Artist

Bad Brains

1977-present·Washington, D.C.

Bad Brains complicated DC hardcore's speed-and-economy template before it had even fully hardened into a rule. They fused punk with reggae and funk, playing at velocities and with a rhythmic sophistication that other DC bands hadn't attempted, and pushed the scene toward more adventurous territory just by existing. They headlined Minor Threat's first show in December 1980, the one that drew fifty people into a basement — proof of who carried weight in DC punk at the time. Their influence ran both musical and philosophical: they showed a scene built on velocity and aggression that hardcore could absorb dub basslines and jazz chops without losing its force. Later oral histories of the scene, like Scott Crawford's *Spoke* and his documentary *Salad Days*, treat Bad Brains as the band DC hardcore simply would not exist without.

At a glance

Active
1977–present
From
Washington, D.C., USA
Listening guide track
“Big Takeover”

Listen

In the DC Hardcore listening guide: “Big Takeover”

Spotify

In the issues

  • DC Hardcore
    Principal · 1979-1986

    DC Hardcore is a music scene from Washington, D.C., USA, 1979–1986. Its principal artists include Minor Threat, Fugazi, Ian MacKaye and Bad Brains. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 18 dated events.