Bad Brains are releasing their long-sought first demo tape, recorded in 1979 at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia. The newly remastered recording offers an early look at the influential Washington, D.C. punk band and includes a studio version of “Pay to Cum”, making it significant for fans and punk historians.

Titled *Are You Ready: The First Studio Recording (Inner Ear – March 1979)*, the six-track release will arrive on 6 November through Trust Records on vinyl, cassette and digital formats. Ian MacKaye handled the remastering, while accompanying events include a conversation with bassist Darryl Jenifer on 5 November and a Bad Brains exhibition opening the following day; the band’s later history has included serious health problems among members and the 2020 death of original singer Sid McCray.