennsylvania’s central region, Luzerne County residents have had a special kind of adoration for the iconic roots rock group. After searching the state and nation for creative opportunities that would satisfy them, the members of what would become the Badlees found a comfortable musical home performing in the heartland of Pennsylvania.

The story of the Badlees begins with a band called Bad Lee White, featuring multi-instrumentalist Jeff Feltenberger and drummer Ron Simasek. During a recording session, the pair encountered a talented studio engineer named Bret Alexander, who was invited to join them. Lineup instability left Bad Lee White as a detached three-piece group, but they were given new life when they swiped the immense vocal talents of Pete Palladino, whose stage presence pumped new energy into the band’s performances. Their growing fanbase casually dubbed them the Badlees, a moniker they would embrace and take on as their own.

The Badlees were unusually invested in performing original material, with Alexander serving as their lead songwriter and producer. Their first proper EP, It Ain’t For You, added to the band's growing visibility, but the Badlees set their sights on recording a full-length album. The first album, released in 1992, would be called Diamonds in the Coal, clearly a regionally significant reference. 

Two important collaborations sprouted during this era of the Badlees’ career. Paul Smith became the band’s full-time bassist, solidifying the Badlees’ classic five-piece lineup. In addition, Alexander teamed up with Hazleton disc jockey Mike Naydock, spreading out the songwriting duties and tying the Badlees closer to the Luzerne County music scene. While Alexander and Naydock had collaborated before, their work on Diamonds in the Coal was a major step forward in defining the Badlees’ roots rock sound.

The Badlees grew in popularity when their single “Back Where We Came From (The Na Na Song)” received radio airplay on stations across Pennsylvania. Their follow-up record, The Unfortunate Result of Spare Time, saw the Badlees expand their soundscape, using larger harmonies and obscure instrumentation to fill out their sound. After hitting the road again, including for a unique set of shows in China, the Badlees returned to the studio with new perspectives regarding their creative future.

The Badlees were launched into the national spotlight as a result of their third album, River Songs, in which they perfected the roots rock sound they had toyed with on their previous records. Specifically, Palladino’s harmonica became a key piece of the Badlees’ musical puzzle, giving their act a new and exciting element. River Songs included hits like “Angeline Is Coming Home” and “Fear of Falling,” perhaps the band’s two most recognizable tracks.

Now with a successful string of albums to their name, the Badlees took greater control over their output, defying industry standards while releasing two albums in 1999, Up There, Down Here, and Amazing Grace. Despite the absence of traditional promotion, the Badlees retained their faithful audience, especially in Luzerne County. Through their production work, Alexander and Smith became an early industry connection for Breaking Benjamin and other Northeast Pennsylvania artists.

The Badlees’ brand went on an extended hiatus following the releases of the critically acclaimed album Love is Rain in 2008, as well as 2013’s Epiphones and Empty Rooms. The original members' personal and professional ambitions had gone in different directions, but they were reunited years later and found the itch to play music together again.

From their formation, the Badlees have had a massive impact on the Luzerne County music scene. The early radio airplay they received helped them build a fanbase in Hazleton and the Wyoming Valley. They leveraged their success to prop up other local artists. When they came together again, the Badlees found support from the people of Luzerne County, who rallied behind their music to create a renewed interest in their sound.