H.R.

For other uses, see HR (disambiguation).
H.R.

H.R. outside of New York's CBGB in 2006
Background information
Birth name Paul D. Hudson
Born (1956-02-11) 11 February 1956
Origin London, England
Genres Hardcore punk, reggae
Occupation(s) Musician, vocalist
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active 1977–present
Associated acts Bad Brains, Human Rights

H.R. (Hunting Rod[1] or Human Rights) (born 11 February 1956) is the stage name of Paul D. Hudson, the lead singer of the hardcore punk band Bad Brains. His vocal delivery is very diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling and screeches, to smooth near-crooning or staccato reggae rhymes. He has departed the band periodically to pursue solo efforts that are more mellow reggae than Bad Brains' usual punk/metal offerings. He is the older brother of Earl Hudson, Bad Brains' drummer.

Musical career

Born in Liverpool, England, H.R. and his bandmates became Rastafari around 1979. This spiritual direction influenced the music of Bad Brains via his vocals, and inspired the creation of his reggae band, Human Rights.[2]

Although reggae is the main focus on his solo material, he explores rock and other musical genres. He has had numerous albums released on SST Records. A Village Voice review of a Bad Brains concert described H.R. on stage "like James Brown gone berserk, with a hyperkinetic repertoire of spins, dives, back-flips, splits, and skanks.", although in recent years his stage presence has become more subdued, primarily due to his Spiritual development from the O.G. Punk/Rasta to more of a Rasta Elder (at least on stage), as well as his occasional playing of Rhythm Guitar.

H.R. has collaborated with the Long Beach Dub Allstars on their song "New Sun" on the Right Back album, and with P.O.D. on their song "Without Jah, Nothin'", on the album Satellite. Going back to 1991 (between Bad Brains' breaks), H.R. has been aligned with Jamekee/D.I.A. touring especially SST's "Charge," "Human Rights" and "Singing in the Heart" albums. During the past several years, H.R. has headlined DIA Records' Global Rock Showcase tours in the 2000s (and recently in early 2014). Stitched together by Tony Beyers, H.R. joined Bad Brains for three CBGB's reunion gigs in 2005 after playing Steven Van Zandt hosted CBGB's Benefit in Washington Square Park, New York City on 31 August 2005. H.R. then regrouped with Bad Brains playing a few dates in 2006. The foursome—Darryl Jenifer, Gary Miller, Earl Hudson and H.R. toured thereafter supporting Build a Nation CD. Build a Nation was produced by Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys and released on Megaforce Records in 2007. Build a Nation is a return to their hardcore punk roots, but also encompasses their unique reggae-punk hybrid sound expressed in I Against I, Quickness and later albums. Build a Nation is the first original album with the original Bad Brains lineup since 1995.

In recent years, HR's Human Rights performances have become markedly more mellow and restrained, focusing primarily on reggae and rasta. This is a stark contrast to his wildly animated, aggressive stage performances of the late 1970s and 1980s.[3]

In 2006, H.R. signed a seven-album deal with D.C. Hardcore, LLC, and began working on the first, "Hey Wella", with D.C. Hardcore's part owner, Grant "OG" Garretson (drummer/guitarist/songwriter) and multiple Grammy winner, David Darlington at Bass Studios in New York. The album was released in late September 2008. "Hey Wella" was tour supported by D.I.A two years before recording the album at Darlington's studio in NYC. H.R. was booked across the USA as H.R. (of Bad Brains) and Dubb Agents backed by musicians Jason Browning, Jerry Barrett, Grant Garretson and Pablo Fiasco.

Interviews with H.R. feature prominently in the 2006 documentary American Hardcore, in which he discusses the early days of hardcore in New York City and Washington D.C., and his association with fellow travelers like Minor Threat and the Cro-Mags. In particular, he recalls encouraging Ian MacKaye to fully articulate Minor Threat's emerging straight edge philosophy, to give young people a positive direction.

H.R. has a son (born 1977), as stated in an exclusive interview with the Baltimore Sun.

Discography

For H.R.'s discography with Bad Brains, see Bad Brains discography.

with New Zion Trio

Compilations

Band members

A list of musicians who have played with H.R.

References

  1. ↑ Hunting Rod was his childhood nickname, http://www.breakmyface.com/bands/badbrains.html
  2. ↑ "KFTH – Bad Brains Page". Homepages.nyu.edu. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  3. ↑ Beastiemania.com – Who Is Who – Bad Brains

External links

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