This film needs to be archived at the Library of Congress as an important historical document of the punk/hardcore era. There’s so much here that should be preserved. I can’t help but wonder what happened to all those young people, many who are undoubtedly grandparents today. This is a beautiful time capsule.
I'm 60 now and still rockin. My first CBs show was 1985 I think, but by 85 the Brains were playing bigger places like Irving Plaza and The Ritz. I saw Scream, 7 Seconds and DOA (on seperate nights) at CBs
@Sam-rf8yh I'm alive and well and recently had published on an audiophile site an article on The 15 Best Punk Albums (Yes the BB's debut is one of them) and 4 articles on Starting A Jamaican Music Collection
I saw "Bad Brains" playing live in a warehouse in Pensacola, Florida 1988. I had a bi-hawk and I was in the pit in a very hot summer room getting very sweaty. After the "Bad Brains" set I went into the bathroom to drink water from the sink in my bare hands. What I didn't realize was my hands were coated with hair spray from my bi-hawk so I drank hair spray. A few minutes later I got sick to my stomach and I ran outside where all the punks were to cool off and I projectile vomited to the applause of all the punks. Later I was still puking next to "Bad Brains" tour bus when HR tossed me some Wrigley's spiriment gum to get the bad taste out of my mouth! Local Pensacola punk band "Maggot Sandwich" opened.
Maggot sandwich were a great band " "get off the stage asshole" that's cool to know M.S. opened for bad brains that would have been an honor I'm sure... I sent away for their DEAD TO MY WORLD ep in 11th grade and was more that satisfied customer even better KML records never gave up on me and just kept sending me updated catalogs and new releases notifications and I just couldn't help buying more music from the wish I had had more spending $$$ back then there's a lot I wish I had got but didn't
Nope, NOT at all. U obviously know NOTHING about them bc it's completely opposite. (examples..They grew up in affluent Black suburb of Maryland, outside D.C. Member's parents worked high positions in Pentagon, gov't, and medical field. Some siblings attended ivy-league colleges. Music was encouraged and supported by families. Even certain parents would carpool band to gigs in early days, etc)
that one second shot of that fan at 3:37 is amazing, he's so hyped and so alive in that single shot, I can only imagine how amazing it would have been to see Bad Brains at any of these CBGB shows
Trying to educate myself on punk and metal roots and Bad Brains stands out so far and above as the sickest fucking band from this time. Insane energy, face fucking bass and drums, and the reggae cuts are next level in their own right. So sick
Caught up with Dead Kennedys, Ramones, Stranglers and somehow never heard of this band. Only discovered them a few years ago, what a bloody tragedy, they are something else
Better late than never, fellow DK fan. Alternative Tentacles’ short lived UK division put out some rare EPs of the Brains in Europe. Jello was certainly a fan himself.
In 1981 a compilation came out called let them eat jelly beans..it featured dead Kennedys, DOA, Bad Brains, Circle Jerks , Black Flag among others.... It really let everyone know there was something going on...
Hardcore like this will never ever be repeated this is absolutely the most Raw Punk you can get , sadly these dudes were so overlooked But at least the Big Punk bands idolized these dudes...The Ramones, Dead Kennedys , Agnostic Front etc...
It's crazy when you realize everyone in that young crowd is in their 50s or 60s right now. Mind-blowing to see footage like this and then think about how long ago it really was.
I've seen Bad Brains over 10 times in concert( twice at CBGB's). Never did I see a band with sooooo much fire 🔥 and energy!!! Best live band by in large!!!! 🎵🎶. One of my favorite all time bands!!! So positive and kick ass at once? A true American original! Inspired generations after them. Love 💕 them. Keep on rockin!!!
My introduction to the bad brains was in 1981 in New York City at the playroom. On 6th avenue in SoHo. They played a two-hour set with both hardcore and reggae. The aesthetics opened the show. Four months later I got to see them at A7. The New York hardcore scene from 1980 to 1985 was truly a magical place. Probably much like San Francisco 1965-1970
I remember a report from their concert un Paris ate the end of they eighties, the audience was ambivalent (but not disrespectful) because they played reggae half their set and they were in for their hardcore stuff…
Was at this show,can't believe I found this..just turned 60 NYC was a trash pit in 70,s early 80,s...wonder why my body hurts..so many shows n broken bones...ouch...but it sure was fun...
It's not a competition my friend and there have been many other bands that had the same impact. Within the punk scene, Bad Brains were definitely something special but they were not alone.
This was the first black punk band I had ever heard of back in the mid 80's when I was an early teen skateboarding around the time of the Powell Peralta team... I was listening to DK, TSOL, Black Flag, Circle Jerks and LA's Wasted Youth in LA to name a few.
Seconded! Death is the band name, For The Whole World To See is the album name for what you need to hear first. Incredible and ahead of their time with no exaggeration!
Bro. I’m 55. In 7th grade I bought *Bad Brains - Rock for Light.* I wore it out. Top 20 Punk Albums of ALL time. It was also the first time I heard real reggae.
@@westbayk2156 what exactly do you mean? I think some punk bands stayed true to form and also how the straight edge movement was actually I think hypocrisy itself and represents the opposite of what punk rock was intended to be. Minor Threat wasn't even racist they got branded by skinhead/neonazi facist a**holes...
For a long time I only knew Bad Brains for their pure hardcore stuff. This is my first time hearing "I and I Rasta". Wow, I had no idea what a beautiful singing voice he had. Powerful and soulful, my favourite dynamic in a singer. I need more of this, love it ❤️
Kia ora hello from Aotearoa new zealand hay please you guys check out from 1983s ROCK FOR LIGHT to this day my favourite reggae song ever i and I survive and P.M.A the song that sent me into an uncontrollable tail spin to the land of punkrock
@@rutherfordBHAZED i can't imagine what direction my life would have taken if i hadn't heard PMA ON STUDENT RADIO IN LATE 1984 14 year's old here in Aotearoa new zealand but to this day i remember doing the dishes after dinner and P.M.A came on 1984 Aotearoa new zealand bottom of the Pacific Ocean and hearing THAT song STUNNED ME GRABBED ME BY THE NECK AND MARCHED ME OFF DOWN THE ROAD OF PUNKROCK AND REGGAE THAT I'M STILL STUMBLING AND WOBBLING ALONG NOW
Yeehaa I've got that POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE (most of the time) Fucking love this band and HR you magnificent mad bastard just amazing THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC it's hard to imagine not having them in the sound track of my life
The thrashiest band around at the time but never seem to be given the credit for their influence on what was soon to evolve into thrash metal. Seminal and legendary outfit and love their Jah music reggae workouts too.
@aofmualA lot of people cited Discharge's debut album to be the inspiration for thrash. Hardcore punk definitely one of the most important influence for thrash. Dave Lombardo is a fan of bands like DRI, Minor Threat and Black Flag.
HR is a force of nature, crazy, unique, powerhouse of a singer and frontman. I literally wore their self-titled and Rock for Light cassettes out in my Walman in jr high in the late 80s. I would completely tune out school and crank them up to 10 blowing my ears out with this insane music. I regret nothing.
I first heard them in 85. I was 10. I think it was Banned in D.C. and I was hooked. Still to this day my top 3 bands. Got to see them a total of 8 times. So influential ✌️✌️✌️🤘🤘🤘🤘
Holy crap! Exactly the same for me. Born in '75 and heard these guys at summer camp in Maryland. The kid that was playing them was from DC, but probably only 14, and was the most punk thing in the world to me at 10. Bad Brains and Minor Threat was all we wanted to listen to all summer, but the counselors were 90% Deadheads and shut us down almost every time.
Man I forgot how insane Bad Brains was, last time I was at CBHB's was 1981. I forgot who played that night, It was a know name band other wise I would have remembered. After 81 most of the real punk bands were either done or signed to record label and CBGB's was to small. Bad Brains influenced a lot of post punk bands that did a mixture of punk, reggae and Ska. Great place to see a show in the middle to end of the 70s, It was only a 20 minute train ride and a subway down town, all the greats started there.
Amazing footage. I cannot understand how can one band keep up this incredible energy for 50 minutes. And there's almost no room on that cramped up podium, nevertheless H.R. jumping and giving all he's got, people stage diving and all. No violence and no one gets hurt. Wish i was there!
Yeah people definitely got hurt, but it wasn't this crowd killing, flailing, solitary kung-fu spin kicking horseshit like you see today. Not to say there was no violence, there absolutely was, but it wasn't so jocular and spastic and gay.
@@blackbrigades3869 I mean it makes sense, right? I would like to think I'm a fairly road worn musician (see-talentless mimic-😂) and even I was running out of energy by the end of the 2nd song. It's the best way to do it, guerilla war shit. Come, slay, leave.
Bro. I’m 55. In 7th grade I bought *Bad Brains - Rock for Light.* I wore it out. Top 20 Punk Albums of ALL time. It was also the first time I heard real reggae like *Rally Round Jah Throne* and *I and I Survive*
So sick this popped up, my team manager played this after a long skate & tattoo session. That was like 12 years ago and the last time i saw it.. Still so effin sick!!!
Kia ora hello from Aotearoa new zealand BAD BRAINS CHANGED MY LIFE DIRECTION PERMANENTLY IN 1984 14 year's old and i heard P.M.A on student radio and that was that almost 53 years old now still got a Mohawk (green) and P.M.A was my religious moment PUNKROCKER TILL THEY NAIL THE LAST NAIL INTO MY COFFIN AND BURY ME 12 FEET UNDERGROUND BECAUSE DEEP DOWN I'M NOT THAT BAD LOUD OR SMELLY. I'm very lucky to have seen them here in Aotearoa new zealand at the power station with my favourite New Zealand band STICKY FILTH
I just found these guys yesterday and whole shit they are one of the best punk bands of all time!! And I'm saying that after having gone to nofx in Portland 5 days ago.
I'm glad to say that I seen bad brains 3 times but I wish I could've seen them back in 82 but I was only 5 years old so that wouldn't have worked for me . But I did see them in 92 and they killed it and seen them at later dates but every time they kicked ass
@@slackingstacker yeah he would crouch a little and spin through the pit like a slow tornado and mow down everybody in his path..good times. Pronounced more like Bubby not booby. Wonder where he is today
We got that PMA.... This might be 84'- 85' ? anyone....Might have been in the pit, I was the kid with curly hair and white Marley Tshirt and we skated Brooklyn Banks in 84-85 ... never miss HR and Band and yes they did change our lives. The Exploited were around then, Dead Kennedy's toured, SNFU, violent fems and GBH outta uk... Bad Brains @CBGB was Historic, same place David Burns started Talking Heads, Ramones started at cbgb's the list goes on. I think it finally closed.... But this was also NYC Crack epidemic in full swing right outside the venue on Bowery st. OTC🤯😎
@@chard404 14 year's old 1984 here in Aotearoa new zealand i heard P.M.A on student radio and that took any choice i had away for the direction my life has been on since that Monday night in mid 1984 now about to hit 53 years old and still have a Mohawk (green) at the moment PUNKROCKER TILL THEY NAIL THE LAST NAIL INTO MY COFFIN AND BURY ME 12 FEET UNDERGROUND BECAUSE DEEP DOWN I'M NOT THAT BAD SMELLY OR LOUD 🤘✌️🤘😜
This band influenced so many different genres. Your seeing the first stage dives and slam dancing then grooving to reggae then back to hardcore... ❤❤ Bad Brains need yo be in the HOF
Mark Ratner takes the plunge at 10:24. Unfortunately, the seas parted at a very inopportune time and he suffered a severe concussion, which prematurely ended the night's festivities.
Saw them that fall in Burlington, VT. On the same night The Clash played up the street at the university gym, and they were in the audience for the Bad Brains late show.
Esto es un gran documento de Bad Brains, en el año 82, joder yo tenía 15 años por entonces y ya los escuchaba junto a Dead Kennedys. Magnífico directo. Una pena que no los pude ver en directo; al menos en el norte de España, aunque si creo estuvieron en Madrid, Barcelona y otras...Quien dijo que el punk había muerto???✊️✊️💣💣☠️☠️
Why is there nothing like this happening anymore? What happened to the energy, the spirit and the fun that made music worth listening to & seeing & playing? I guess we're all destined to be disappointed, bitter, vitriolic RU-vid, Facebook & Twitter posters now that we no longer have a real forum (like CBGB) to slam & surf & let loose. Damn, I miss these days...
