A new
reality-based television series
produced by and
aired on
VH1. It is described in
advertisements as "
Behind the Music while it happens."
It seems that the first season will be hard to follow; any future competition will inevitably be a media frenzy a la the second season of Survivor. With this in mind, this writeup covers predominantly the bands and events in the first season of the show (including the original pilot).
Premise
Find ittle-known (e.g. unsigned) bands, have them tour the country, competing to make the most money when provided with very few resources. Provided with a scheduled gig in a remote city only a few days beforehand, each band must promote themselves as best as possible with only $20 per person, a calling card and a two-way pager.
Ticket sales from the scheduled show and merchandise sales from anywhere on the tour count toward the band's earnings. The band that makes the most money at the end of the 8 week, 15 episode tour will be declared the winner.
Bands
Flickerstick
Dallas-based quintet who like to compare their music to Pink Floyd and other classic rock acts. They have a penchant for alcohol which goes to the extreme during the Bands on the Run tour.
Harlow
Hard rockers from LA, the four girls of Harlow are painted as goth rockers in the series but claim not to be.
Josh Dodes Band
A funk band from New York City. The Josh Dodes Band centers around keyboardist/singer Josh Dodes and his four fellow bandmates.
Soulcracker
Soulcracker consists of five guys from San Diego who take their music seriously and everything else with a grin and a wisecrack.
Episodes
- San Francisco (Pilot)
Soulcracker, Harlow, and Flickerstick arrive in Los Angeles and are introduced to the rules. They hit the road for San Francisco.
- Chicago
The three bands from the pilot travel to Chicago where they are introduced to their new competitor, the Josh Dodes Band. Flickerstick, Harlow and Soulcracker continue honing their promotional skills while the Josh Dodes Band tries to come up with a plan.
- Chicago #2
- Cleveland
Everyone vies for the gig at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The Josh Dodes Band gets in a car accident.
- Pittsburgh
- Columbus
- Columbus #2
The first Battle of the Bands. Despite being in last place monetarily, Flickerstick trounces the other bands in the judged competition. This protects them from being kicked off the show. The Josh Dodes Band, in third place, takes the long walk home.
- Nashville
- Memphis
- New Orleans
- Atlanta
- Atlanta #2
The three bands that started the tour in San Francisco have traveled a long way and in the second Battle of the Bands, one of them must part. Again Flickerstick trails in the earnings but makes up for it with an powerfully emotional show which wins the judges and keeps them on the tour while Harlow is forced to leave.
- Tampa
- Miami
The producers announce that Guitar Center has offered a $5000 bonus to the winner of the final Battle of the Bands. Unless one band leads the other by more than $5000 in earnings by the end of the tour, the Battle of the Bands will determine the winner of the series. Both Soulcracker and Flickerstick cancel their VH1-scheduled gigs and promote the Battle of the Bands, trying to get fans to show up and support them. In the process, Soulcracker does some mudslinging at Flickerstick, and the boys from Dallas pay a late-night visit to Soulcracker's hotel room.
- Ft. Lauderdale
The final Battle of the Bands. Soulcracker spends the final three days wooing supporters, and Flickerstick spends the final three days trying to kill each other. After the final show, the bands retire to a yacht where the winner is annouced.
Prizes
The winner of Bands on the Run receives $100,000 in equipment from Guitar Center, $50,000 in cash, an A&R showcase for their band, and a music video to be aired on VH1.
Flickerstick's music video, for their song "Smile," was produced by Black Dog, a production company owned by Ridley Scott. The music video was first broadcast on July 15, 2001.