Bad Medicine was formed in Syracuse, New York on Halloween night in 1968. The band’s formation sprang from a mutual love the members shared for blues, soul, R&B and “roots” music. The original members were Greg Johnson (bass), Tom Corradino (guitar/keyboards), Richard Clarke (drums) and Harry Rado (guitar). Saxophonist David Morton joined the fold shortly after the band’s formation.
The band’s repertoire consisted of a mix of originals and covers of contemporary funk and R&B hits, as well as popular blues classics. The young musicians made a name for themselves opening for well-known acts such as Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker and Mitch Ryder. The band’s jumpin’ live shows always had people gettin' down and tearing up the dancefloor. The tight groove outfit soon became very popular around the Syracuse University area, establishing a dedicated following. The last addition to Bad Medicine was keyboardist Johnny Crocitti.
Bad Medicine was a bit of an anomaly due to its racial makeup. There weren’t many all-white bands playing straight funk, soul and R&B at the time. It even caused the band some problems booking gigs at certain venues.
In 1970, the band released their first single, “She’s Taken All My Money,” on the small Orbit label. It’s a slide-guitar blues tune in which Corradino sings lead vocals. Around this time, the band befriended local record store owner Arthur Lane, who was planning to start his own record label, Enyx Records, with business partner William “Sugarbear” Armstrong. This began the band’s productive association with the label.
Enyx Records was launched in early 1973. With Enyx, Bad Medicine laid down the rhythm tracks for several songs featuring up-and-coming soul vocalist Michelle Sobers, including the Dr. John-penned “When The Battle is Over,” the label’s first release.
Bad Medicine released “Trespasser,” on Enyx Records in 1974. In an old interview posted at Soulstacks.com, Arthur Lane explained the track's genesis: “I recall distinctly in the winter of 1974 telling Richard [Clarke] how cool it would be to record a song called ‘Trespasser.’ I asked him to imagine the feeling he would have if someone were up to no good and trespassing on his property. So I said, ‘Richard, just transfer the intensity and rage you would have chasing this guy into a song called ‘Trespasser.'”
The band recorded “Trespasser” at George Day’s Dayson Recording Studio in Syracuse. The players on the track were Tom Corradino (guitar); Johnny Crocitti (piano); David Morton (saxophone); Harry Rado (guitar, rhythm); Greg Johnson (bass); Richard Clarke (drums and percussion); and George Day played Moog synthesizer. It was produced by Lane and Armstrong.
Only a minor hit locally upon its original release, “Trespasser” is now considered a cult classic due to its inclusion on Stone Throw Records' much-buzzed-about compilation The Funky 16 Corners (2001). The track has been embraced by funk aficionados and music lovers, old- and new-school. It has been sampled by Limp Bizkit (“The Key”), Cut Chemist (“Bunky’s Pick”), Yesterday’s New Quintet (“Thinking of You”), and Parallel Thought, feat. PackFM and Jean Grae (“Freaky").
Bad Medicine abruptly disbanded in 1975 after Corradino was seriously injured in a car crash on a snowy road. More than a decade later, Corradino reunited with his old bandmates, Rado and Clarke, in the Washington, D.C.-based R&B/zydeco outfit Little Red & the Renegades—Corradino (accordion and piano), Rado (guitar) and Clarke (drums).
Little Red & the Renegades are still going strong and have some gigs lined up this summer. Clarke is no longer with Little Red. He hooked up with Krewe of Renegades some years back.
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