Analogman Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 On-again/off-again rock act Bad Brains appears to be on once more. After being asked to kick off the final week of shows at CBGB with a trio of sold-out performances, the original Bad Brains line-up of singer H.R., guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer and drummer Earl Hudson has been jumpstarted. "It was tremendous," Dr. Know tells Billboard.com of the performances. "We hadn't played in that place in a long, long time. Did you see the DVD [the recently released 'Live at CBGB's 1982']? That sh*t was like that [laughs]! There was so much friends and family -- it was a bit much, actually. It was really an honor and a privilege to have so many good friends and see them all. We were back together for a week; we hadn't been together for a long time." Tying in with the recent flurry of activity is a long-in-the-works, as-yet-untitled studio album produced by the Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch. The set should see the light of day next spring. "The lawyers are finishing up the last little tidbits of it," Dr. Know says. "There's a lot of dubs and there's some old school-meets-new school Brains," he continues. "Not moderate tempo, but fast tempo. Yauch said, 'Man, I want y'all to do some old school-type sh*t,' so we did it like that." Song titles for the rock tracks include "It's All Rock'n'Roll" and "Let There Be Light," while the dub songs include "Article" and "Kingdom Come." The wait for a follow-up shouldn't be long, either. "I want to start working on the next one, because we did that one two years ago already," he says. Beyond the aforementioned "Live at CBGB" DVD, the group is mulling additional archival releases. Up for consideration next is vintage footage shot by a friend of the band of Bad Brains playing with the Circle Jerks, Living Colour and Leeway. Dr. Know also hopes to get a head start on his first solo album soon. "I want to sit down this winter and start hashing her out," he offers. "I've got a few little riffs working, but I want to sit down and perfect them. Put some people together, and record them up. There's going to be total, crazy special guests -- whoever I can get. A lot of people said they would participate -- Flea, Mos [Def], the Living Colour guys, Darryl, Earl and H.R." billboard.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ction Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 I can't imagine HR is sane enough to front a regularly recording/touring version of Bad Brains. I hope I'm wrong. More archival footage being released is a very good thing, though. I also wish I could find a picture of him from last month's CBGB show, wearing a motorcycle helmet and looking like a grade A wingnut. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 sounds good to me, as long as they can actually pull it off. (and stay away from calling themselves Soul Brains) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 I don't think they're saying HR is on the new studio album. The original Bad Brains lineup for the CB's shows wasn't even announced until two weeks before they happened. I doubt he'd be doing any kind of touring with them either. Here ya go, seannie. When I first saw the picture I thought he had somehow got ahold of an astronaut helmet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 I don't think they're saying HR is on the new studio album. The original Bad Brains lineup for the CB's shows wasn't even announced until two weeks before they happened. I doubt he'd be doing any kind of touring with them either. poop Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 But what the f*ck do I know. It just seems like it's saying they've been working on the new studio album for a long time, and I don't think HR even knew he was playing with them until 2 weeks before the gig. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ction Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 I wouldn't be surprised if HR didn't know he was playing with them while he was playing with them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted November 3, 2006 Author Share Posted November 3, 2006 I think I have ever only heard on song by these dudes - ?Love on some tape someone gave me back in the early 90s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted November 3, 2006 Author Share Posted November 3, 2006 I think I have ever only heard one song by these dudes - ?Love on some tape someone gave me back in the early 90s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
quarter23cd Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 I wouldn't be surprised if HR didn't know he was playing with them while he was playing with them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 10 songs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Me neither. One time when Al saw them a few years ago it was like HR was playing a different show than the band. I guess he started out okay for the first song and then he sat down on the floor and started reciting poetry and spouting nonsense until the band gave up and left the stage. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted November 3, 2006 Author Share Posted November 3, 2006 Come to think of it - I think these dudes were in last year's Vanity Fair music issue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Come to think of it - I think these dudes were in last year's Vanity Fair music issue. Never is a million years would I have speculated that you would read Vanity Fair...you always seemed like a Mother Jones kinda guy to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 10 songsDid OINK finally get the red-phone call and send an emergency moderator over here? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted November 3, 2006 Author Share Posted November 3, 2006 Never is a million years would I have speculated that you would read Vanity Fair...you always seemed like a Mother Jones kinda guy to me. I buy the music issue - it has long articles in it - like the good old days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Official press release: The first proper Bad Brains studio album in over a decade, "Build A Nation," is now scheduled to arrive in stores on June 26, 2007 via Megaforce Records. The album features all the original members of the group: HR, Darryl Jenifer, Dr. Know and Earl Hudson. Produced by long-time fan, Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, Build A Nation is a return to form for the band that helped define American Punk and Hardcore music. It also represents the first studio album, outside Beastie Boys albums, to be recorded at the Beastie Boys' Oscilloscope Laboratories and studio compound in New York City. "This album started in my studio with primal, classic Bad Brains intentions," commented bassist Darryl Jenifer. "I told Adam I was thinking about a new Brains' record, then Adam said 'Word! You should let me produce that shit, son! I'll smoke those other cats that tried to produce y'all. I'll make you sound real!' I said 'Word!' And the rest is history," continued Jenifer. "Adam took it in a direction that captured the S/T vibe, but with an honest, modern touch." "The Brains are one of most powerful and unique bands in the world," stated Adam Yauch. "They have been a huge influence on me, and it was an honor to work with them on this record." Considered by many to be the "holy grail" of punk rock, the Bad Brains iconic legacy is best defined by their frenetic and legendary live shows. They are one of the definitive American punk groups who garner the same respect as the Sex Pistols, Black Flag, The Clash, and The Ramones. They brought a new dimension to music by melding punk and reggae into an innovative style that has yet-to-be copied. Build A Nation returns the band to their early roots with a raw, analog-driven chaotic album. "The thing about a lot of punk is the feeling that bands have is of apathy and hopelessness. Whereas Bad Brains lyrical content had a lot of hope in it," commented Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day. A Bad Brains worldwide tour will commence around the release, including several major festival appearances both in the USA and Europe. Sasquatch Festival on May 27 will see both Bad Brains and Beastie Boys take the stage. Details will be announced shortly. Build A Nation Sequence: 01. Give Thanks And Praises02. Jah People Make The World Go Round03. Pure Love04. Natty Dreadlocks 'Pon The Mountain Top05. Build A Nation06. Expand Your Soul07. Jah Love08. Let There Be Angels (Just Like You)09. Universal Peace10. Roll On11. Until Kingdom Comes12. In The Beginning13. Send You No More Flowers14. Peace Be Unto Thee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ction Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Reading that stuff makes me very excited that this could be a huge return to form, but then I kinda remember the last few Bad Brains studio albums, and HR standing almost motionless while wearing a motorcycle helmet during their final CBGB shows, etc., and then I just hope this doesn't totally suck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Y'know, there was, pre-Paul's Boutique, like summer of '88, a blurb in SPIN magazine about a band consisting of Yauch, HR and Daryl Jenifer. I remember a b&w press pic of them, even. Yauch laughing his head off in it. I have not heard one thing about this project since. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ction Posted May 12, 2007 Share Posted May 12, 2007 I just listened to some of Build a Nation, and musically the comparisons to their early stuff aren't that far off. Dr. Know, Darryl, and Earl actually sound really good...not as good as the ROIR tape or Rock For Light, but not bad at all. Way better than what I was expecting. Too bad they don't have a functioning singer anymore. Christ, HR's vocals on this are awful. I don't expect him to have the same power at 50 that he did at 24, but his singing on this is pure crap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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