Today I played Bad Brains fantastic, energetic punk single Pay To Cum and it still rocks!. In 1981 I bought Let Them Eat Jellybeans a compilation of American hardcore bands. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was attracted to the album by the unavailable Dead Kennedy’s’ track Nazi Punks Fuck Off. But the album was a showcase for lesser known artists and was released in 1981 on Jello Biafra’s own Alternative Tentacles label.
It introduced me to Black Flag, Circle Jerks, DOA but above all Bad Brains and Pay To Cum. It may be an overused cliché but a sure sign of a true classic song is its ability to be played over and again. I have now been listening to Pay To Cum for 24 years, and still reference it to anyone wanting to hear, what to younger generations term as ‘Old Skool Punk’.
Whereas The Sex Pistols aggression filtered through their tense, edgy in-your-face attitude, Pay To Cum’s aggression comes from its sheer power and speed. From its initial blasting guitar that sounds like Johnny Ramone on speed, followed by the crashing bass and drums, I am propelled to move, jump around and grit my teeth; dancing round the living room pogoing back to my youth or air guitaring for England!
Furthermore, it is the only song I have played countless times and still I cannot decipher a single word.
A classic punk song, you bet? I challenge anyone who appreciates post-punk punk to listen and tell me why this doesn’t keep the same company as White Riot, Pretty Vacant, New Rose and Babylon’s Burning.
From a jazz fusion background (nice!), guitarist Gary Miller (aka Dr Know) formed Bad Brains in 1979. They quickly became known on the east coast punk scene for their live performances and went on to become, along with the aforementioned artists, a main driving force of American Hardcore throughout the 1980’s.
Bad Brains never quite captured the octane-fuelled aggression for me; and though I fully respect the concept of being both punk and reggae, in truth, it never worked for me.
In 1998 the band reformed for the umpteenth time and began touring under the name Soul Brains. But it is the Bad Brains version of Pay To Cum that will never be too far from my CD player.
I wonder if the group would be pleased knowing that one track is respected as a timeless or they would be depressed knowing the rest of their music sucks!
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