On par with only a select few rock bands, the Bad Brains influenced numerous artists over the years - covering a wide range of styles. This is understandable, as the Bad Brains themselves offered up a variety of sounds since forming in the late '70s (punk, hardcore, reggae, metal, funk, etc.), and in the process, penned some of rock's all-time great tunes ("Pay to Cum," "Sailin' On," "Re-Ignition," "Sacred Love") and classic albums ('Bad Brains,' 'Rock for Light,' 'I Against I,' 'Quickness'). But somehow, someway, the Bad Brains never managed to truly break through to the mainstream - while many of the bands they influenced (Beastie Boys, Living Colour, Nirvana) did.
At last, there is now a book that tells the story of the band, 'Punk! Hardcore! Reggae! PMA! Bad Brains!' Written by journalist/author Greg Prato, the book is part traditional biography and part oral history. Interviews include Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Max Cavalera (Soulfly/ex-Sepultura), Chad Channing (Nirvana), Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed), Curt Kirkwood (Meat Puppets), Mitts (Madball), Chuck Mosley (ex-Faith No More/ex-Bad Brains), Greg Puciato (Dillinger Escape Plan), Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria), Tesco Vee (Meatmen), and Tim Williams (Vision of Disorder), among many others.
Prato is a Long Island, New York-based journalist, who has written for Rolling Stone, and has authored such books as 'Grunge is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music,' 'The Faith No More & Mr. Bungle Companion,' 'Too High to Die: Meet the Meat Puppets,' and 'MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video.' 'Punk! Hardcore! Reggae! PMA! Bad Brains!' is his fourteenth book overall. He is also a long-time fan of the Bad Brains - having interviewed most of the band's members over the years (of which excerpts from these interviews are included in this book), and having witnessed quite a few Bad Brains performances over the years.
Available as both a paperback version [$14.99], a Kindle download [$9.99], and a Nook download [$9.99], 'Punk! Hardcore! Reggae! PMA! Bad Brains!' helps put it all into perspective.
Read an excerpt here.