Bad Brains: Reggae's Bad Boys Regroup

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"End It: A Benefit for Artists for a Hate-Free America," with the Beastie Boys, Bad Brains and Hurricane, 5 p.m. Monday, Kitsap County Fairgrounds, Bremerton; $20.50, 628-0888. -----------------------------------------------------------------

Bad Brains, Bad Brains, whatcha gonna do?

For a while it looked like "End It" might have to do without the hard-core reggae punkers from Washington, D.C. Just as its tour with the Beastie Boys was to begin last week in Montreal, Bad Brains' lead singer HR flew into a rage just before show time, assaulting his own brother, drummer Earl Hudson, and the band's manager, Anthony Countey, breaking his nose and injuring his hand. HR was arrested and led away in handcuffs but was released that night. When he tried to return to his home in Los Angeles, he was stopped at the Canadian border on suspicion of possessing marijuana. Eventually, he was allowed to leave. The rest of the band returned to their homes near Washington.

The morning after it happened, the band's PR agency issued an unusually frank statement about the incident, detailing HR's bad behavior, saying Bad Brains' tour was in doubt and declaring "all parties involved are reportedly stunned and extremely concerned about HR's emotional state."

But this week they turned around and said all is copacetic. The band will rejoin the tour in Bremerton.

It should make for an interesting performance. It will be HR and Hudson's first show since reuniting with the band, after having left it two years ago.

Bad Brains was started in 1977 by guitarist/bassist Gary Miller, now known as Dr. Know. He recruited one of his bass students, Darryl Jenifer, and longtime school friends, HR and Earl Hudson. Blending reggae and punk, Bad Brains became a potent alternative rock act, recording several singles and EPs, and a cassette for the ROIR label that became an underground hit.

Ric Ocasek of the Cars caught the band in concert and invited it to record at his Boston studio. The result was the album "Rock for Light," which established Bad Brains as a unique force in hard rock. In late 1983, the band took a hiatus, but was back in 1986 with the LP "I Against I."

HR left the band in 1989. Chuck Moseley of Faith No More filled in for a while, and Henry Rollins sang on a cover of MC5's "Kick Out the Jams" for the "Pump Up the Volume" soundtrack. In 1992, Israel Joseph-I became the new vocalist, and Mackie Jayson replaced Hudson on drums.

But the new lineup didn't work out, and HR and his brother rejoined earlier this year, recording the album "God of Love." The album and tour are supposed to herald a rebirth of the original Bad Brains. We'll see if it works out that way.

The Beastie Boys cite Bad Brains as one of their major influences, and the Boys have learned well how to blend seemingly diverse styles. The loudmouth, bratty kids of 1987's landmark rap hit, "(You've Got to) Fight For Your Right to Party," have matured into loudmouth, bratty adults with a healthy respect for jazz and blues, and an ability to play instruments.

Last year's "Ill Communication" established the Beastie Boys as one of the most compelling bands of the '90s. The ambitious, amazingly diverse album is full of fine musical moments, clever, funny wordplay and storytelling, and impressive songcraft.

Hurricane, the Beastie's former DJ, is an explosive rapper - literally. He likes to use the sounds of explosions in his raps, as well as other potent sound effects. Although he utilizes the same boring, sterile drum-machine beats as most other rappers, and the same boring, degrading cuss words, he does come up with some startling rhymes and original subject matter.