Bad Brains

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Bad Brains
Bad Brains.jpg
Bad Brains at Sasquatch! Music Festival, 2007
Background information
Also known as
  • Mind Power (1976–1979)
  • Soul Brains (1998–2001)
Origin Washington, D.C., U.S.
Genres
Discography Bad Brains discography
Years active
  • 1976–1995
  • 1998–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Website badbrains.com

Bad Brains are an American band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1976. They are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, [1] [2] [3] though the band's members have objected to the use of this term to describe their music. [4] They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of other genres like funk, [5] heavy metal, [1] hip hop, and soul. [5] Rolling Stone magazine called them "the mother of all black hard-rock bands", [6] and they have been cited as a seminal influence to numerous other subgenres in addition to hardcore punk, including various subgenres of heavy metal, such as thrash/speed metal, alternative metal, and funk metal. [7] [8] Bad Brains are followers of the Rastafari movement. [5]

Contents

Bad Brains have released nine studio albums. They have broken up and reformed several times over their career, sometimes with different singers or drummers. The band originally formed in 1976 as a jazz fusion band under the name Mind Power. Their classic lineup includes singer H.R., guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer, and drummer Earl Hudson. This lineup was intact until 1987 and has reunited periodically in the years since.

Many notable bands and artists cite Bad Brains as an artistic influence on their music, including the Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Guns N' Roses, Soundgarden, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Faith No More, Rage Against the Machine, Deftones, Clutch, Green Day, the Offspring, the Roots, Lamb of God, No Doubt, Anthrax, Living Colour, and Fishbone. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

History

Formation and early years (1976–1985)

Bad Brains logo Bad Brains.png
Bad Brains logo

The band's origins date to 1976, when the members first came together as a jazz fusion band called Mind Power, [5] in the mold of bands such as Return to Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra. [11] The group included lead guitarist Dr. Know (Gary Miller), bassist Darryl Jenifer, and brothers Paul Hudson (later known as H.R.) on rhythm guitar and Earl Hudson on drums.

In 1977, the band's friend Sid McCray introduced them to punk rock. [11] Mind Power decided to switch their sound to hardcore punk and changed their name to Bad Brains, [5] after the Ramones song "Bad Brain." [5] Despite their burgeoning punk sound, after seeing Bob Marley in concert the band also became interested in reggae music and the Rastafari movement. [12] McCray was briefly the singer for the new hardcore punk incarnation of the band, but he soon departed, and H.R. switched from guitar to lead vocals. [13]

The band gained a fan base in Washington D.C. due to their high-energy performances and occasional reggae songs. [12] In 1979 they were blacklisted from many Washington area clubs due to their destructive fans; [14] this was later addressed in their song "Banned in D.C.". [15] By 1980 the band relocated to New York City, where they would serve as a catalyst for that city's burgeoning hardcore scene. [16]

Bad Brains at 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., 1983 Bad brains 1983.jpg
Bad Brains at 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., 1983

By 1982, they were a regular act at the New York venue CBGB. [17] Dr. Know recalled, "We played CB's every friggin' night. This whole 'Sunday matinee' thing is from us. When we first played, nobody was there. It's like, 'Who are these niggers?' And we're in their face, killing it. We got a weekend day, and by then a little buzz started happening." [18] Their self-titled debut album was released on the ROIR label, originally on cassette only, in 1982, [19] followed in 1983 by Rock for Light , produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars. [20] In 1985, the Bad Brains song "Pay to Cum" was featured in Martin Scorsese's film After Hours . [21]

Stylistic expansion and line-up changes (1986–1994)

In 1986, Bad Brains signed with SST Records and released I Against I . In addition to the band's hardcore punk and reggae sounds, this album added elements from heavy metal and funk. [22] H.R. provided the vocals for the song "Sacred Love" over the phone from the Lorton Reformatory while serving time for a cannabis charge. [23] H.R. gained additional critical notice for his expanded vocal style on I Against I; according to Rick Anderson of AllMusic, "[HR] digs deep into his bag of voices and pulls them all out, one by one: the frightening nasal falsetto that was his signature in the band's hardcore days, an almost bel canto baritone, and a declamatory speed-rap chatter that spews lyrics with the mechanical precision of a machine gun". [22]

Chuck Mosley fronted Bad Brains from 1990 to 1991. Chuck Mosley.jpg
Chuck Mosley fronted Bad Brains from 1990 to 1991.

H.R. and Earl Hudson quit the band in 1987 to focus on reggae music. Touring for I Against I was completed with singer Taj Singleton and former Cro-Mags drummer Mackie Jayson. [1] In 1988, Bad Brains signed with Caroline Records and began recording the album Quickness . [24] The album was recorded with Singleton and Jayson, but the Hudson brothers returned to the band in 1989 and H.R. replaced Singleton's work with new lyrics and vocals. [25]

During this period, the Hudson brothers, who wanted to steer the band toward reggae, often clashed with Dr. Know and Jenifer, who were increasingly interested in hard rock and heavy metal. [1] H.R. often failed to turn up for scheduled concerts and recording sessions. After the tour supporting Quickness ended in 1989, the Hudson brothers again quit the band. Mackie Jayson again joined on drums. Former Faith No More member Chuck Mosley took over on lead vocals in 1990–91, [26] and was then replaced by Israel Joseph I (Dexter Pinto). [1] In 1990 the band collaborated with Henry Rollins on a cover of The MC5's "Kick Out the Jams", which appears on the soundtrack to the film Pump Up the Volume . [27]

As bands influenced by Bad Brains (such as Living Colour and Fishbone) enjoyed commercial success, Epic Records approached Dr. Know in 1992 and offered the band their first major-label record deal. [28] The album Rise was released by Epic in 1993. [29] Jayson left the band in the middle of the ensuing tour and was temporarily replaced by Chuck Treece. [30]

Original line-up reunions and name change (1994–2004)

The Hudson brothers again returned to the band in 1994, [5] and they signed with Maverick Records for the 1995 album God of Love . [31] In support of the album, Bad Brains opened for the Beastie Boys on the Ill Communication tour, and headlined a U.S. tour with the then-unknown Deftones. [32] [33] However, the reunion did not last for long, because of H.R.'s erratic behavior while performing and several violent incidents against the band's manager, fans, and venue employees. H.R. landed in jail and the band broke up once again. [34]

In 1997 Bad Brains reconvened to remaster some early recordings, which were released as the EP The Omega Sessions. [35] From 1998 to 2001, the original lineup toured under the name Soul Brains and released two live albums. [36] [37]

Build a Nation and Into the Future (2005–2015)

In 2005 the band, known once again as Bad Brains, announced that they were recording their first album of new material in ten years, with MCA of the Beastie Boys producing. [38] They played their first shows in several years at CBGB in 2006. [1] Build a Nation was released in 2007. [39] The band toured extensively in 2007–08, with former singer Israel Joseph I filling in for H.R. on some dates. Daryl Jenifer released the solo album In Search of Black Judas in 2010. [40] A short Bad Brains tour of Australia planned for 2010 was cancelled due to health reasons. [41]

Bad Brains announced the recording of another new album in 2011. [42] Into the Future was released in late 2012, [43] [44] and included a tribute to the recently deceased MCA. [45] On the ensuing tour, the band added touring keyboardist Jamie Saft. [46] In 2014 the band hinted at another new album, [47] though no such album has yet been released. Also in 2014, author Greg Prato released the book Punk! Hardcore! Reggae! PMA! Bad Brains! which recounted the band's history. [48] In 2015 the band recorded the live EP The Woodstock Sessions; H.R. did not participate for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Jamaican singer Jesse Royal. [49] H.R.'s status at the band remained unclear throughout that year. [50] [51]

Recent developments (2015–present)

In November 2015, Dr. Know suffered a heart attack and was placed on life support due to the risk of organ failure. [52] After three months in the hospital he made a full recovery, thanks in part to a GoFundMe campaign organized by his bandmates. [53] In March 2016, H.R. announced that he had been diagnosed with a rare type of headache called SUNCT, and received treatment for this condition and other ongoing health issues thanks to another GoFundMe campaign. [54] [55]

In October 2016, Bad Brains were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, [56] but were not inducted. In a December 2016 interview with Rolling Stone , Dr. Know and Darryl Jenifer discussed the band members' health issues and the future of the band. They announced that they hoped to record a new album titled Mind Power, after the band's short-lived original moniker. [57] In June 2017 the band played a show featuring guest appearances by Randy Blythe and original Bad Brains singer Sid McCray, who sang with the band for the first time in 39 years. [58]

Singer Chuck Mosley, who had played with Bad Brains in the early 1990s, died in November 2017. [26] Sid McCray died in September 2020. [59]

Band members

Timeline

Bad Brains

Discography

Related Research Articles

<i>I Against I</i> 1986 studio album by Bad Brains

I Against I is the third studio album by the American rock band Bad Brains. It was released on November 21, 1986 through SST Records with the catalog number SST 065. The best-selling album in the band's catalog, I Against I finds the band branching out from their early hardcore punk style to touch on funk, soul, reggae and heavy metal. It is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The title track was a Paul Rachman-directed video.

<i>Black Dots</i> 1996 demo album by Bad Brains

Black Dots is a demo album by the American rock band Bad Brains, released in 1996 by Caroline Records. It consists of one of the band's earliest recording sessions, which took place in 1979 at Inner Ear Studios with recording engineer Don Zientara. Black Dots features early versions of several songs that were later recorded for the band's first two studio albums, as well as songs that had never previously been released in any versions. The album showcases the band's hardcore punk origins, as well as their early foray into reggae with the song "The Man Won't Annoy Ya."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H.R.</span> American musician

Paul D. Hudson, known professionally as H.R., is an American musician who leads the hardcore punk band Bad Brains, and is an instrumental figure in the development of the genre. His vocal delivery has been described as diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling and screeches, to smooth near-crooning or staccato reggae rhymes. He has departed the band periodically to pursue solo efforts that are more reggae than Bad Brains' punk sound. He is the older brother of Earl Hudson, Bad Brains' drummer.

<i>Bad Brains</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Bad Brains

Bad Brains is the debut studio album recorded by American hardcore punk/reggae band Bad Brains. Recorded in 1981 and released on the cassette-only label ROIR on February 5, 1982, many fans refer to it as "The Yellow Tape" because of its yellow packaging, much in the way that the Beatles' self-titled record is often called "The White Album". Though Bad Brains had recorded the 16 song Black Dots album in 1979 and the 5-song Omega Sessions EP in 1980, the ROIR cassette was the band's first release of anything longer than a single.

<i>Rock for Light</i> 1983 studio album by Bad Brains

Rock for Light is the second full-length album by hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains, released in 1983. It was produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars. The 1991 re-issue was remixed by Ocasek and bass player Darryl Jenifer. The re-issued version has some extra tracks, an altered track order, significantly different mixes and, on most tracks, a speed increase of the master which results in a raising of the pitch by one-half step.

<i>Live</i> (Bad Brains album) 1988 live album by Bad Brains

Live is a live album by hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains. It was recorded during a 1987 tour. "Day Tripper", a Beatles cover, appears on some editions. After the tour finished, the band commenced a series of departures, breakups, and reunions.

<i>The Youth Are Getting Restless</i> 1990 live album by Bad Brains

The Youth Are Getting Restless is a live album from hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains. It was recorded at the Paradiso Theater in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1987 by the VPRO. The show was part of the band's I Against I tour. It remains one of the group's best selling albums.

<i>Quickness</i> 1989 studio album by Bad Brains

Quickness, also known as With the Quickness, is the fourth full-length studio album by hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains. At the time of its release, it was the best selling Bad Brains album and also featured an MTV video for the lead-off track "Soul Craft" directed by Paul Rachman who later went on to produce and direct the feature documentary American Hardcore. Drummer Earl Hudson, though pictured on the cover, does not play on the record, as drum parts were instead performed by Mackie Jayson of the Cro-Mags. In an interview with MTV, guitarist Dr. Know said that the album's title comes from urgency and swiftness.

<i>Rise</i> (Bad Brains album) 1993 studio album by Bad Brains

Rise is the fifth studio album by hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains. It is the first Bad Brains album to be released on a major label and is notable for the absence of two original members: here, Israel Joseph I replaces vocalist H.R. and Cro-Mags drummer Mackie Jayson, who was a session musician on the band's previous album Quickness, replaces drummer Earl Hudson.

<i>God of Love</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Bad Brains

God of Love is the sixth studio album by the American musical group Bad Brains. It is the band's first album since I Against I, released in 1986, with its original lineup. It was released in 1995 on Maverick Records.

<i>A Bad Brains Reunion Live from Maritime Hall</i> 2001 live album by Bad Brains

A Bad Brains Reunion Live at Maritime Hall is the third live album from hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains. It marks the reunion of the band after a four-year breakup. At the time, the band were unable to use the name "Bad Brains" as they were embattled in legal turmoil with their prior management company. For over three years, the band had to tour under the name "Soul Brains" even though the original lineup of Bad Brains was intact.

<i>I & I Survived</i> 2002 studio album by Bad Brains

I & I Survived is the seventh full-length studio album by hardcore punk band Bad Brains.

<i>The Omega Sessions</i> 1997 EP by Bad Brains

The Omega Sessions is a 5-song EP recorded by hardcore punk/reggae pioneers Bad Brains in 1980 and released in 1997. The tracks were recorded and mixed at the original Omega Recording Studios in Rockville, Maryland. The EP contains early versions of songs that eventually appeared on later releases, including a rendition of "I Against I," which would not appear on an official Bad Brains release for another six years.

<i>Spirit Electricity</i> 1991 EP by Bad Brains

Spirit Electricity is an EP by hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains, released by SST in 1991. It was recorded live in concert in 1987 during the same tour that spawned the live albums The Youth Are Getting Restless and Live. The EP includes several live classics as well as the only officially available live version of the rare "Return to Heaven."

<i>Live at CBGB 1982</i> Live album by Bad Brains

Live at CBGB 1982 is a live album and DVD capturing hardcore punk/reggae group Bad Brains in concert at the historic New York City club CBGB in December 1982. The show features several tracks from the first three Bad Brains albums - Black Dots, Bad Brains, and the soon-to-be-released Rock for Light. The album also contains previously unreleased material, such as the reggae tunes "King of Glory" and "I And I Rasta."

<i>Banned in D.C.</i> 2003 compilation album by Bad Brains

Banned In D.C. is a compilation of hardcore punk and reggae songs by Bad Brains.

<i>Build a Nation</i> 2007 studio album by Bad Brains

Build a Nation is the eighth full-length studio album by hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains. Released on June 26, 2007 on Megaforce Records with distribution by Oscilloscope Laboratories, it was produced by Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys, a longtime friend of the band. This album marked the 30th anniversary of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Brains discography</span>

This is a comprehensive discography of Bad Brains, a Washington, D.C.-based hardcore punk band that also plays reggae and uses styles of funk and heavy metal into their music. To date, the band has released nine full-length studio albums, four EPs, four live recordings, one compilation album, one demo album, and more than a dozen singles.

<i>Into the Future</i> 2012 studio album by Bad Brains

Into the Future is the ninth studio album by the American hardcore punk band Bad Brains, which was released on November 20, 2012 on Megaforce Records. It is a tribute dedication to Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, a longtime friend of the band who died of cancer six months before its release, and produced their previous album Build a Nation. "Popcorn" first appeared on the Bad Brains tribute album "Tribute To Bad Brains", when the band appeared under the name Soul Brains.

Sidney Alexander McCray was an American punk singer.

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