a review from the Illinois Entertainer, Apr. 2000
Beloved Chicago pop-rock outfit The Bad Examples was together as a band for just over 5000 days. Make that 5002 days.
Bad Examples Farewell by Michael C. Harris
After 14 road-hard years, Chicago's Ralph Covert & The Bad Examples are calling it a career. Nothing acrimonious, no juicy band-fight tidbits - just time for new challenges, says Ralph Covert. Given the volatility and short life of most rock bands, The Bad Examples' 14-year haul is quite the impressive feat, if not an inspiration to aspiring bands (as in, yes, you can make a living playing without doing the major label dance). Covert will continue making music, as will the rest of The Bad Examples (consummate pros these guys), and fans shouldn't rule out the occasional reunion gig. But at least for now, April 15 at Fitzgerald's will be the band's swan song, with just about every Bad Example band member contributing to what's planned as a chronological set.