Bad Brains was an early punk rock band from Washington, DC circa 1979. Originally, they were a progressive rock band called Mindpower, but switched to playing more aggressive punk rock in the area's local clubs. They also were Rastafarians who interspersed their playlists with reggae songs. Their music still contained hints of their progressive rock past, with quick time changes and lead singer H.R.'s fluctuating vocal dynamics. H.R. was a muscular and unpredictable stage performer who often leaped into the audience or onto amplifiers.
Their original recordings were released on New York's ROIR cassettes, but later they released their first l.p. Rock for Light, produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars. SST Records released I Against I and later albums. Finally, they signed to a major label in the late 1980s to release Quickness.
They were misunderstood by the music industry about their politics from the beginning. Dave Grohl said that they were the "greatest live band ever". They tour now under the name Soul Brains.
| Year | Title | Label |
| 1981 | Bad Brains | SST Records |
| 1983 | Rock for Light | SST Records |
| 1986 | I Against I | SST Records |
| 1988 | Quickness | Caroline Records |
| 1989 | Youth Are Getting Restless: Live in Amsterdam | Caroline Records |
| 1993 | Rise | Epic Records |
| 1995 | God of Love | Maverick Records |
