BoDeans
About
Formed in 1983 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the BoDeans are a seminal roots rock and heartland rock band. Founding members Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas met at Waukesha South High School and quickly became a staple of the Milwaukee music scene. Their 1986 debut album, 'Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams,' produced by T-Bone Burnett, garnered significant critical acclaim and led to them being named 'Best New American Band' by Rolling Stone. The band achieved massive mainstream success in the 1990s with their hit single 'Closer to Free,' which served as the theme song for the television series 'Party of Five.' Though the lineup has evolved over the decades—most notably with the departure of Llanas in 2011—the band continues to tour and record under the direction of Neumann, remaining one of Wisconsin's most enduring musical acts and a permanent fixture in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's local music exhibit.
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