(Word Sword
P.O. Box 4426
Emeryville, Ca 94662)
Punk and Reggae have been associated
with each other since, well at least since Bob Marley listened to
the Clash, and wrote "Punky Reggae Party" with Lee Scratch Perry.
In the US Bad
Brains made a name for themselves by mixing hardcore with reggae. They
are prominently featured in the "American Hardcore" book and
documentary on DVD (Steven Blush, writer; Paul Rachman director).
According to the Megaforce Records
website and Pitchfork magazine, Beastie Boy MCA (Adam Yauch) will be
producing the album due out later this year, and a solo album by Bad
Brains guitarist Dr. Know is being planned.
After watching
the "American Hardcore" DVD, I discussed some issues related to the
documentary with Ginger Coyote on my cell phone. One was the scarcity
of women featured. Moments later I met AbbaYahudah at a recording
studio in Berkeley. I brought up the Bab Brains, who were all over
"American Hardcore." Yahudah became very excited and told me how much
of an influence they were onto him. While listening to part of the
album with him, and I commented that the CD sounded "authentic." He
didn't hear exactly what I said. He thought it was "satanic." "That's
deep," he said. Very Funny. Like some hardcore bands, several reggae
artists have been portrayed as being chauvinistic towards women. This
album presents a positive view of women, is well produced and well,
sparkles, it's so fresh. Another album "From the W.O.M.B." should be
out in several months.
