Who's Bad Carry On the Legacy of Michael Jackson's Music for Next Generation in Ultimate Homage

Who's Bad Carry On the Legacy of Michael Jackson's Music for Next Generation in Ultimate Homage

Veteran tribute band discover that record-breaking album and download sales prove there's a tremendous thirst to hear superstar's music

NEW YORK, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The untimely passing of Michael Jackson on the eve of his 50-date return to the live stage this month at London's O2 Arena with his "This Is It" tour has left a void in the music business, as millions of fans turn to his work to deal with their grief. Jackson had three of the Top 5 selling albums of the week, six in the Top 30, every Top 10 album on the catalog chart (including one by the Jackson 5), 800k in total album sales and almost 3 million downloads since his death. There is clearly a thirst to hear The King of Pop's music that North Carolina-based Who's Bad, widely acknowledged as the world's ultimate tribute to Michael Jackson, is prepared to satisfy.

"We are here to keep the King of Pop alive," says the band's founder Vamsi Tadepalli. "This is all about honoring and celebrating the man's music with his fans. With Michael Jackson gone, Who's Bad is, right now, the closest thing to hearing and seeing him perform. We only seek to keep those memories alive."

Founded six years ago by Tadepalli in Chapel Hill, NC, to recreate the music, choreography and legendary showmanship of Michael Jackson, from his days in the Jackson 5 through Off the Wall and Thriller to Invincible, Who's Bad have maintained a hectic touring schedule of between 120-150 concerts a year to sold-out audiences, including clubs, summer festivals and corporate shows. The six-piece outfit, which also includes Tadepalli and remarkable front man/lead singer Joseph Bell, along with world-class musicians Darion Alexander, Ray McCall, Nyk Baglio and Patrick Cross, has obviously found itself in even more increased demand since Jackson's death.

"Michael Jackson's music meant so much to all of us," says Tadepalli. "This is just our way of trying to show our appreciation and to pass these great songs on to those fans who weren't lucky enough to see him perform live."

The group celebrates the individual songs of Jackson as well as some of his memorable live performances, incorporating the original choreography wherever possible along the way.

"We want you to have the feeling you had hearing 'Billie Jean,' 'Thriller,' 'Don't Stop Til You Get Enough' and 'Off the Wall' for the first time," adds Tadepalli. "We are sharing that love of Michael Jackson with fellow fans, trying to celebrate his life at the same time we mourn his death. We didn't just start this group yesterday. We've been going strong for six years now. We're all about honoring the music and keeping its spirit alive."

The group hasn't abandoned Michael through the tough times, either, mounting a Neverland Victory Tour last year to celebrate the superstar avoiding foreclosure on his longtime Santa Ynez, CA, estate, which has become a destination for thousands of mourning fans, making the pilgrimage to pay their respects to the King of Pop.

   For a photo of Who's Bad, please click the link below:    http://www.whosbadmusic.com/images/wb-nycblender_thriller.jpg    For video of Who's Bad, please click the link below:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caohRKDfeyQ    

The group will continue to tour the U.S. this summer, with a list of dates below:

   Jul 9 2009  Alive after 5 @ Epicentre  Charlotte, North Carolina   Jul 10 2009 Downtown Sundown           Wilmington, North Carolina   Jul 11 2009 Foster's Outdoor           Raleigh, North Carolina   Jul 17 2009 House of Blues             Myrtle Beach, South Carolina   Jul 18 2009 House of Blues             Orlando, Florida   Jul 19 2009 Freebird Live              Jacksonville, Florida   Jul 22 2009 Revolution                 Fort Lauderdale, Florida   Jul 23 2009 The Ritz                   Tampa, Florida   Jul 24 2009 The Windjammer             Isle of Palms, South Carolina   Jul 25 2009 The Windjammer             Isle of Palms, South Carolina   Jul 31 2009 The Orange Peel            Asheville, North Carolina   Aug 1 2009  Andrews Upstairs           Atlanta, Georgia   Aug 5 2009  House of Blues             Las Vegas, NV   Aug 7 2009  House of Blues             Anaheim, California   Aug 8 2009  House of Blues             San Diego, California   Aug 13 2009 House of Blues             Cleveland, Ohio   Aug 14 2009 Illinois State Fair        Springfield, Illinois   Aug 15 2009 Illinois State Fair        Springfield, Illinois   Aug 20 2009 Tebala Shrine Temple       Rockford, Illinois   Aug 21 2009 John Barleycorn            Schaumburg, Illinois   Aug 22 2009 115 Bourbon St.            Merrionette Park, Illinois   Aug 26 2009 The Fox Theatre            Boulder, Colorado   Aug 27 2009 Ghostranch                 Steamboat Springs, Colorado   Aug 28 2009 The Riverwalk Ampitheatre  Breckenridge, Colorado   Aug 29 2009 The Bluebird Theatre       Denver, Colorado   Aug 30 2009 Aggie Theatre              Fort Collins, Colorado   Sep 4 2009  Zydeco                     Birmingham, Alabama   Sep 5 2009  Private                    Nashville, Tennessee   Sep 9 2009  Woody's Outdoor Stage      Evansville, Indiana   Sep 10 2009 Canopy Club                Urbana, Illinois   Sep 11 2009 The Vogue                  Indianapolis, Indiana   Sep 12 2009 The Bluebird               Bloomington, Indiana   Sep 17 2009 Electric Cowboy            Johnson City, Tennessee   Sep 18 2009 Cats Cradle                Carrboro, North Carolina   Sep 19 2009 Greene Street Club         Greensboro, North Carolina   Oct 2 2009  Mable House Ampitheatre    Mableton, Georgia   Oct 2 2009  UGA-Private                Athens, Georgia   Oct 8 2009  State Theatre              Starkville, Mississippi   Oct 9 2009  House of Blues             New Orleans, Louisiana   Oct 10 2009 Private                    Baton Rouge, Louisiana   Oct 15 2009 Stubb's                    Austin, Texas   Oct 16 2009 House of Blues             Dallas, Texas   Oct 17 2009 House of Blues             Houston, Texas   Nov 6 2009  The Hard Rock              Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania   Nov 13 2009 Private                    Athens, Georgia   Nov 14 2009 Cannery Ballroom           Nashville, Tennessee  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Who?s Bad

CONTACT: Jonathan Wolfson, +1-818-615-0499, wolfsonpr@hotmail.com, for
Who's Bad

Web Site: http://www.whosbadmusic.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment