July 6, 1984 – April 5, 1997

What are bad habits? Cocaine, heroin, meth, cutting oneself, uncontrolled eating, laziness, greed, graft, gambling, masturbation, sexual perversions, blindly subscribing to a religion, not questioning authority and on and on, depending upon whom one asks. However, on July 6th, 1984, the world was introduced to one bad habit in which it was wise to partake. Even today, all are encouraged to take up this bad habit. What might it be?

Ahh—a heavy sound, creeping from the stages of Holland, eventually reaching other parts of the world. A Dutch four-piece band turned five-piece, headlining shows, as well as opening for the likes of Saxon, Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Annihilator, Glenn Hughes, Norway’s Motorpsycho and even those muscular New Yorkers, Manowar.

What did this group from the Netherlands name themselves? BAD HABIT, of course! And if you’re going to develop a bad habit, getting addicted to this band is your best option. Be forewarned, though, that the combination of Metal sounds from their instruments, and from the lead singer’s wicked pipes, can and will make your ears bleed and your head bang uncontrollably. As another muscle-bound metalhead, Thor, once said, “Let the blood run red!”

And so it did, for thirteen years. BAD HABIT were known for putting on a bloodletting, high-voltage performance. Writers were comparing them to a young Def Leppard, to Van Halen, Scorpions and yes, even the gods of Australia, AC/DC. DJs from all corners of Mother Earth were spinning their music. The band’s career ended on April 5th, 1997, when they gave their final show in their hometown of Tilburg, and a sold-out audience gave them multiple well-deserved standing ovations.

P.I.G. Records considers BAD HABIT to be as important to Dutch culture as Golden Earring, Death Metal kings Pestilence, Rembrandt and Van Gogh, and will soon release How Bad Do You Want It?, a historic collection including all four of BAD HABIT’s demos, remastered. “Just Let Me Be” is a song from the band’s last demo, Back on Track.

How Bad Do You Want It? encompasses much of the history of one of the greatest groups ever to come out of Holland, a country which—incorrectly—generally has not been considered a hotbed of music. Most Dutch bands, with the obvious exceptions of Golden Earring and Pestilence, have had trouble getting their music heard outside of the Netherlands. Unfortunately, BAD HABIT was no exception. Many Dutch Heavy Metal historians have suggested that if the group had been able to break into the American market, they would have had the success that Mercyful Fate and Fastway enjoyed, and perhaps even reached the level of Iron Maiden. However, BAD HABIT did not tour North America, nor did they get much press or radio play in the United States. How Bad Do You Want It? marks the first time their music has been released in North America. Better late than never!

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