BGB emerged as a distinctive musical entity in the early 1990s, initially formed as a synth duo by James Stark and Fran Preve, where Stark took on vocal duties while Preve managed the instrumentation and production elements. In 1989, drummer Michael Licata joined the group, having recently concluded a major world tour with pop artist Jermaine Stewart. The band secured a management deal with Neil Harris, known for his work with the Scissor Sisters, while financial backer Charlie Anzalone facilitated the recording of their original material. Shortly thereafter, BGB signed a publishing agreement with Windswept Pacific, represented by John Anderson. Their rising profile garnered attention when Cashbox Magazine featured a photo of the band, declaring them "the next big thing in the United States."
After evaluating their options, BGB chose to sign a record deal with Enigma/Capitol Records, driven by the label’s enthusiasm for their sound. They recorded their album in late 1990 at Larrabee Studio in Los Angeles, with Alan Meyerson—who worked with Bryan Ferry and New Order—mixing and co-producing the project. The band collaboratively wrote all their original material. However, just weeks prior to the album's scheduled release, Enigma Records collapsed, and no other label stepped in to distribute the record amidst the shifting musical landscape influenced by Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. Consequently, the album remained unreleased, and planned tour dates supporting Duran Duran were canceled.
Despite this setback, a few of their tracks found a place in movie soundtracks. Notably, "Do You Believe" was featured in the film "Hangin' With The Homeboys" and also appeared in "For The Boys," starring Bette Midler and James Caan, though it was not included on the soundtrack. Additionally, the album contained a cover of "Draggin' The Line," which was featured in "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead," with Christina Applegate. This track was positioned as the first song on the soundtrack CD released by Giant Records. BGB nearly became a priority act for Giant, but the label opted instead to focus on their other soundtrack, "New Jack City," and signed Color Me Badd, who achieved success with their hit "I Wanna Sex You Up," leaving BGB once again on the sidelines.
In terms of live performances, BGB adopted a philosophy of "less is more," resulting in only six live shows during their brief two-year career. Four of these performances were recorded in their hometown of Buffalo, NY:
1) The Macaroni Company - July 1, 1989 (on film)
2) Shooters (fall of 1989) (audio exists)
3) The Marquee/Tralf Café - April 12, 1990 (on film) featuring a guest appearance by Jermaine Stewart
4) Sinbad's (summer of 1990) for a showcase with Columbia and MCA Records (audio exists)
5) The Marquee/Tralf Café - June 22, 1991 (on film)
6) The Pink Flamingo - June 29, 1991 (on film)
Additional rough footage captures moments from their rehearsals, including a full run-through of the June 22, 1991 show featuring guitarist Aaron McLain, as well as an interview with AM Buffalo (ABC) and behind-the-scenes clips from their concerts.
The song "Miss Thing" marked a significant turning point for BGB, establishing their presence in Buffalo and playing a crucial role in securing their record deal. KISS 98.5, particularly DJs Janet Snyder, Mike McGowan, Mark Richards, and DJ Anthony, championed the song, leading to its success on the station's "Top Seven At Seven" contest, where it outperformed major releases from artists such as Madonna and George Michael, maintaining the number one spot for two consecutive weeks.
Despite their potential, internal conflicts led to the disbandment of BGB in 1992. The unreleased album remains archived, with the actual whereabouts of the original master tapes uncertain due to major label restructuring over the years.
The lineup of BGB included:
- Jimmy Stark - Vocals
- Michael Licata - Drums
- Francis Preve - Keyboards
- Aaron McLain - Guitar (year two)
- Tim Mordaunt - Guitar (year one)
BGB is often regarded as the greatest pop band that never fully realized its potential.