The band formed in 1992 for a one-off opening set at a Sebadoh concert in Portland, and initially comprised Matthew "Hattie" Hein, Luke Hollywood, "Prince" Mattie Gaunt, Jasin Fell and Dave French.[1] Their first single was "I Suck" (backed with "Concrete" and "Knott St."), which was picked up by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, and reached number sixteen in the 1993 Festive 50.[2] They recorded their debut album, Freewheel! in 1992, released on the local indie label Candy Ass Records.[1] The album was described as having a "sloppy charm", and drew comparisons with the likes of Beat Happening.[3] Second album Society followed in 1994, released on the United Kingdom label Lissy's. Ennui Go was released in 1997, by which time the band's sound was more pop-oriented,[4] and in the same year Hein left to pursue a solo career.[1] An album of previously unreleased and rare tracks, C-sides, was released in 1999, containing tracks ranging chronologically from their earliest recordings to their latest.[5]
Later band members included: Christine Denkewalter, Lars Holmstrom, Eric von Borstel and Andrew Leavitt. The band toured Europe twice and recorded John Peel sessions for Radio One in the UK each time.[2] The band name changed to No Bad Things in 2001.[6]
Members also recorded as: Matthew Hein (solo), Wallpaper (David French), Awesome (Luke Hollywood with guest appearances from other NBT alumni), Gashdig, Popewyrm, Incinerators & Diamond Tuck (Jasin Fell), Denk (solo), The Loach Clips (Lars), and Prince Mattie Gaunt (solo). Leavitt later joined The Fairways.[7]
New Bad Things feature in the documentary film X-Ray Visions: a Look Inside Portland's Legendary X-Ray Café.[8]
The bands' songs have been covered by Hefner ("Goethe's Letter to Vic Chesnutt"), The Delgados ("The Dirge") and Tullycraft ("Misgiving").
