Bad English
In mid-1988 Waite signs to Epic. Shortly after signing, Epic is stunned when he tells them that he doesn't want to continue as a solo artist but plans to form a band. He is unable to find a guitar player that he likes and starts looking for a keyboard player instead. He runs into Jonathan Cain (ex-Babys) and the pair start recording. They come up with the name 'Full Circle' for the band, but fear it will remind people too much of The Babys.
Cain comes up with the name 'Bad English,' an expression used in American pool.
Later in 1988, Waite re-unites with ex-Babys' Ricky Phillips. Waite forms a rock supergroup with Cain's 'Journey' colleague, guitarist Neal Schon. Schon brings drummer Deen Castronovo in and 'Bad English' records the debut album with CBS/Columbia.
The self-titled album (produced by Ritchie Zito) is released in June 1989 and climbs to #21 in the USA. The album sells a couple of million copies and makes platinum in the USA.
Waite is back in the TV spotlight in early June 1989 during the 'International Rock Award' show.
Together with Clarence Clemons he announces some nominees for an award. Bad English is on the road in the USA in October 1989 to promote the album. Their first single 'Forget Me Not' does fairly well, but the 2nd release 'When I See You Smile' hits the #1 position in the USA in November 1989. From March until June 1990 the band tours the USA again with much success as the opening act for 'Whitesnake.'
They perform in several TV shows, always playing live, and the band releases a video with 5 songs from the album.
Another three singles off the album are released in 1990, of which 'Price of Love' hits #5 in the USA. Waite fans are surprised when a solo Waite song appears on the soundtrack of the film 'Days of Thunder.' Epic even releases the song as a single: 'Deal for life.'
BACKLASH
The band goes into the studio to record a second Bad English album. They hardly have any new songs and while recording there is a big bust up about the future of the band. According to Waite he is more or less forced to sing songs he doesn't like. Because he wants to maintain his musical integrity, he decides to quit the band, but honors all contracts. He finishes the album 'Backlash' (released August 1991), does a bit of promotion and leaves.
By October 1991 the band is history. Looking back on it now he says "It coloured me in a bad light, cause I walked away from a very successful thing." The album stays in the US charts for 8 weeks and climbs to #72.
Several singles are released off the album of which 'Starlight to Your Heart' and 'Time Stood Still' are pretty successful. Waite would love to release a live album of Bad English, but it turns out that none of their live shows are recorded.
