Cadillac Kidz was founded in 1979 after singer Spaz Seville and guitarist Cameron Stirnweis met during a show at the Second Chance in Ann Arbor. At the time, Stirnweis and several other people in the scene including Steve Sortor of The Mutants, had started a company called Sure Shot Productions to book, record, and provide rehearsal space for bands. Seville had been in the cover band scene. But, was interested in the opportunity to create original music as well as working with his friend Chris Badynee, who was then a guitarist, on bass.

Because of the band’s sound, connections, and willingness to be provocative to get the attention of bar owners and club goers alike, Cadillac Kidz not only headlined at Bookie’s but opened for national acts at larger venues around Detroit.

While the band did record demos with Wayne Kramer (MC5), Cadillac Kidz only released one 7-inch record during its time – “Goin’ Out” b/w “Neighborhood Girl” (1981) and was also featured on a WLLZ compilations in 1983 & 1985.

Members of the band eventually kicked Stirnweis out of the band due in part to the guitarist’s addiction issues. Cadillac Kidz continued as a four piece for several years until Seville left Detroit. The band ended in 1985.

After Cadillac Kidz broke up, Badynee went on to receive international attention for his musical invention the Bogdon Box Bass – a upright bass kit made from a cardboard box. The Bogdon Box Bass was featured on the History Channel in 2011 and led to work with the organization “Bash the Trash” – a group that makes musical instruments from recycled materials.

Cadillac Kidz reform every so often to play around the Detroit area. Seville took part in the Detroit Garage Rock All-Star Revue III and the band had a track featured on the Motor City Muscle festival compilation in 2018.

Stirnweis passed away in 2012 after relocating to Arizona.

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7 thoughts on “Cadillac Kidz

  1. Best time me and Mike Blair ever had! It’s all we talk about. Cadillac Kidz TNT MUTANTS days at Sure Shots. The best was when we got to play the motor city Rockathon in 1979. You guys played November 30th 1979 and we played December 1st 1979. And Cameron got us the gig. He never called us to inform us that we were playing. W4 announced us on the radio as I was in the shower listening at the time. Strut had bailed on them. They got a bug up there butts about being called the Almighty Strut! And I think Karen sevilli not sure said it this way The Almighty Strut turned there back on the crippled children.

  2. Talk about being a punk. I seen the Cadillac Kids open for Black Sabbath at Pine Knob. It was the Mob Rules tour and metal was becoming mainstream. The crowd was obviously not digging the Kids. Now looking back, wish I had seen Iggy and the Cadillac Kids in one of those smaller venues. Like I said. I was a kid and a punk myself back then. Took years to realize what the great stuff really was.

  3. Cameron was a talented gifted person who was sadly troubled by inner diamonds that manifested in his drug addiction. He tried many times to come clean. He loved the time he spent in HI, I believe it was when he was most happy. I don’t remember why he went back to AZ but in hindsight, that was a bad decision. He did not have brain cancer. He died in 2015 of liver failure resulting from years of drug abuse. It was interesting to listen to this series and learn some insight into him from another perspective.

  4. For the record 🙂 , as it were, I was able to stay in touch with Cam for about 15 years. I initially was Cam’s girlfriend and could fairly say I had front row, backstage pass and probably had been to most of the shows until I moved to CA. I think Cam was complicated in a way that he revelaed more of himself through his music and was not able to compromise easily. He also saw himself as a business man and was never going to do anything that didn’t require music. I spent may late nights watching him pay the bands he managed under Sure Shot, ( not happily since I am not a musician and it was late and the money divied up was always a small consolation for the energy put in- but at least people got paid for what they enjoyed doing.) I often got the feelling he was frustrated that The Cadillac Kids didn’t get the representation they deserved like say the Romantics did- (one of the few groups at the time that went national), even tho they opened up and headlined for some great bands. He often was very proud of how “tight ” they were becoming. Also, the cycle and sometimes the rewards of “Sex , Drugs and Rock and Roll” was something that fed on itself offering pleasure, funds and often enough dark places for Cam but that was the territory and or fence he walked.
    Over the years he had several bands the “Love Bishops” and :Last Laugh Productions” in Tucson. He spoke about his involvement about managing big venues and productions and at time I know it wore him down financially and otherwise. He was in and out of rehab and often had long stretches of being clean. On an emotional level, I know he wanted more connection-but music was the only thing her eally knew.
    I commend any of the band members, and we know who they are, who continued with their passion for music because they have to. It is part of their soul – cuz well they got soul ! Dearest Cam I hope your soul has a mad ukelele and you are doing a luau , ha- he didn’t dance !! Your early bandmates continue their legacies in their own right – rock on

  5. Anybody have for sale a sleeve cover of the 45 record entitled “Good Times Rock and Roll”? Will buy record too if sold as a set. Wanted to surprise Cleveland DJ who is on WIXY1260ONLINE on Thursday nights.
    Rockin’ Ray King LOVES that song as do many fans as I and would very much like to surprise him with it‼️Many thanks if have or know someone who still has sleeve or sleeve and record set!!!

  6. I knew Cam briefly when he put together a line up for a hall party I did in 1979. It was The Reruns headlining, the Cadillac Kidz in the middle and the Pigs (which was the last time Mike and Steve used that name). opening. Cam was very friendly and professional. I had no idea about anything about drugs. He would allow me and my friends to hang out at Sure Shot and even introduced us to Wayne Kramer.
    I loved receiving the Sure Shot postcards. Good time form my end. I have several pictures from that show if anyone would live to see me post them.
    Ron Smith

    1. If you have any photos of Cameron I would love copies. Me hand my family have a few but are always looking to add to the collection. My email is wunder2@yahoo.com. Thanks. I’m Cameron’s sister.

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