#reagge

Nicholas Bowen "Topper" Headon (born 30 May 1955), best known as one of the drummers for the band The Clash, joined the band in 1977 and was later released in 1982 due to his heavy drug use. After he joined the band, he sought to stand out as an exceptional drummer and effectively utilized his skills to enhance The Clash's sound. Headon began as a jazz drummer, so he adapted his style to fit the band's punk sound. He is a finesse drummer. Most punk bands rip through each song clammering along, but they soon change up and slow down. Topper was one of punk's best drummers, with a mature sound that gave them an advantage. He may have only played with the band for a short time, but Topper was able to play on some of the Clash's songs in their "classic era." Unfortunately, his addictions got the best of him. After cleaning himself up, Headon played in several bands, even forming a small Jazz band. Headon now lives a simple life in England, giving lectures on the dangers of drug abuse and offering drumming tutorials and music lessons, which he occasionally plays with other bands. Headon played perfectly with each song. If he needed to rip through a faster track, he never missed a beat; if it was a little more experimental, he was on the beat as well. He remains a significant figure in the punk music scene.

I had the pleasure of meeting him twice. The first time after one of his shows was in 2005. He was very down-to-earth and quite friendly. I saw him again in 2019, and he was just as fun and laid-back as he was when I visited him years ago. H.R. is complex and still very simple. A documentary on his life, Finding Joseph, shows how he switched from punk to reggae, then back to punk. It was nice to hear accounts of how he influenced the lives of fans and peers. The most crucial part delves into some mental issues he dealt with and overcame. I knew he had problems, but didn’t know how severe they were. He is a fantastic artist to see live. Band Brains with H.R. may not have been the first all-black punk band, but they bring a solid mix of hardcore/punk, reggae, and metal. H.R. Bad Brains’ music has been among the most influential in hardcore/punk over the past 40 years, and H.R.’s energy, along with his P.M.A., will always be imitated, never duplicated.

Jimmy Cliff - Treat The Youths Right 

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