Bad Brains

Until recently with the splotlight on bands like Philadelphia’s Pure Hell and legendary Proto-Punk Detroit band “Death” (not to be confused with the seminal Death Metal band of the same name) Bad Brains was considered the first all black punk/hardcore band. Although it can’t be said that Bad Brains was the first black punk band, but you can say that they’re the first black punk band to put the D.C. Hardcore scene on the map.

Originally, the band was first founded as a jazz-fusion ensemble called Mind Power in 1975, with the line up as singer Sid McCray, Gary Miller and brothers Earl and Paul “H.R.” Hudson, in the mold of bands such as Return to Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra. In 1977, McCray introduced the rest of the band, who were already interested in bands such as Black Sabbath, Budgie and Led Zeppelin to punk rock. including the Dickies, the Dead Boys, and the Sex Pistols. Mind Power became obsessed with punk rock and changed their name to “Bad Brains”, after the Ramones song “Bad Brain” but in this case the word “bad” was used in the sense of meaning “powerful.” Despite their burgeoning punk sound, the early Bad Brains also delved deep into reggae music. McCray left in the early days of the group’s hardcore-punk era, and guitarist H.R. became the band’s singer.

The band developed an early reputation in Washington D.C., due in part to the relative novelty of an entirely African-American band playing punk rock, but also due to their high-energy performances and undeniable talent.

The band’s considerable musical technique, due in part to their jazz and progressive rock roots, set them apart from other Washington punk groups, who were typically earnest but often amateurish performers. Bad Brains’ emphasis on extreme speed, especially in their early records and performances, are often regarded as establishing hardcore punk.

Their music still contained hints of their prog-rock past and even some reggae, with quick time changes and H.R.’s fluctuating vocal dynamics. H.R. was a muscular and unpredictable stage performer with a very wide vocal range, who would often leap into the audience or onto amplifiers equating him to a cross between James Brown and Iggy Pop.

In 1979, Bad Brains found themselves the subject of an unofficial ban among many Washington D.C. area clubs and performance venues (later addressed in their song, “Banned in D.C.”). The band subsequently relocated to New York City where they performed at CBGB’s.

Their self-titled debut album was released on New York’s ROIR Records on “cassette only” in January 1982, followed in 1983 by Rock for Light, produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars. These two albums, containing hardcore punk and mellow reggae, were landmarks, influencing an entire generation of musicians, including Beastie Boys, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 311, Living Colour and more.

With any brotherhood, there was in-fighting, the band fought constantly with volatile singer H.R., who was very expressive and allegedly schizophrenic. H.R. seemed to reflect Bad Brains’ music: one minute calm and espousing peace and love, and the next minute an aggressive, sometimes violent man. In 1984, Bad Brains broke up; it was the first of many splits. H.R. began a solo career devoted to all genres of music, calling music “Transcendental” and saying “acceptance of all music is what I feel will be the unification of all nations under one” releasing many albums from 1984, 86′, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 2000.

Change of style (1986–1992)

In 1986, Bad Brains reunited and SST Records released I Against I. As the title track demonstrated, Bad Brains could still play extremely fast, but there was also a new variety; there was much more melody and slower grooves. Dr. Know sounded a bit like a punked-out Eddie Van Halen, there was an outright love song in “She’s Calling You,” and H.R. famously provided vocals for “Sacred Love” over the phone from the Lorton Reformatory while doing a bid for a cannabis charge. Also critically praised was H.R.’s performance: “he 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.” The title track’s video was shown on MTV’s then-new 120 Minutes program, for which the band appeared in promotional footage. Despite the success of I Against I, Bad Brains broke up again after spending most of 1987 on the road.

The group signed with Caroline Records in the late 1980s to release Quickness in 1989. The album continued where I Against I had left off, yet with a heavier sound and featuring the return of reggae with “The Prophet’s Eye”.

Bad Brains were plagued by internal tensions nearly from their beginning. Aside from the problems with H.R., who sometimes refused to perform at scheduled concerts, he and his younger brother, drummer Earl Hudson, also wanted to devote the band strictly to reggae, while Dr. Know and Darryl Jenifer were increasingly interested in heavy metal music. H.R. was replaced by Taj Singleton for the Quickness tour. H.R. had financial problems after an unsuccessful European tour with the group Human Rights, and meanwhile touring replacement singer Taj Singleton did not fit well with Bad Brains. H.R. and Earl both returned to the band, and H.R. was given a week to spit out some lyrics and get the vocal tracks down for Quickness. After the Quickness tour, H.R. and Earl left once again and H.R. was replaced by former Faith No More vocalist Chuck Mosley. Soon afterward, Bad Brains broke up yet again.

In 1990, Bad Brains backed longtime friend, fan, and protege Henry Rollins on a cover version of The MC5’s “Kick out the Jams”. The recording appears on the soundtrack to the film Pump Up the Volume.

Lineup change and reunions (1993–2000)

As bands influenced by Bad Brains (such as Living Colour and Fishbone) enjoyed commercial success, Dr. Know was approached by Epic Records in 1993, offering the band a major-label record deal. However, H.R. and Earl weren’t interested, as they were concentrating strictly on reggae. Dr. Know and Darryl Jenifer replaced them with former Cro-Mags drummer Mackie Jayson (who had played as a session musician on Quickness), and vocalist Israel Joseph I. Rise was released in 1993 to some confusion as original vocalist H.R. had been billed as “Joseph I” on the Rock for Light album back in 1983. Mixing jazz, punk, reggae, pop, funk, and rock, Rise was by far the most diverse album the group had released. In addition to a mix of reggae and hardcore, the album also featured heavy metal overtones. However, sales were unimpressive, reviews were mixed, and Israel and Jayson were fired to make room for the return of H.R. and Earl Hudson.
With the original band back together for the first time in five years, Bad Brains signed to the Maverick Records label for the 1995 release God of Love.

At a show at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kansas in 1995, H.R., (according to some accounts, while high on psychedelic mushrooms), bashed a microphone stand against the skull of an audience member, notably, a skinhead that heckled the band with racist taunts, severely injuring him. After this incident, the band called it quits yet again. Earlier that year, while on tour with Beastie Boys, the band was arrested with drug paraphernalia while crossing into Canada. Later in Montreal, Canada, H.R. attacked Bad Brains’ manager Anthony Countey, breaking his nose, and also assaulted his brother Earl before their scheduled appearance with Beastie Boys. This incident also caused them to miss the next show planned for Madison Square Garden in New York City. Maverick dropped the Brains soon afterward.

Two years later, the band worked together to remaster some very early studio recordings which were then released as the EP The Omega Sessions by Victory Records. In 1999, the original lineup toured under the name “Soul Brains” due to H.R.’s desire to not be associated with anything “Bad”. A live album, A Bad Brains Reunion Live from Maritime Hall was released in 2000.

New millennium (2001-present)

H.R. appears on the track “Without Jah, Nothin’ “, on P.O.D.’s triple platinum 2001 recording Satellite.

In 2002, Bad Brains released I & I Survived, an album devoted entirely to dub and reggae; many fans had been pushing for such an album for years.

In 2004, hypeman/producer/DJ Lil’ Jon, another longtime fan of the band, recruited Dr. Know, Jenifer and Earl Hudson to back him on a version of his song “Real Nigga Roll Call,” which interpolated the music of I Against I ’s “Re-Ignition.” The recording appears on the limited-edition release of Lil’ Jon’s album Crunk Juice. The accompanying DVD features footage of the session.

H.R. Performed the song “Who’s Got the Herb?” with the band 311 on June 22, 2004, in Long Beach, California.

In 2005, Darryl Jenifer told Billboard magazine that the band was in the studio recording their first proper studio album in ten years, to be released later in the year. Beastie Boy Adam Yauch also gave interviews indicating that he was producing the sessions, for which basic tracks featuring the original lineup had been recorded. H.R. was said to be on board for the new album, slated to emphasize a return to their early hardcore sound.

In late 2005, it was announced that Bad Brains would headline a two-date show at New York City’s legendary CBGB’s, which was scheduled for February 24–25, 2006. Tickets for both dates quickly sold out. After sets from a handful of other hardcore punk acts, Bad Brains came to the stage, as billed in print, “with John Joseph” of The Cro-Mags filling in for H.R. and former Bad Brains drummer Mackie Jayson filling in for Earl Hudson. Meanwhile, H.R. and Dubb Agents played gigs under the Global Rock Showcase event brand in California.

May 28, 2005, to Sept. 8, 2006, H.R. & Dubb Agents headlined a series of Global Rock Showcase dates across the United States. Dates include Little Steven Van Zandt’s “Save CBGB Rally” concert in Washington Square Park, New York City, August 31, 2005. H.R. has a long time association with Global Rock Showcase organizers D.I.A. Records, and released an album through them titled Out Of Bounds.

On hiatus from Global Rock Showcases, in the fall of 2006, H.R. reunited with Bad Brains for two dates at CBGB’s on October 9 & 10, as part of the continuing celebration of the venue’s legacy and imminent closing. Due to tickets selling out within mere minutes, unsurprising due to the band’s devoted following, a third show was added for Wednesday, October 11. During the course of the three day bill, H.R. announced that the new Bad Brains album was “forthcoming.” He also stated that the band’s next set of tour dates would be called The Re-Ignition Tour. However, the tour eventually was not billed as such.

While H.R. & Dubb Agents geared up to tour Global Rock Showcases ‘07 dates, in early January 2007, Bad Brains revealed the title of the new album. Build a Nation was released on June 26, 2007. The album debuted at #100 on the Billboard 200, and also garnished overwhelmingly positive reception from fans and critics alike. Scheduled between Global Rock Showcase dates, Bad Brains played five dates including Sasquatch Fest, June 27, 2007, George, Washington, and Virgin Fest, Aug. 5, 2007, Baltimore, Maryland. Bad Brains’ California dates were Sept. 22 to 28, 2007, followed by a European tour in October, 2007. Upon return to the U.S. the band took stage in Chicago for the multi-billed Riotfest rock concert. Bad Brains, as of 2006-07, appear to be a more stable unit, and are enjoying successes that did not come to fruition previously. The internet has also contributed to the band’s resurgence as it is now possible to view old and new concert footage via Youtube, or read archived interviews.

The video for the song “Give Thanks and Praises” can be seen online on the band’s MySpace page as of August 2007. Director Shavo Odadjian makes an appearance at the end of the concert video with frontman H.R.. The two are seen charismatically walking stage side, passing and smoking a marijuana joint.
Before the release of the new album, Dr. Know stated he was eager for the band to record more albums. As of 2007, Dr. Know, Darryl Jenifer, and H.R. all have solo albums in the works. H.R. will continue to tour solo with DIA Records Global Rock Showcase through the remainder of 2007, with his instrumental section Dub Agents. The title of bassist Darryl Jenifer’s upcoming solo effort is Blackvova Universal Sound.

In January 2008, the band announced they are working on a box set of 7″ vinyl records.

Bad Brains toured South America during April 2008 with former singer Israel Joseph I (who was in the Bad Brains from 1992–1994 and appeared on the album Rise), temporarily filling in for H.R. The band performed at the Smoke Out festival in San Bernardino, CA on October 24, 2009.

Two documentaries of the band are currently in production as well as a documentary film focusing on H.R..

According to their official website, Bad Brains plan to tour in the spring of 2010.