Bad Brains and the mystery of HR

*** update fall 2016 - congratulations to Bad Brains for being nominated to the Rock hall of Fame

****Finding Joseph i update Jan 2017.  < Click there  <

I swear, this is a tough love letter to HR and Bad Brains.  It won't look it when I am done, because they are such a fucking mess.   Not they… he.  I have so much to say about Bad Brains, let’s see if I can do this without getting too long winded*. Bad Brains are amazing. These guys pioneered heavy metal, hardcore, thrash, reggae, everything. These guys were doing speed metal back in the late 70’s. It is also melodic and beautiful. Also, somehow, it is reggae. This is really, really good reggae. Oh, and it is also thrash.  It’s is happy speedy thoughtful religious speed metal reggae.  They didn’t just invent it… they are it.  Like Hunter Thompson and Gonzo journalism… Bad Brains have no competition.  Not outwardly, anyway.

Here, you need to listen to some of their songs. Appreciate the music first and foremost.  Then, we will talk about the mess behind the scenes. Every band you love knows they were the founders of all that is good and powerful in rock. You know how every musician says they were inspired by the Beatles?  Well, everyone punk or metal then says same about Bad Brains.


If you aren't familiar with them, let's start with this one.  It's called 'Return to Heaven'.  It manages to capture all of their different styles - 

Everything about them is unique: the look, the melody, the talent level, the race, the musicality.  They are one of the most important rock bands ever. I would rather see a good Bad Brains show than just about any other band. A good Bad Brains show. That is the catch, and that is what we are going to talk about today. Denver rock writer G Brown once said of Van Morrison “he is in the top five best shows I have ever seen, and he is in the top 5 worst shows I have ever seen.” This could be said for Bad Brains.  Shit... look at this in its singularity - a black rock band.  A black punk band.  A black thrash hardcore band.  They have no peerage.


This piece is more the story of their lead singer, HR.  His name is Paul Hudson, but he has always gone by 'HR' which stands for Human Rights, or Hunting Rod.  Well, what is what he says.  You can't believe him, though.  He's nuts.***

HR is the self destructive, erratic, and wildly powerful singer for the band. He is also one of the most talented singers and front men; which is why we are talking about him. If he was just an asshole (and he is an asshole) the conversation would be over. He is the definitive black voice in all of rock. I have seen them live a bunch. One of the shows was the best thing in history, just wicked mind blowing. One was ok, and one was terrible. I mean terrible. HR decided instead of singing that he was going to play trumpet. He is this amazing conundrum. They started in the 70s, and still play today. They have to, because with HR as their singer they will never get rich. He gets arrested, a lot. Assault, drugs, fun stuff like that.  Here is the thing, though.  It's not like he is mean.  Or, he doesn't mean to be mean.  He is just nuts.

If you see an interview, he comes off as super gentle and thoughtful.  He literally comes across as a guy who wouldn’t burn at ant with a magnifying glass.  Maybe it’s the crack, but one of his many arrests was for braining a guy at a concert with the base of a microphone stand.  That is a 12 pound piece of pure steel.  This is what he does to his fans.

Really, Axl Rose would be the idea comparison here. Guns and Roses could easily be the biggest band in the world right now, and over the last 20 years. They had it ALL, and one person threw it away. This is what HR has done to Bad Brains. Sometimes he doesn’t show up for gigs. He quits the band every few years. Sometimes he shows up on stage and refuses to sing.  He is the black Axl.  The Blaxl

* editors note, this was before G&R returned from a 25 year hiatus and began to take back their crown.

Here is the thing.  I want them to tour and sound they like they did in 1986.  I know, time passes and that is impossible.  Except, it isn't always.  A couple bands I see very regularly, James Taylor and Iron Maiden, sound exactly like they did 30 years ago.  Actually, both sound better.  So... why can't I see Bad Brains?  Well, they are all alive.  In fact, the band is 100% capable of sounding how you think they might.  The limitation, then, is HR.  I don't think he can sing anymore.  PLUS... no one knows... because he kinda refuses to.

I don't know that you could have seen the band at their full (mid 80s) greatness in 2005, or 1995, or even 1990.  On occasion, but it has been SO hit or miss in the last 30 years because of HR... it is why they aren't known or loved like they should be.

There is a fascinating documentary about them you should watch. It is called 'Band in DC', which is a great retrospective warts and all.  The name is a pun on their legendary status of being banned across Washington DC, which is where they came from.  They were banned because of HR, of course.  There are differing stories to the legend.  The documentary folks went and talked to the old club owners. One said they were banned because HR kept up to 50 people on his guest lists for shows.  In a venue that holds only 200 people, that doesn't leave much room for profit for the club owner.

** editors note - the documentary is available on Vimeo now.

Normally, I would recommend buying it. The band could use the money, and the deserve it. However, for some insane reason, you can’t buy it. Imagine all the resources involved in the movie and the poor filmmaker can’t sell it. Imagine hearing about the new Mission Impossible movie and then finding out it isn’t coming out. I have written the band and asked, but there are no answers. It would not surprise me if HR wouldn’t sign the releases necessary.  It’s not uncommon.  After Bob Dylan saw what an asshole he was in ‘Don’t Look Back’, he sued to stop it.  The judge, wisely, allowed it’s release.  In both those cases, your protagonist is likely saying “this movie unfairly portrays me as a total dick’.  The answer then is ‘well, that wasn’t clever editing.  It’s because are you are total dick.  If this is news to you, maybe hiring a documentary crew to follow you around wasn’t the best idea”.

Ok, let's slow it down with 'I & I Survive'.  Just beautiful.  It's basically straight reggae.

 

You will note the tone of this piece is not objective, or even handed. I am angry.  I am sad. I want them to be successful. I want to see them live again. This is impossible to do when no one will book the band. Would you book a band where the lead singer may not show up? Well, if that happened at least insurance would back your losses. What if the singer shows up and decides to wear a full faced motorcycle helmet through the whole show, and so can’t be heard singing? Yeah, that awesomeness is in the documentary.

They have had so many second chances, too. The Beastie Boys took them on tour, but that didn’t last because HR attacked his manager violently when they tried to get him off the bus to go onstage. Madonna signed them to a big fat recording contract, but that fell apart after HR got jailed for attacking a fan during a show with the mic stand. Not the microphone, mind you. That super thick chunk of steel that keeps the mic from tipping over.

Ed note – correction.  He assaulted three fans with the mic stand.

This time his targets were three fans rather than his own manager.
Police in Lawrence, Kansas allege that the lead singer was arrested early
Friday (July 21) after hitting two fans with a microphone
stand at a nightclub.  Lt. Mark Brothers said, “As far as we can discern there
was no apparent reason for the attack. It was completely without
warning…by words of victims and fellow band members.” One of the
battered fans needed five stitches in his head and the two others had minor
cuts and bruises

 

This is fun.  Note how the article points out that this incident did not involve him violently attacking his manager.  Geesh, what is the back story on that one?  This was all about ten years ago, so it’s tough to find details.

Now you see the analogies to Axl Rose. Here is the interesting thing, though. I don’t think he means to be a psychotic asshole… which is pretty much what he is.  Axl does.  HR is childlike. He would agree with that. It is believed he is schizophrenic, but I study these things and I am leaning towards manic depressive. It is sad. This is not romantic ‘misunderstood genius’, either.

Just get rid of him, right? You can’t. He is that good. If you get a great performance out of him, it is transcendent. The band is always spot on.  Plus, they have tried to replace him, a lot.

Let's close with this one.  To me, it is the definitive Bad Brains piece, for so many reasons.  The first is this, the vocal was recorded from jail.  Why was HR in jail?  Doesn't make a difference, he just usually is.  I also think this song is so beautiful.  When he sings about a Sacred Love, and you realize he is literally singing from inside a prison... wow.  Couple other things to note before you push play.  You will note these are all studio tracks I am playing for you.  I can't find any decent footage of them live.  35 years in business.  Also, they are all from the same album - I Against I.  Get it, it's full of crazy good shit like this.

If you get the chance, see them. It’s a risk, but worth it. Just like Van Morrison.  I only got to see Van once.  I haven’t seen him more because he simply does not tour.  At all.  Ever.  It’s smart, though.  See, Van doesn’t tour because he hates to tour.  He knows he has stage fright and he gets all crazy.  To perform, he had to drink a lot to face the fears.  So… he just doesn’t tour.  I guess that is what HR, and Axl should do.  Why book a tour that you know you aren’t going out for?

Regarding Van, it was a great show.

Here is another odd but serious connection to Van.  The great rock writer, G Brown (Denver Post) had a GREAT line about Van Morrison and his erratic performances.  He said 'Van Morrison is in the top 5 shows I have seen, and the bottom 5, as well'.  I can say the exact same thing about Bad Brains.

*** Regarding the comment 'he's nuts'.  I can prove it isn't hyperbole.  The gal he is now married to is listed as his 'full time caretaker'.  The poor guy just can't function.  the saddest thing is same with many mentally ill folks - never sought treatment until it was far too late.