BAD BRAINS

Pioneers of a genre usually spawn a legion of imitators, but despite their legendary status in the world of hardcore punk, there’s no one quite like Bad Brains.

Surely no other punk band started off as a jazz fusion outfit. Yet Mind Power, the name of the first incarnation of the group, cared more for Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever than hard rock. But when close friend and Mind Power frontman Sid McCray played punk for his bandmates, history was set into motion.

Bad Brains, like many other young punk bands, set out to be the fastest group of the era. Their self-titled debut, originally released only on cassette, (better known as The Yellow Tape) illustrates their desire for speed, yet they possessed the chops to elevate themselves above the competition.