Click here for a collection of pictures of the bands from back in the day who eventually evolved into today's Bad Habit

So what is the history behind Bad Habit? Actually, these guys didn't just get together recently. The core group have been in and out of the same bands for over thirty years now! Bad Habit is the result of four bandmates and friends and who decided to have some fun...just one more time.

Back in 1969 Dennis was a sophomore at Independence (Ohio) High School. During biology class he happened to be seated at a lab table with a fellow student named Steve. They began talking and found out that they were both aspiring musicians. Steve played the guitar and Dennis had just started playing drums a few months earlier. They decided to jam at Steve's house. The first song they played was 'White Room' by Cream. Dennis and Steve tried a number of different members and instrument configurations, but none seemed to gel properly. Finally they found a 15-year-old Parma (Ohio) High School bass player named Jack. They jammed over Dennis' house and immediately realized that there was quite a bit of potential in this power trio. The only problem was they needed a front man and lead singer. Enter another fellow student from Independence named Dave. He previously jammed with Dennis and Steve and had good stage presence. Besides, he was the only singer they knew who owned a PA system. After several weeks, the band realized they needed a fuller sound. They decided to add a rhythm guitarist and auditioned numerous guitarists. They finally invited another Independence High student named Bob to jam. This tall, lanky guy literally did not know how to play guitar well. He had been playing for only a couple of months at the time of the audition. Fortunately, Steve saw potential in Bob. Steve loaned Bob his red Fender DuoSonic and began instructing the newbie. Before long, Bob was filling in as a great rhythm guitarist.

By the time they all hit 11th grade, the band was christened 'Chain'. They were playing at many of the high school dances and the local sock hops (the predecessor to today's raves, but a tad calmer). By 1971, Bob was also playing lead guitar. The first songs Bob played lead on were 'Out of Focus' by Blue Cheer and 'Cat's Squirrel' by Jethro Tull.

When they graduated from high school, the band members decided to become career musicians. 'Chain' practiced 5 days a week for 7-8 hours a day. They soon realized that Dave just wasn't what they needed as a singer. During the summer of 1971, an experienced singer named John replaced Dave. The new singer was what this powerhouse needed! 'Chain' specialized in heavy bands such as Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, Cream and Mountain. They played lighter songs by bands like Jethro Tull, Johnny Winter And, The James Gang, Glass Harp, and Neil Young's Crazy Horse.

'Chain' played many gigs in the Cleveland Flats (it was nowhere nearly as nice and clean as it is now) and the local suburbs. Unfortunately, the stress of no 'real' jobs, pressure from family to get 'real' jobs or to go to college and divergent ideas about the bands direction caused the band to implode before it had a chance to explode on the Cleveland music scene. John, Steve and Jack headed in one direction and played in a number of successful Cleveland bands. Dennis and Bob headed in another direction. At this time, college and the pressure from family to earn a degree in a field "they could fall back on" kept Dennis and Bob from ever doing anything seriously. In addition, Dennis attended a local college in Cleveland, while Bob headed all the way down south, to Akron. Well, it's not really that far away, but it did make it difficult for the two of them to get together on a regular basis. During this lull they jammed every now and then. They even attempted to put several bands together. None ever went further than Dennis' basement. At this time, they invited an old high school acquaintance over to play bass guitar. Dale joined in on their regular jams and became a full-time member of the 'basement' bands (that's Ohio's equivalent to California's 'garage' bands). These guys even attempted to work in a female lead singer before it was 'in style'. But the momentum just never got strong enough to get them (and a ton of equipment) up those basement steps.

During the mid seventies, Dennis joined Bob and Dale's band called 'Misty Mountain'. The lead singer in the band was a talented guy named Chris Christian (known as Christian). That band was moderately successful in Cleveland. As time passed, Dennis became more interested in seeing America and he quit the band in order to travel around the country (ever notice how it's always the drummer who dies, quits or gets fired!?). 'Misty Mountain' replaced Dennis and became 'Band One'. Christian, Dale and Bob achieved quite a bit of notoriety with 'Band One' in the Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan music scenes.

Dennis, Bob and Dale stayed in touch over the next sixteen years, but they seldom, if ever, jammed together. During this 'slump', Christian invited Dennis to play drums with an all original band named 'Prime Suspect'. It was an extremely talented band with tremendous potential. Due to family priorities, Dennis was unable to dedicate the time to the band. However, 'Prime Suspect' achieved success in the Northern Ohio area opening for a number of national acts.

During this period, Bob joined an acoustic Christian band named 'Prophecy'. They were very successful in the Cleveland area. Around 1993 Bob asked Dennis and Dale if they would like to support 'Prophecy' as a rhythm section. Bob's invitation caused 'Prophecy' to change from an acoustic Christian band to an electric band. 'Prophecy' was very successful in the Cleveland Christian music scene from 1994 until 1996. They even release a tape entitled 'Faith Walk'. This was Dennis and Dale's introduction to recording in a studio. Unfortunately, Dennis' job with the government took him to Charleston, SC for approximately one year. 'Prophecy' broke up during November 1996 and the members went their separate ways (once again, the drummer messes things up for everyone).

Dennis returned to Cleveland during late 1997. By late 1999, he was jamming with Dale and Bob again just to have fun. During early 2001 a friend asked the guys if they would play for his son's college graduation party. Even though they weren't really a band, Bob, Dale and Dennis agreed and began learning songs. They didn't want to add another member, so they decided to take on the singing duties themselves. By June 2001, they played their first gig as 'The TOF (Three Old Friends) Band'. By September 2001 they decided they needed a new name since they planned on playing out to have some fun. The band was renamed 'Bad Habit' just in time for their second gig at Zemba's Zaloon during late Sept.

'Bad Habit' has two goals: (A) To have fun and (B) To play recognizable songs that will get the audience participating. The guys believe that if they're having fun onstage and you're participating by dancing, singing along, tapping your foot or just reminiscing about a happy bygone era, then you'll be having fun, too. So come on and join them. You only live once and life is not a dress rehearsal for the real show later!