Bad Brains were just brilliant musicians. I used to listen to them in maybe early 80's when my favourite music was punk and reggae. Forgot about them fo4 40 years, but stated listening again a few months ago.HR suffers from a bipolar disorder. It’s hit or miss with him these days. I got to see the Brains in the mid 80s…holy shit! There was nothing like them. Fast and athletic. Incredible musicians/performers. Those first few albums were game changers for me.
Unless there were Nazi skinheads in the crowd….the hardcore scene was friendly. But I remember the Bad Brains (because they went Rasta) had a problem with a gay fronted band out of Texas. Homophobia. That word went around the country fast…and the Brains took a lot of shit for it. Since then they’ve apologized I guess.
I never got to see Fugazi…and to be honest Minor Threat and that straight edge posturing was not my thing. I’ve seen a lot of those straight edge bands (7 seconds etc) but we used to fuck with those with Xs on their hands. It was too judgmental and too militant. Especially when you’re drunk, on acid/dust, and out of your mind. LOL
I’m disappointed in a lot of my old school heroes of my youth. A lot of them have let themselves go.
Still communicate with John Joseph from the Cro-Mags. He’s been clean a long time…doing Iron Man competitions and still putting out new music. I saw his version of the Cro-Mags in a small packed club in San Diego a few years ago. Killed it. First time I’d seen them since ‘86 when they toured with Wendy O and Motörhead. That was a show.
Rediscovered them after looking up plant based meals on youtube. Ended up down a recipe rabbit hole, finding John Joseph and listening to an interview with him. Interesting guy. I'd only vaguely heard of the Cro Mags, and knew nothing about the straight edge scene and ties to Krishna. Has to be commended for turning his life around.