VIA PRESS RELEASE | Paul “HR” Hudson is the voice of punk/hardcore pioneers and Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame nominees Bad Brains, one of the most influential bands to rise out of the 1980’s. With Bad Brains, HR harnessed the fiery potential of melding punk rock, reggae, dub, jazz-fusion, metal, and funk into a kaleidoscopic art form centered around his faith in Rasta.
HR’s uplifting ethos—P.MA. (Positive Mental Attitude)—has cast a light amidst dark defiance, and inspired everyone. From the start, HR shined with charisma and positivity. His vocals were soulful and tribal, hitting us deep in our spiritual core. In performance he gave it all, from stage diving off monitors to his signature back flip. He is a punk prophet, and his legacy resonates today as it was nearly four decades ago. Finding Joseph I, The HR From Bad Brains Documentary chronicles the life, career, and struggles of this iconic living legend.
This is a complex picture of a complex man. It shares his explosive artistry as well as his uphill battle with ailing mental health. In this revealing documentary, HR’s peers and fellow musicians share their stories and firsthand experiences with the tumultuous singer. HR’s own interviews find him digging deep to discuss his life, philosophies, and career.
Directed By James Lathos and produced by Small Axe Films with Executive Producer Jay Mohr, Finding Joseph I features never-before- seen archival footage, photography, and exclusive interviews with HR, Earl Hudson (Bad Brains/Brother), Ras Michael, Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat/Fugazi), members of Sublime, Deftones, Fishbone, Cro-Mags, The Wailers, Living Colour, and more. It also features original music from Miguel Happoldt (Sublime / Long Beach Dub All Stars) and Aaron Owens (Hepcat).
SCREENINGS
10/26 – Chicago at Brew View
10/27 – Barcelona @ IN-EDIT Festival
11/25 – Philadelphia @ PhilaMOCA
TBD – Brooklyn @ Nitehawk Cinema
ABOUT THE FILM MAKER | James Lathos is a film maker and author living in Florida. He makes his documentary debut with Finding Joseph I: The HR From Bad Brains Documentary. Previously, he wrote the definitive tome, Finding Joseph I: An Oral History of H.R. From Bad Brains with co-author Howie Abrams (Lesser Gods). This oral history is the first fully authorized biography of the enigmatic front man.
