In March of 1979, the soon-to-be greatest band in the world, Bad Brains, went to the soon-to-be legendary Inner Ear Studios to record for the very first time. For decades, these demos have been passed around from collector to collector in the shadows but had never been officially released… until now!! Newly mixed by our father, Ian MacKaye, and released by @trust_records_company, with liner notes by the inimitable@65mackayver.
To celebrate, we got in touch with legendary DC outsider artist Mingering Mike for a special limited record cover and t-shirt. For those who don’t know… from 1968 to 1977, Mingering Mike produced hundreds of fictional albums, complete with illustrated cover art, unique song titles, and cardboard vinyl replicas, all released on fictitious record labels. His meticulous work crafted a big beautiful interconnected world. In 2003, his records were found at a flea market by our friend Dori, leading to gallery shows, exhibitions, and publications highlighting Mike’s genius. The entire collection of his known work from this initial active period has since been acquired by the Smithsonian.
We’re not sure how familiar Mike was with Bad Brains before asked to do this collaboration but on the back cover he accurately depicted them in military uniforms. Daryl, Earl, and Dr. Know in full camo suits with their instruments in hand; HR in a ghillie suit, with binoculars on, peering at what’s ahead. Four men on a mission to change the world, a mission at which they succeeded.
Special thanks to Dori Hadar. Shirt design by@total__slaughter. The shirts were printed here in Washington, DC by@malokul202. Mingering Mike appears courtesy of@hemphillartworks.
This shirt is printed on American Apparel Heavyweight Cotton tees. Due to a printing error, some shirts feature the text in red ink instead of brown.