Henry Badowski -

Henry Badowski (born Oct. 3, 1958) is an English New Wave/synthpop songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from North Kensington who released a standalone single on Deptford Fun City in 1979, followed by the album Life Is a Grand… on I.R.S. in 1981. He played with a sequence of acts beforehand, each on a different instrument: Chelsea (bass, mid-1977), Wreckless Eric (organ, 1977/78), and the Good Missionaries (drums, 1979).

In July/August 1978, Badowski gigged in the four-piece King — not to be confused with Paul King’s later band — with moonlighting Damned bassist-turned-guitarist Captain Sensible. King recorded a 7/20/78 Peel session that features early versions of “Antipope” (soon rerecorded by The Damned for Machine Gun Etiquette) and “Baby, Sign Here With Me,” which Badowski later redid under his own name. He followed Sensible when the latter re-teamed with Dave Vanian and Rat Scabies in The Doomed, but left as they reclaimed The Damned nameplate.

Background

Henry Badowski was born in October 1958 in North Kensington, London. He attended Chiswick Community School with future guitarist James Stevenson; the two played in school bands. Badowski took up saxophone under the influence of Roxy Music saxophonist Andy Mackay.

Early Group Activity

In March 1977, singer Gene October recruited Badowski as the bassist in the second Chelsea lineup with guitarist Stevenson. They replaced bassist Bob Jessie and guitarist Martin Stacey, players on the Chelsea protest single “Right to Work.” On June 21, Badowski and Stevenson recorded a BBC session with Chelsea for John Peel. Badowski left the regular lineup by late summer but returned on Oct. 6 for the farewell show at the Roxy.

Badowski and Stevenson then formed The Mysterons, who played one 100 Club show with Alternative TV and dissolved after their bassist left for ballet school.

In early 1978, Wreckless Eric recruited Badowski on Vox Continental organ for the New Rockets road band. On March 1, the band recorded a BBC session and subsequently toured behind Eric’s debut album.

By June, Badowski accepted a multi-role (sax, keyboards, vocals) in the band King, assembled by erstwhile Damned mascot Captain Sensible with bassist Kym Bradshaw and drummer Dave Berk. On July 11, King recorded a BBC session for John Peel with the Badowski composition “Baby, Sign Here With Me” alongside “Antipope.” King dissolved in August as Sensible prepared to regroup with former Damned members Dave Vanian and Rat Scabies. Sensible then recruited Badowski for the vacant bass position in the Doomed, the temporary name adopted while Brian James retained control of the Damned name. Badowski toured with the group through October, after which former Saints bassist Algy Ward took his place.

In 1979, Mark Perry recruited Badowski on drums and saxophone for the Good Missionaries. The group toured with the Pop Group and recorded the live performances compiled on Fire From Heaven from May through June at shows in St Andrews, Manchester, Liverpool, and Bristol.

Solo

Badowski then recorded his first solo single at Pathway Studios, where Perry assisted with the session. Deptford Fun City issued “Making Love With My Wife” (b/w “Baby, Sign Here With Me”) through Miles Copeland. Badowski performed “Making Love With My Wife” alone; James Stevenson, Dave Berk, and violinist Aleksander Kolkowski joined him on the B-side.

In October 1979, A&M reissued the single with reversed sides after Copeland introduced Badowski to the label. Badowski followed with “My Face” in 1980 and commenced work on a full album with co-producer Wally Brill and engineer Simon Smart. The sessions reunited Badowski with Stevenson, Berk, and Kolkowski.

Discography: