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{{Short description|American punk band}}{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2012}}{{For|the album|Bad Brains (album)}}

factoids

| origin = Washington, D.C., U.S.Hardcore punkalternative metal>punk rock|reggae}}| discography = Bad Brains discography1976–1995|1998–present}}ROIRCaroline Records>CarolineSST Records>SSTEpic Records>EpicSony Music>SMEMaverick (company)>MaverickWarner Bros. Records>Warner Bros.Megaforce Records>Megaforce|Alternative Tentacles}}Beastie Boys Cro-Mags}}badbrains.com}}| current_members =

• Dr. Know
• Darryl Jenifer
• H.R.
• Earl Hudson| past_members =
• Sid McCray
• Mackie Jayson
• Taj Singleton
• Chuck Mosley
• Israel Joseph I
• Chuck Treece
• Jesse Royal

}}Bad Brains are an American band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1976. They are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk,WEB, {{AllMusic, artist, bad-brains-mn0000075264, yes, |title=Biography of Bad Brains |access-date=December 29, 2008 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |work=AllMusic}}WEB, Washington, DC's 5th Gift To The World-Music (Bad Brains), Michael, Darpino, November 28, 2006,weblink Metroblogging,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080129145948weblink">weblink January 29, 2008, WEB, Bad Brains Discography: Banned In D.C.,weblink Virgin Music,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070928030336weblink">weblink September 28, 2007, though the band's members have objected to the use of this term to describe their music.See the documentary film Punk Attitude. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of other genres like funk,NEWS,weblink I Against I, January 25, 2012, Barry, John, October 15, 2008, Baltimore City Paper, heavy metal, hip hop, and soul. Rolling Stone magazine called them "the mother of all black hard-rock bands",NEWS, Harrington, Richard, July 30, 1995, Lame Brains,weblink The Washington Post, 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.WEB, MÖRAT, November 16, 2016, The top 10 best Bad Brains songs,weblink Metal Hammer, Loudersound, WEB, Hobson, Rich, March 16, 2022, 12 albums that prove 1982 was punk's greatest year,weblink Metal Hammer, Loudersound, Bad Brains are followers of the Rastafari movement.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, 311 and Fishbone.WEB, Britt, Bruce, February 7, 2017, Bad Brains: The Band That Added Some Much Needed Color to the American Rock Scene,weblink The Undeafeted, WEB,weblink The most underappreciated bands of all time, yardbarker.com, July 27, 2022,

History

Formation and early years (1976–1985)

(File:Bad Brains.png|thumb|Bad Brains logo)The band's origins date to 1976, when the members first came together as a jazz fusion band called Mind Power, in the mold of bands such as Return to Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra.WEB, Blabbermouth, 2020-09-13, Original BAD BRAINS Singer SID MCCRAY Dies,weblink 2021-05-31, BLABBERMOUTH.NET, 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 then-singer Sid McCray introduced them to punk rock. Mind Power decided to switch their sound to hardcore punk and changed their name to Bad Brains, after the Ramones song "Bad Brain." Despite their burgeoning punk sound, after seeing Bob Marley in concert the band also became interested in reggae music and the Rastafari movement. 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.BOOK, Andersen, Mark, Jenkins, Mark, Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital,weblink January 2003, Akashic Books, 978-1-888451-44-3, 34, March 7, 2012, The band gained a fan base in Washington D.C. due to their high-energy performances and occasional reggae songs.BOOK, Moskowitz, David V., Caribbean Popular Music, 2006, Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, 0-313-33158-8, 18–19, In 1979 they were blacklisted from many Washington area clubs due to their destructive fans;NEWS, Bad Brains, D.C. punk band, make Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shortlist,weblink 2021-05-31, The Washington Times, en-US, this was later addressed in their song "Banned in D.C.".WEB, Bad Brains No Longer Banned in DC, Set to Play Night of U.S. Election {{!, Exclaim!|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/bad_brains_no_longer_banned_in_dc_set_to_play_night_of_us|access-date=2021-05-31|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca}} By 1980 the band relocated to New York City, where they would serve as a catalyst for that city's burgeoning hardcore scene.NEWS, The world is fast. Bad Brains are faster.,weblink live, 2021-05-31, Washington Post, en,weblink April 8, 2021, File:Bad brains 1983.jpg|thumb|left|Bad Brains at (9:30 Club), Washington, D.C., 1983]]By 1982, they were a regular act at the New York venue CBGB.WEB, Johnson, Christopher, Making Music History: Bad Brains at CBGB, 1982,weblink NPR, 14 February 2021, en, 12 October 2006, 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."WEB, Prato, Greg, Punk, purity, and positive mental attitude: The turbulent tale of Bad Brains,weblink Louder Sound, 14 February 2021, en, 9 June 2020, Their self-titled debut album was released on the ROIR label, originally on cassette only, in 1982,{{Citation|title=Bad Brains - Bad Brains {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bad-brains-mw0000267343|language=en|access-date=2021-05-31}} followed in 1983 by Rock for Light, produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars.{{Citation|title=Rock for Light - Bad Brains {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rock-for-light-mw0000192889|language=en|access-date=2021-05-31}} In 1985, the Bad Brains song "Pay to Cum" was featured in Martin Scorsese's film After Hours.MAGAZINE, Prato, Greg, 2012-06-15, Pay to Cum,weblink 2021-05-31, Rolling Stone, en-US,

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.{{Citation|title=I Against I - Bad Brains {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-against-i-mw0000189123|language=en|access-date=2021-05-31}} H.R. provided the vocals for the song "Sacred Love" over the phone from the Lorton Reformatory while serving time for a cannabis charge.WEB, 2013-07-29, 'Sacred Love': The Bad Brains song that was recorded over the phone from prison,weblink 2021-05-31, DangerousMinds, 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". (File:Chuck_Mosley.jpg|thumb|right|201x201px|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. In 1988, Bad Brains signed with Caroline Records and began recording the album Quickness.{{Citation|title=Quickness - Bad Brains {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/quickness-mw0000205406|language=en|access-date=2021-05-31}} 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.WEB, Bad Brains,weblink 2021-05-31, Riptide Music Group, en, 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. 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,MAGAZINE, Weingarten, Christopher R., 2017-11-11, Chuck Mosley, Former Faith No More Singer, Dead at 57,weblink 2021-05-31, Rolling Stone, en-US, and was then replaced by Israel Joseph I (Dexter Pinto). 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.WEB, 100 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time: 'Pump Up the Volume' (1990),weblink 2021-05-31, Albumism, May 8, 2020, en-US, 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.WEB, June 2020, Greg Prato09, Punk, purity, and positive mental attitude: The turbulent tale of Bad Brains,weblink 2021-05-31, Classic Rock Magazine, June 9, 2020, en, The album Rise was released by Epic in 1993.{{Citation|title=Rise - Bad Brains {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rise-mw0000619889|language=en|access-date=2021-05-31}} Jayson left the band in the middle of the ensuing tour and was temporarily replaced by Chuck Treece.WEB, 2020-05-18, Chuck Treece - Wheels of Soul,weblink 2021-05-31, dosage MAGAZINE, en,

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

The Hudson brothers again returned to the band in 1994, and they signed with Maverick Records for the 1995 album God of Love.{{Citation|title=God of Love - Bad Brains {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/god-of-love-mw0000171934|language=en|access-date=2021-05-31}} 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.WEB,weblink Tour Dates Archive, deftonesworld.com, September 19, 2016, WEB,weblink Who Is Who – Bad Brains, Raul, Pollicino, Beastiemania.com, September 19, 2016, 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.WEB, MTV News Staff, Bad Brains' H. R. Lands In Jail,weblink 2021-05-31, MTV News, en, In 1997 Bad Brains reconvened to remaster some early recordings, which were released as the EP The Omega Sessions.{{Citation|title=Omega Sessions - Bad Brains {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000030317|language=en|access-date=2021-05-31}} From 1998 to 2001, the original lineup toured under the name Soul Brains and released two live albums.WEB, MTV News Staff, H.R. Explains The Genesis Behind Soul Brains "Reunion",weblink 2021-05-31, MTV News, en, WEB, Soul Brains {{!, Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/soul-brains-mn0000034060|access-date=2021-05-31|website=AllMusic|language=en}}

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.WEB, The Beastie and the Brain,weblink 2021-05-31, EW.com, en, They played their first shows in several years at CBGB in 2006. Build a Nation was released in 2007.{{Citation|title=Build a Nation - Bad Brains {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/build-a-nation-mw0000476021|language=en|access-date=2021-05-31}} 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.WEB, 2010-10-25, In Search of Black Judas - Darryl Jenifer,weblink 2021-05-31, IMPOSE Magazine, en, A short Bad Brains tour of Australia planned for 2010 was cancelled due to health reasons.WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090309034551weblink">weblink dead, March 9, 2009, Tour dates, BadBrains.com, March 7, 2012, Bad Brains announced the recording of another new album in 2011.WEB,weblink Bad Brains Begins Work on New Album, RoadrunnerRecords.com, March 9, 2011, March 7, 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20111118180753weblink">weblink November 18, 2011, mdy, Into the Future was released in late 2012,WEB,weblink Sunday Old School: Bad Brains, MetalUnderground.com, May 27, 2012, June 2, 2012, WEB,weblink Bad Brains Announce New Album, Blabbermouth.net, September 26, 2012, September 26, 2012, and included a tribute to the recently deceased MCA.WEB, 2012-09-29, Bad Brains to include tribute to Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch on new album,weblink 2021-05-31, NME, en-GB, On the ensuing tour, the band added touring keyboardist Jamie Saft.WEB, 2013-04-16, H.R. of Bad Brains is Not Crazy, Insists Jamie Saft,weblink 2021-05-31, The Village Voice, In 2014 the band hinted at another new album,WEB,weblink Bad Brains Hint At Working On A New Album, punktastic.com, March 23, 2014, March 23, 2014, 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.WEB, Kamiński, Karol, 2014-11-25, "Punk! Hardcore! Reggae! PMA! BAD BRAINS" - new book available!,weblink 2021-05-31, IDIOTEQ.com, en-US, 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.WEB,weblink Bad Brains to record EP with new vocalist in front of audience, Punknews.org, May 18, 2015, June 1, 2015, H.R.'s status at the band remained unclear throughout that year.WEB,weblink Dr. Know talks about Bad Brains' 'Woodstock Sessions', Punknews.org, June 1, 2015, June 1, 2015, WEB,weblink Bad Brains Guitarist Dr. Know Discusses Upcoming Woodstock Sessions, Fuse (TV channel), Fuse.tv, May 28, 2015, June 1, 2015,

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.MAGAZINE,weblink Bad Brains Guitarist Dr. Know Is No Longer in Critical Condition, November 11, 2015, Chris, Payne, Billboard, September 19, 2016, After three months in the hospital he made a full recovery, thanks in part to a GoFundMe campaign organized by his bandmates.WEB,weblink Bad Brains are asking fans to help raise $100,000 for guitarist – who is expected to make a full recovery from heart attack, Team Rock, March 10, 2016, 10 March 2016, 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.WEB,weblink BAD BRAINS Frontman H.R. Suffering From Rare Headache Disorder, March 15, 2016, Blabbermouth.net, September 19, 2016, MAGAZINE,weblink Bad Brains' H.R. Raising Money to Combat Headache Disorder, Daniel, Kreps, March 16, 2016, Rolling Stone, September 19, 2016, In October 2016, Bad Brains were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,WEB, 2018 Fan Vote,weblink November 11, 2017, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 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.MAGAZINE,weblink How Bad Brains Are Staying Positive and Moving Forward, Kory, Grow, December 14, 2016, Rolling Stone, December 14, 2016, 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.WEB,weblink Bad Brains Play Brooklyn Gig With H.R., Randy Blythe + Sid McCray on Vocals, Loudwire, June 9, 2017, November 11, 2017, Singer Chuck Mosley, who had played with Bad Brains in the early 1990s, died in November 2017. Sid McCray died in September 2020.WEB, Minsker, Evan, Sid McCray, Original Bad Brains Singer, Has Died,weblink 2021-04-25, Pitchfork, September 14, 2020, en-US,

Band members

{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

Current members

• Dr. Know – lead guitar (1976–1995, 1998–present)
• Darryl Jenifer – bass (1976–1995, 1998–present)
• H.R. – vocals, occasional rhythm guitar (1976–1987, 1989–1990, 1994–1995, 1998–present)
• Earl Hudson – drums (1976–1987, 1989–1990, 1994–1995, 1998–present)

{{col-2}}

Former members

• Sid McCray – vocals (1977–1978; died 2020)
• Mackie Jayson – drums (1988–1989, 1990–1993)
• Taj Singleton – vocals (1988–1989)
• Chuck Mosley – vocals (1990–1991; died 2017)
• Israel Joseph I – vocals (1991–1994, 2008)
• Chuck Treece – drums (1994)
• Jesse Royal – vocals (2015)

{{col-end}}

Timeline

{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20PlotArea = left:120 bottom:75 top:10 right:20Alignbars = justifyDateFormat = mm/dd/yyyyPeriod = from:01/01/1976 till:01/01/2023TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyyLegend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1976ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1977Colors = LineData = BarData = PlotData= }}

Discography

• Bad Brains (1982)
• Rock for Light (1983)
• I Against I (1986)
• Quickness (1989)
• Rise (1993)
• God of Love (1995)
• I & I Survived (2002)
• Build a Nation (2007)
• Into the Future (2012)

References

{{Reflist|2}}

External links

• Bad Brains' Myspace
• Official website
• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=bad-brains-mn0000075264|label=Bad Brains}}
• {{Discogs artist|Bad Brains}}
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080828191027weblink">Bad Brains at ROIR
• {{IMDb name|id=2902983}}

{{Bad Brains}}{{Authority control}}