Destroy Babylon
Encyclopedia
Destroy Babylon are a Boston, Massachusetts
based band originally from Hudson, New Hampshire
. Their music is influenced by the Jamaican backing bands of the 1970's and 1980's, dub
, and punk rock, while their lyrics address political and social issues.
, before attending college. The band name was taken from a song by the Bad Brains
. They began writing music influenced by the energy and DIY ethics of punk rock and the rhythms of Roots reggae
and Dub music
. The band relocated to Boston
in 2005 and released their first full-length, Oligopuzzled
, in 2006 on their own Music ADD label. Rob Carmichael joined the band on lead guitar and they released two EPs, sEParation and The Shadow Army. Jon Mercer then joined the band on keys and live dub effects, and after some national touring, released a live full-length, Backyard Babylon.
, Bad Brains
frontman HR, plus contemporaries like The Slackers
, The Aggrolites
, Dub Trio
, and Westbound Train
, among others.
, 10 Foot Ganja Plant
) on their latest full-length, Long Live the Vortex. Both Jon Mercer and Chris Moran left the band before the album was released. John Beaudette switched to bass and Casey Gruttadauria joined on keys. In August the band completed a short tour with the Easy Star All-Stars
.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
based band originally from Hudson, New Hampshire
Hudson, New Hampshire
Hudson is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 24,467 at the 2010 census.The primary settlement in town, where 7,336 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Hudson census-designated place and is located at the junctions of New Hampshire...
. Their music is influenced by the Jamaican backing bands of the 1970's and 1980's, dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
, and punk rock, while their lyrics address political and social issues.
2001-2008
Twin brothers John and Marc Beaudette formed Destroy Babylon with their friend Chris Moran during the summer of 2001 in Hudson, New HampshireHudson, New Hampshire
Hudson is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 24,467 at the 2010 census.The primary settlement in town, where 7,336 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Hudson census-designated place and is located at the junctions of New Hampshire...
, before attending college. The band name was taken from a song by the Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
. They began writing music influenced by the energy and DIY ethics of punk rock and the rhythms of Roots reggae
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
and Dub music
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
. The band relocated to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 2005 and released their first full-length, Oligopuzzled
Oligopuzzled
Oligopuzzled is Destroy Babylon's first album, released on July 4, 2006.-Track listing:#"Rocky Shores from a Bird's Eye"#"Of Fish & Water"#"Grab a Shovel "#"Bureaucratic Beat"#"ADD to the Album"#"Oligopuzzled "...
, in 2006 on their own Music ADD label. Rob Carmichael joined the band on lead guitar and they released two EPs, sEParation and The Shadow Army. Jon Mercer then joined the band on keys and live dub effects, and after some national touring, released a live full-length, Backyard Babylon.
2009-2010
Destroy Babylon gained national airplay with their 2009 single, Culture Pirates, released on a 7" vinyl record packaged with a 28-page art book. In January 2009, the band started a "Dub of the Month" series, releasing a new song once a month for a full year. Each song debuted on WMBR's Pipeline! show. The 12 songs were collected and released as Dub of Ages, Vol. 1 in 2010. DB toured and supported the likes of Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Wailers, Eek-A-MouseEek-a-Mouse
Eek-A-Mouse is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is one of the early artists to be described as a "singjay".-Biography:...
, Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
frontman HR, plus contemporaries like The Slackers
The Slackers
The Slackers are a New York City band, formed in Brooklyn in 1991. The band's sound is a mix of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, soul, garage rock, and jazz...
, The Aggrolites
The Aggrolites
The Aggrolites are a reggae and ska band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002.- Overview :The Aggrolites are an amalgamation of two previous Los Angeles reggae and ska bands, the Vessels and the Rhythm Doctors. They formed in 2002 as a live backing band for reggae icon Derrick Morgan, and...
, Dub Trio
Dub Trio
Dub Trio is a dub/rock cross-over band from Brooklyn, New York.-Biography:Dub Trio is DP - Dave Holmes Stu Brooks and Joe Tomino...
, and Westbound Train
Westbound Train
Westbound Train is a ska band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2001. Their name originates from the Dennis Brown hit song by the same name....
, among others.
2011-Present
The band worked with Craig Welsch (John Brown's BodyJohn Brown's Body
"John Brown's Body" is an American marching song about the abolitionist John Brown. The song was popular in the Union during the American Civil War. The tune arose out of the folk hymn tradition of the American camp meeting movement of the 19th century...
, 10 Foot Ganja Plant
10 Foot Ganja Plant
10 Foot Ganja Plant is a roots/dub Reggae group primarily based in upstate New York that is a spinoff collective of the popular group John Brown's Body, and is spearheaded by former JBB dub engineer Craig Welsch...
) on their latest full-length, Long Live the Vortex. Both Jon Mercer and Chris Moran left the band before the album was released. John Beaudette switched to bass and Casey Gruttadauria joined on keys. In August the band completed a short tour with the Easy Star All-Stars
Easy Star All-Stars
Originally formed as a studio band for the label's earliest recordings, Easy Star All-Stars is a reggae collective with a rotating roster of musicians and singers founded by the co-founders of New York City-based Easy Star Records in 1997...
.
Discography
- Long Live the Vortex (2011)
- Dub of Ages Vol. 2 (2010)
- Dub of Ages Vol. 1 (2010)
- Culture Pirates (2009)
- Backyard Babylon: Live in Queens (2008)
- The Shadow Army (2008)
- Separation (2007)
- OligopuzzledOligopuzzledOligopuzzled is Destroy Babylon's first album, released on July 4, 2006.-Track listing:#"Rocky Shores from a Bird's Eye"#"Of Fish & Water"#"Grab a Shovel "#"Bureaucratic Beat"#"ADD to the Album"#"Oligopuzzled "...
(2006)
External links
- Official website
- Music A.D.D. Records
- Destroy Babylon at FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Destroy Babylon at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....