Ep 4. Bad News Tour

Bad News Tour is the fourth episode of the first season of The Comic Strip Presents, a British television comedy series. It was first aired on 14 November 1982 on Channel 4.

The episode follows the fictional heavy metal band Bad News as they embark on a disastrous tour of the UK. The band, made up of lead singer and guitarist Vim Fuego (played by Adrian Edmondson), bassist Den Dennis (Nigel Planer), drummer Spider Webb (Peter Richardson) and roadie Colin Grigson (Rik Mayall), are trying to make it big in the music industry, but things do not go as planned.

The episode begins with the band getting ready for their tour, with Den having trouble packing his bass guitar and Vim trying to come up with new song ideas. They set off in their beaten-up van, with Colin driving and constantly getting lost. Their first gig is at a pub in Coventry, where they are met with a less-than-enthusiastic audience. Despite their lacklustre performance, the band remain optimistic, with Vim assuring Den that they will play to bigger crowds soon.

Their next stop is a radio interview in London, where they meet a snooty DJ who mocks their music and puts them down. From there, they head to a gig in Liverpool, where they cause chaos by smashing up the stage and getting into fights with the audience. The police are called and the band are forced to flee the scene. They go on to play at a gig in Manchester, where they are jeered off stage and chased out of the venue by angry fans.

As the tour progresses, the band members begin to turn on each other, with Vim getting increasingly aggressive and bossy, and Den and Spider becoming resentful of his behaviour. Colin, who has been driving them around and taking care of their equipment, is constantly insulted and abused by the band. The tension comes to a head at a gig in Newcastle, where Vim loses his temper and trashes the stage, causing the band to split up.

The episode ends with a montage of each band member going their separate ways, with Vim trying to start a solo career, Den becoming a music teacher, Spider working in a factory and Colin starting a new job as a milkman. However, they are all shown to be struggling and unhappy without each other, and the episode ends on a sad note.

Overall, Bad News Tour is a hilariously satirical and entertaining episode that pokes fun at the rock music industry and the struggles of aspiring musicians. It also features excellent performances from the talented cast, particularly Adrian Edmondson as the abrasive and egotistical Vim Fuego.