MadmenBiography

1992-1995
Laughing madmen were born out of the remains of alternative power trio, Blue Nimbus: Lee Micallef (guitar/vocals), Shelly Lankford (drums) and Michelle Chapman (bass guitar) and alternative rock, Pets or Meat: Tom Petito (lead vocals).

As Blue Nimbus wound down their 3-1/2 years of working they placed an ad for lead vocalist in Dec 1992. Tom Petito answered the ad and after submitting a demo and auditioning, the Madmen were formed. Taking their name from a Public Image Limited song, Laughing Madmen's first public performance was at the Ritz in Roseville and their first official show took place in April 1993 at Alvin's in Detroit and the following day they played the State Theatre with 89X sponsoring the show.

With Petito on board, Laughing Madmen had a powerful vocalist in the tradition of classic rock and roll frontmen (i.e. Freddie Mercury, Steven Tyler, Alice Cooper etc) and the band retained their hard edged sound with heavy original songs with ripping fret work and a throbbing rhythm section. The band also became more theatrical with fog, lighting, costumes and acoustic sets becoming commonplace in the Madmen show.

During the same period the Madmen began recording their first material and by August their first album 'Jumping Jupiters' was finished. The band continued to perform through spring 1994 and then took a hiatus while Micallef, Lankford and Chapman forged ahead with heavy rock project, Black Anvil and Petito rejoined Pets or Meat to tour and promote their CD 'It's Called Survival'. Finally in late 1995 the Madmen reunited for their last show in the original lineup at Scalici's Lounge in Allen Park for a sold out performance.

1996-1997
With Chapman exiting the band in Dec 1995, Jim Sullivan (bass guitar), who performed with Petito in Pets or Meat joined the Madmen April 1996 after an audition in Milwaukee WI, where Lankford was currently residing. The band's first performance with the new lineup was November at the Studio Lounge, Westland to a packed house; unfortunately due to Lankford's residence, performances were not possible on a frequent basis to keep the momentum of the band.

To keep the band rolling, the Madmen auditioned drummers and ultimately Andy Potoczek took over the drum throne January 1997. A powerful, heavy metal/punk/thrash inspired drummer, the Madmen songs took an even more aggressive sound on the stage. By September 1997, Lankford announced her return to Detroit and the following month Potoczek left the band to pursue his own interests.

1998-2004
While the band was in its state of flux during 1996-1998, Micallef and Petito were writing and recording new songs that would appear on their next CD. With Lankford returning to the fold, the Madmen performed regularly throughout the year and the new CD 'Ultrasound' was released in December 1998. The Madmen continued to perform through 1999 before taking a break in the summer after the Port Huron Blue Water Festival show.

Growing tensions within the band and side projects brought the Madmen to fewer performances although they still managed to tour the midwest in 2001 before coming to a screeching halt in October 2002. Micallef and Lankford played solo shows with an all-new lineup to promote Micallef's 2002 solo CD 'Innerskin'. Petito busied himself with solo recordings with Scott Hicks, guitarist from Pets or Meat. Despite the lack of public performances, Petito and Micallef went forward with writing and recording new material for the Madmen's next CD which was to have a more 'commercial sound'.    In spring of 2004, the Madmen reconvened and began rehearsals for a new slew of shows. However, at this point Sullivan exited the band.

2004-2008
Enter Dave Babbitt (bass guitar/vocals), who had been performing in various projects, offered to lend a hand for a few shows in June 2004 on the bass guitar. It was evident that Babbitt had an enthusiasm for the Madmen and enjoyed the energetic performances. By September, Babbitt, was officially the next bass player for the Madmen. The Madmen also decided to try a new format and began working with cover songs as opposed to the all original format. This change in sound would be reflected in the new original songs that Petito and Micallef were writing.

Since then, Laughing Madmen have performed a variety of shows including corporate functions, fundraisers, clubs and bars, theatres, private parties including anniversaries/house warmings/Christmas/block and all points in between. April of 2005, Petito and Micallef appeared on cable TV to discuss the band and later that month the Madmen released 'Tough Lover E.P.' a four song CD of all new original material, their first since 1998's 'Ultrasound'. September brought the Madmen performing those songs plus more on their first televised performance with a brass section and added percussion for a Comcast cable show.

The Madmen juggernaut continued on with the band performing all over the metro Detroit area and as far away as Glen Arbor Michigan. The band also is hard at work on their next CD release due sometime in 2008. So much more ground to cover!