I TO I WITH BAD BRAINS

I TO I WITH BAD BRAINS

Mike Gitter

Chant down Babylon! The Bad Brains unite the spirituality of Rastafarianism with a blazingly destructive mix of hardcore, reggae, metal and even jazz fusion to punch up a musical lightning bolt alternating speedy, grinding metallic whacks with a plethora of melodically soulful reggae licks. Live, there is no other band that can compare. Vocalist Joseph I (otherwise known as HR) dances, races and backflips his way across the stage, his blazing eyes blasting away at the thrashing crowd while he alternates a heartfelt scream with a Jah adoring harmony. Empowered by the slashing guitar of Dr. Know, as well as the soulful rhythms of bassist Darryl and drummer Earl Hudson, the Bad Brains lay down a virtual explosion of united heart, soul and musical fury.

Formed in 1977, the Washington, D.C.-based jazz-fusion unit soon became influenced by the heartfelt political and emotional convictions of early punk bands such as the Sex Pistols. The all-black band had seen Washington’s ghettos burn while life in Congress and the White House went on uninterrupted. Following six years of increased popularity and the release of a now rare single, an acclaimed cassetteonly album (ROIR) and the Ric Ocasek-produced Rock For Light LP, the band called it quits to pursue different creative directions. Most notably, these included Joseph’s vocalizing for his own band, “HR,” and a strict reggae outfit called Zion Train. 1985 brought the four back together for a number of live shows and to begin recording / Against I (SST), a second LP produced by noted Whitney Houston and Mick Jagger producer, Ron St. Jermaine. The album, which was released in the fall of 1986 signaled a literal “re-ignition” of music and spirit.

According to Joseph, “We are coming from the perspective that I and I failed and I and I won’t fail again ... We failed to hold up to the I and I doctrines of Jah, which is never to forget the Lord. The black man did that four and five hundred years ago and now we’re reigniting—which is what Rasta is all about.”

“We didn’t play for a little while,” adds Daryl, “but it really wasn’t a break-up. tt was more of a chilling out that allowed us to do some things that were different. Still, the songs, the lyrics and the intensity it takes comes from inside and totally from the heart.”

As described in the title / Against I, the Brains see a world in self-conflict desperately crying out for emotional and spiritual well-being. “What I mean by I against I,” says Joseph, “is people fighting against people whether they be black, white, Chinese or Rasta. It’s a representation of what’s going on in many people these days. I against I could mean a whole lot of things. It could even mean selfhatred. I see a lot of that among our people with a lot of black people hating themselves and wishing they were white. That’s why they get things like jerry curls.”

Producer St. Jermaine brings forth a powerful, though oftentimes gentle cascade of soulful rock. For example, the vocals for the brooding “Sacred Love” were recorded over the phone while Joseph served a brief jail sentence for possession of marijuana. Ironically enough, the song is about the relationship between an estranged prisoner and his lover. "After my second month in incarceration,” explains Joseph, "I was communicating with our manager and the other bretheren in the band and they suggested that I record the vocals for ‘Sacred Love’ over the phone. I didn’t have much to lose, being in jail, and I love to sing anywhere I can, so I did it.” The results are impressive, to say the least.

As one of the progenitors of American hardcore, the Bad Brains find themselves in a position to teach and educate as they take three solid months to tour and demonstrate the crucial power they’ve long been known for. According to Joseph: “In the circuit that I and I distribute I music in, it seems that we are in the right place at the right time. For almost six years we were all a bit ahead of our time. Still the essence was, and forever shall be, that this is exactly what we want to be doing and this is exactly what we are doing. The band’s reforming has given us an asset, since we are together again and the message is spreading. We are able to give bretherens and sistrens a chance to see I and I where they never have been able to before . .. Finally, it will give I and I the experience one needs before we go to Africa. Being from the West, you don’t want to go over there as a tourist or a vain exploiter. You’ve got to experience and build more resources that can be distributed to people who they rightfully came from anyway. When I and I sight up Rasta, every man sight up as one, so hopefully we’ll be looking forwar