Where are The New Radicals now? How band shares a special connection with Joe Biden's late son Beau
In a piece of delightful news for fans, New Radicals' 1998 hit single 'You Get What You Give' features on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s recently-announced inauguration playlist. The American alternative rock band from the late 1990s, New Radicals, is all set to be reuniting to perform at Joe Biden’s Presidential Inauguration parade. The band, which shares a special connection with Biden’s late son Beau Biden, will be performing in public after 22 long years.
Who were The New Radicals?
In 1997, musician Gregg Alexander formed The New Radicals in Los Angeles, California. They did not have any other permanent band members as they followed a ‘revolving door policy’. However, Danielle Brisebois, who worked as a background singer, keyboardist, and percussionist with the band is considered to be another constant member because of her involvement with many of their releases.
Guitarist Rusty Anderson who had played with Paul McCartney, pianist Paul Gordon, drummers Matt Laug and Josh Freese, guitarist and mixer Michael James were among the many members who contributed to the band between 1997 and 1999.
The group was disbanded in 1999 by founder Gregg Alexander himself, who then went on to write and produce songs for other artists. In fact, Alexander continued partnering with Brisebois for some time longer, and together the duo created the song ‘Lost Stars’ for the film ‘Begin Again’, which earned an Academy Awards nomination for Best Original Song in 2015.
Hit songs by The New Radicals
Despite releasing only one album ever – ‘Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too’ in 1998, The New Radicals gained their fair share of attention and fanbase for their unique compositions and rebellious themes. Their tracks comprised a staunch criticism of corporate America as well as frequent references to drugs and sex, which brought them the ire of many critics. However, the album fared well among the general audience, reaching up to No. 10 on UK Albums chart and No. 41 on the Billboard 200 in the USA. Their main fame, however, came through the single – 'You Get What You Give' – which was released after the album. It reached No. 36 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on UK Singles Chart.
It also gained substantial media attention for the controversial lyrics: “Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson / Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson / You're all fakes run to your mansions / Come around we'll kick your ass in,” that directly slammed singers like Marilyn Manson, Courtney Love, Beck David Hansen, and the rock band Hanson, which did not sit well with the celebrities.
Revival of ‘You Get What You Give’ & connection with Beau Biden
The song resurfaced in the limelight once again when Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, used this track as the walk-on song in their campaign trail, reported Rolling Stone.
The song also has a special connection with Beau Biden, Joe Biden’s late son who passed away in 2015 from cancer. In his autobiography ‘Promise Me, Dad’, Joe Biden wrote that his son would often make him listen to ‘You Get What You Give’ over breakfast, making him believe that this was Beau’s theme song. He would mention the song with a deep message – “This whole damn world can fall apart. You’ll be ok, follow your heart.”
The family chose ‘You Get What You Give’ as a rallying song for Beau Biden when he was fighting cancer.
Speaking about performing the song at the inauguration parade, New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander stated, “Performing the song again after such a long time is a huge honor because we all have deep respect for Beau’s military service and such high hopes for the unity and normalcy Joe and Kamala will bring our country again in this time of crisis. If there’s one thing on Earth that would possibly make us get the band together, if only for a day, it is the hope that our song could be even the tiniest beacon of light in such a dark time,” he said in an emotional message.