Rounding out our spotlight on the Bad Brains this week, while the band will always be known first and foremost as the trailblazing hardcore punk pioneers that they were, their influence and contributions to the alternative-metal scene that sprouted up in the back half of the 80s (and took off in the 90s) cannot be overstated. In addition, most folks know the band were also outstanding reggae musicians.
“Leaving Babylon” is probably the best example of that. Still, not many folks know they concocted a pretty stellar reggae cover version of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper”, which is captured here in this somewhat surreal performance in front of a markedly weak (probably clueless) crowd of Spring Break college kids from 1987. It may seem like an odd choice for a reggae cover, but thanks to HR’s fantastic performance, it works here in all his eccentric (inherently weird) glory.
And while the setting fits the bill, the bush-league crowd just doesn’t seem worthy of basking in all the awesomeness emanating from the stage here. Maybe that’s harsh, but whatever the case, the performance captures one of the many aspects that made the Bad Brains such a dynamic and innovative band. Whether they were playing punk, alt-metal, or reggae, they clearly could do no wrong, regardless of the audience they were playing to. Check it out:
