Bad Brains stood out from their early 80’s hardcore punk peers in nearly every single– here was four Rastafarian black men playing fusing punk rock and reggae while staying grounded with their “Positive Mental Attitude” in their native Washington DC, drawing a stark contrast to the primarily white male bands with angry screeds against the government that they shared the stage with each night. But despite those differences, Bad Brains found a home in the hardcore punk scene with their blitzkrieg fast rhythms and love for the chaos that dominated the genre at that time. Their self-titled debut album Bad Brains was a blistering mix of punk speed, reggae grooves, and heavy metal riffs, all driven by the incredible guitar work of Dr. Know and the explosive vocal range of Paul Hudson (affectionately known as H.R.) that immediately put them on the map and went on to make them an incredibly influential group for bands like Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, 311, Sublime, and more.
Standout Songs: “Sailin’ On”, “Attitude”, “Banned in D.C.”
