Rags in Skull draws raves down under! The great Aussie online zine, the I94Bar.com gave George's comeback CD as well as our great Brigman reissues some great reviews.  Heres some of what they had to say about Rags In Skull:

Turn the clocks forward 32 years, and what you still find is a talented guitarist whose technique has become more proficient but still produces vital music. Over the years, he has synthesized his many influences and created a personal style

You can argue that Brigman has been greatly influenced by Fred “Sonic” Smith. The evidence is in both his vocal styling and keen interest in expanding the palette of rock and roll by including the shading of jazz. Brigman’s talent is apparent in the track “Donna Leigh” which showcases a breezy melody, smooth chords and punctuating lead guitar. Tracks such as “Borderline” and “So This Is Life” offer a side of Brigman that are hard rockin, straightforward and less cerebral.

The influence of avant-garde jazz is apparent on the tracks “No More Humans” and “Leprechauns”. Both offer a nice change of pace for the album and shed light on a period of time in music that was care-free and playful.

The final two tracks “Going to Pieces” and “Swell” both exorcise a full assault of acid guitar and heavily sedated vocals.

George Brigman has produced an disc that it is worthy of your listening. Brigman is a talented guitarist and musician who continues to grow with his music.
- Arthur S

Brigman digital reissues now on Anthology Recordings!   Check out the wild batch of progressive, psych, punk and folk reissues available in DRM-Free downloads from Anthology Recordings.  They have impeccable tastes as they carry both our Left and Brigman reissues as well as a truly outrageous batch of rare and significant LPs!

New Lower Price CDs and Downloads from CD Baby!  The online price on George's Rags In Skull and I Can Hear the Ants Dancin' has been lowered to

11.95 and we now offer complete CD downloads from CD Baby for only $10 or less!

Click on the yellow box below to get to our page!  The downloads are audiophile

quality, just like our physical CDs, and they contain no DRM whatsoever so you may easily transfer the tunes anywhere! All the graphics and even extra info from our CD Baby page are included too. We are on many download sites, but we prefer CD Baby.  They only offer full LP downloads, and both George and Bona Fide  greatly encourage full CD downloads to hear the artist's music as he intended!

Brigman's "Blowin Smoke" 45 and Rags in Skull CD draw raves in the Wire!---Byron Coley reviews the 30th Anniversary edition of the Blowin Smoke 45 in The Wire and calls it a "shockingly great punk/groundhogs merger " and says "there's always time for Brigman " as he declares George's comeback  Rags In Skull  "excellent!"  Mr. Coley as usual is dead-on, and while Jungle Rot  and "Blowin Smoke" are essential rock documents now 30 years later,Rags In Skull  is quickly recognized by Byron, right off the bat, as being worthy of some accolades itself.  And Scott Seward wirting in Decibel recognized that as well when he called Rags "nothing to sneeze at...heavy entertainment" and "just sheer joy to hear".  No wonder Rags In Skull is being declared one of the essential  releases of 2007!

George Brigman celebrated release of the 30^th Anniversary edition of "Blowin Smoke" at the True Vine Record Shop August 3^rd !

30 years ago in 1977, George Brigman unleashed his "Blowin’ Smoke" 45, a smoking, fuzzed out rave-up that came on heels of his infamous Jungle Rot LP which had yet to acquire its legendary status. Like Jungle Rot, "Blowin Smoke" splattered hot licks all over the place and spat in the face of then contemporary Baltimore scene. Now Bona Fide Records marked this 30^th anniversary with a special appearance of George, spinning tunes, telling stories and signing his releases, at the True Vine Record Shop (1123 W. 36^th St, Baltimore) in honor of the newly released 30^th anniversary edition of the "Blowin’ Smoke" 45.

George appeared at at the very cool True Vine Record Shop at 8:30 Friday night, August the 3^rd to celebrate with his fans the re-release of his only 45 as well as his Rags in Skull CD and spin some of his favorite tunes. Brigman’s career has seen his stature grow, with time, from being unknown in his hometown to being appreciated worldwide. Patrick Lundborg of Sweeden and author of the Acid Archives tags George "An American underground icon", in the UK, DJ

Cherrystones calls George a "genius" and Jon Savage labels Brigman’s music "astonishing" in Mojo. Back home, Ron Bally declares Jungle Rot an "underground masterpiece"in Harp , and George Smith writing in George’s hometown City Paper adds,"Brigman indulges the guitar hero in everyone, ... showing he was always fit for that big national stage."

. The comfy confines of the True Vine provided a quite friendly setting for George to meet greet and mingle with his fans. A short presentation  preceded the signing as George together with his bassist John Spokus and Bona Fide Records’ Rick Noll added in some of the details of the story so far as well as playing a few musical highlights, and maybe a few obscurities, from George’s long career.

A perfect summer evening for those who wished to show their appreciation for a local hero who has made a name for himself on his own terms despite the initial indifference of the Baltimore "scene". Thanks to all who came out and joined in the good times. With the re-release of "Blowin Smoke" and George’s new CD Rags In Skull, Brigman shows he is still fighting and not about to go away. 30 years on, he continues to blossom and in fact is better than ever, no longer an obscure footnote, but a true musical treasure who still is building his musical legacy, brick by brick.

George Brigman marks 30^th anniversary of "Blowin Smoke" 45 with release of special edition 45 and all new CD Rags In Skull!

Thirty years ago this summer, George Brigman released his only 45, a no-holds-barred rocker, "Blowin’ Smoke" that continues to smoke to this day. Just this year it was included on DJ Cherrystones comp of prog/psych/proto punk, Cherrystones Word, and fans on both sides of the Atlantic and worldwide have ensured the song’s staying power. Noted rock scribe, George Smith says, "It was an eruption, a ‘Here I am, listen!’ statement of fuzz raunch" and called Brigman "a classic American recluse-genius channeling everything worth going nuts over in hard rock through his fingers." Bona Fide Records is proud to present the 30^th anniversary edition of "Blowin Smoke." This unique edition features the last remaining copies from the original pressing in an all new sleeve, numbered and signed, featuring unpublished photos of George.

"Blowin Smoke" together with "Driftin", the sparkling jazzy samba with chime like guitars on the flip side, although released in 1977 still sound remarkably fresh today. "Blowin’ Smoke" is a relic from pre-ipod days, and the little record proves there is still life in vinyl and rock and roll–much as George’s all new CD Rags in Skull proves that Brigman is quite capable of running with the heavyweights as he wields his ax as a mighty weapon, once again leaving listeners slack-jawed as the riffs fly like lightning. Tied in with the 30^th Anniversary 45, Brigman’s Rags In Skull CD, an all new recording, shows George, incredibly, still in peak form.

George Smith concurs in a City Paper review: "For Rags In Skull's finish, "Goin' to Pieces" and "Swell," Brigman indulges the guitar hero in everyone, the latter throwing arena-echoed ax squiggles into the sunset, showing he was always fit for that big national stage."

Writing in Tufts Daily, Gregory Connor states Brigman "manages to let loose, heavyweight hard rock riffs that knock out present day contenders...Wrapped around the fret board burning hard rock guitar work on this album are garlands of ear catching, foot stomping glam rock, metal and psychedelia."

Ron Bally calls Brigman’s Jungle Rot an "underground masterpiece" and writes about Rags In Skull in HARP, "Brigman’s pissed off, soaring voice and unyielding six-string weapon cuts loose with unpredictable, heavy duty riffs that obliterate present day stoner rock bands."

In Your Flesh James Toth shortlists Rags,"In short, Rags in Skull is everything The Stooges’ bogus ‘reunion’ album should have been but wasn’t, and very near the top of a relatively short list of essential 2007 releases thus far."

Acid Archives author Patrick Lundborg agrees about George's reemergence on Rags In Skull, "Brigman , like any underground American icon does what he has always done, and as good as ever." 30 years after "Blowin Smoke", George's music is still turning heads. Yes, "Blowin’ Smoke" and Rags In Skull are that good. They’re affirmation of a career over 30 years in the making–an outsider finally getting his day in the sun. Writing about "Blowin Smoke" over 25 years ago in New York Rocker, Andy Schwartz might have been a bit prescient when he declared it "a ZZ Tops-on-down rocker that stands apart from every empty modern trend." Today, George Brigman still stands apart from empty trend as his music is true and pure, and his vibe is all his own. As Gregory Conner relates, "when you find yourself at the end of Brigman's tour through his torn up and dragged down world, you find yourself only wanting to go back down for more."

March 2007--Rags in Skull has finally been released!  George Brigman's most fully realized album and his first all new LP since I Can Hear the Ants Dancin is finally available and its a stunner.  Fans of George's great guitarwork won't be dissappointed as its plastered all over the disc!  Flat out rockers alternate with progressive tinged instros and dreamy ballads, creating an intoxicating sonic witches brew.  George has never written a song as heavy and bonecrunching as "Goin to Pieces", except maybe for the snarling putdown, 'Some of My Best Friends Are Snakes", also on the new CD!  Check out the Bona Fide Records site for a free download of "So This Is Life" and you can sample the new CD.  The culmination of many years of work, Rags In Skull, shows George's talent is undiminished and , in fact, stronger than ever!  George comes out of the garage firing with both barrells creating a stunning disc with amazing power and sound that will slay all in its path!  Don't be dissappointed and order yours today!

We have posted two videos from the mid 80s on You Tube, one an interview with George and Split, and also one of the band performing an unreleased tune "Make it One Day"!  Check em out!

Read more about George's new CD right here!

February 2007--George's new CD Rags in Skull has been eagerly anticipated by his fans for a long time and is now slated for release on March 27th!  Preview this right now with a free download--just click on the my space banner above or enter the Bona Fide site with the button at the left and check out our news page for the song So This is Life from his new CD!  This is an amazing CD that delivers the goods and does not disappoint those who are looking for more of George's great songs.  Drop us a line if you want to preorder and receive this great disc upon release!

December 2006--George Brigman is putting the final touches on his first all-new LP in over 20 years!  Rags In Skull is set for release in early 2007!  The 11 songs run the gamut from George's trademark scorching rockers to unusual flowing instrumentals and everywhere in between.  Despite the gap between recordings, the new LP showcases the growth in George's music over the years while remaining true to his gritty inner city roots.  Once again is not only George's instrumental dexterity readily apparent but also his songwriting skills and his unique vocals which alternate from wistful to sneering without batting an eye.  Soon these powerful, driving songs like  "Some of My Best Friends Are Snakes" and "So This is Life" will stand alongside classic Brigman like "Jungle Rot" and "Blowin Smoke"!  Stay tuned

to this page or check our My Space for a great preview of this CD coming any day!

WEBMASTERS NOTE:  There will be merchandise and download pages up soon--in the meantime the buttons send you to our CD Baby and my space pages.  More updates and site changes coming soon!

November 2006---DJ Cherrystones plucks George's "Blowin Smoke" from our  I Can Hear the Ants Dancin CD for his Poptones comp Cherrystones Word!   Poptones in the UK releases Cherrystones Word (and the Sympathetic Sounds of the Psychedelic Ghetto) to much acclaim as the crate digger/psych head Cherrystones has assembled a monster comp of proto-prog-hard rock psychedelia.  Keeping company with George Brigman are none other than Dead Moon, the Deviants, Brain Box, the Bintangs , Chrome and Nosferatu among others.  Far from nostalgia, this is all vibrant, alive music and Cherrystones so rightly states "time is not even an issue when it comes to great music"  Kudos to Mr. Stones for shining a light on many deserving bands and giving George Brigman his first legitimate UK release!

March  update--We have added a second page to our photo album with newly discovered photos from 1977.  We do have more photos posted on our my space page, so drop over and join our friends list and keep current on all the news.  We put new banners on our site so even the computer impaired are just one click away from both of our My Space pages where you can download some great tunes or just listen, and we also made a banner for our blog too. So you do have to check out all this stuff if youd like to find out what is going on with George.  We are still finishing up the Rags In Skull CD for release later this year!  Stay tuned for more details or sign up for our mailing list now!

The other news is that George is the subject of a very insightful featured review in the April issue of Mojo .  The Jungle Rot LP/CD received 4 stars as Jon Savage put the LP in its true historical perspective,  and referring to George's songs as simply "astonishing"!  We do have a few exceprts on our review page, but by all means check out the whole review as its an interesting overview on the whole proto punk/outsider scene that spawned George and other musical adventurers and wizards!

Baltimore City Paper features George Brigman!  Read George Brigman and the Story of a Lost Psychedelic Classic.  

We have also updated our Press and Reviews page with excerpts from the interview with George and Rick Noll of Bona Fide Records. But you need to check out the whole thing, really! We also added reviews from the current issues of Magnet and Roctober.  Click on the links below to go to our My Space pages which we updated with some photos.  You can view the photos and subscribe to our my space blog if you sign up on our friends list!  Or you can read the official Bona Fide Records Blog too for even more info and rants on whatever bugs us or makes us happy.  Lately, it could go either way.  We also launced EEGAH! The Electronic Bona Fide Records newsletter on the 20th.  Drop us a line if youd like to subscribe by clicking HERE. We'll have more stuff up on the Bona Fide pages too as we are preparing our Left CD for Februrary release.  Simply amazing the quality of music from the Maryland area!  Two of the best are right here--George Brigman and the Left!  Rock and roll that transcends genres and fads is what its all about and thats what we got!

I Can Hear the Ants Dancin and Jungle Rot are now available for download on i Tunes, Yahoo Music, Rhapsody and many other sites legally! 

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January 16th Update: George Brigman streaming audio and a free download  now available on My Space!

We invite you to visit the new George Brigman My Space page where you can stream songs from both our Bona Fide CDs as well as download the incredible track "My Cherie".  Click right here to get in on the fun!

While youre on My Space sign up for our friends list too.  Then go right to the Bona Fide Records My Space page to get a preview of the forthcoming Left CD. Hopefully with a little bit of networking and fan support we can build up buzz for George's already eagerly anticipated all new Rags in Skull  CD. If you havent checked out our Jungle Rot and I Can Hear the Ants Dancin CDs, what are you waiting for?  They continue to make many best of 2005 lists around the globe and still are crammed full of great rock and roll music(see our review page for more info) and cool vintage 70s photos!  Not only for fans of heavy 70s rock and boogie, these two CDs bear witness to  an incredible talent whose multilayered songs of longing and despair are like no other and still are winning converts  30 years later!

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  Happy Holidays from George Brigman and Bona Fide Records!

     We want to thank all the folks out there for the support and words of encouragement during what has been a pretty busy and trying year for us.  Especially thanks go out to those who bought our CDs through CD Baby or our site enabling us to donate more money toward hurricane relief.  We are still saddened by the scope of the disaster and the many lives that were affected. Hopefully the kindness and generosity of us all will help get everyone back on their feet.

     So far the response to our Jungle Rot and I Can Hear the Ants Dancin CDs has been really great as weve heard from quite a few old friends and a few new believers as well.  Please check out our review page where you can read what people round the world have to say about George's CD and LP reissues.  Kudos go to the Village Voice for including both CDs in the Eddytor's Dozen and also the All Music Guide who gave Jungle Rot a 4 star review!  Even way down under, the New Zealand Listener  proclaimed George "an armchair Iggy" and wrote an insightful piece on Jungle Rot!

     George Brigman is still finshing his first all new LP in 20 years which is Rags in Skull, and it should be ready for release in early 2006. This really amazing recording showcases some great songwriting and more of George's trademark firey lead guitar.  George has honed his playing skills well and the end result is a diverse and meaty platter that will still stand alone, apart from every empty trend. The loner vibe that permeated Jungle Rot resurfaces here with the drivin tune "So This Is Life" and the pulverizing, take no prsioners, sonic assault. "Some of My Best Friends Are Snakes".   Rags In Skull

will once again shed more light on the incredible guitar genius of George Brigman, a man who has paid more than his share of dues and now is finally  gaining the audience and the respect he deserves!  Heads continue to turn as more people are hearing what all the buzz is about.  Sometimes you have to do a little digging to find Real Rock and Roll these days, but its right here in front of your face now! Check out our CDBaby page where you can hear for yourself.  We are committed to offering the finest product and remaining  a cut above the rest!

     Check back for more info on Rags in Skull and please check out our newest section of our site, the Bona Fide Records pages where even more rock n roll awaits!  Thanks much for any past and future support and we hope everyone can have a safe and happy holiday this year!  Keep on Rockin...

  Now the Bona Fide Records Blog!  Click on the logo!         

JUNGLE ROT--THE LOST EPIC OF TEENAGE WASTELAND UNDERGROUND GARAGE-- RELEASED ON CD!             On its 30 year anniversary George Brigman's infamous Jungle Rot  LP has its first official CD release.  Crunchingly remastered from the original masters and taking maximum care to preserve the fury and bite that was inexplicably buried in echo  and on poorly mastered  and pressed vinyl in every previous edition.  Now the snarl, the venom, and especially George's fuzz guitar burn brighter  and  the  LPs raw power is fully exposed in all its glory. It's no wonder why original LPs have exchanged hands for hundreds of dollars and Europeans from at least four diffferent countries have booted it.  George's sound here has been compared to the Stooges, John Mayall, Blue Cheer, Gun Club, Chrome, Howlin Wolf, and Captain Beefheart to name a few.  Still, Jungle Rot was recorded in 73 and 74  and  released in 75 as George was barely out of his teens.  At times the LP has been referred to as behind the times though their are  those who say it was a  precursor to the whole punk/grunge/ stoner rock scene as well. Whatever your opinion, there's no denyin that the remastered Jungle Rot delivers the goods in a way few LPs do.   Finally the landmark LP gets a proper reissue and fans of George's guitar will dig the three bonus tracks by Brigman's band Hogwash recorded right after the Jungle Rot  LP .  Check out the amazing "Witch Doctor" where the sinister blues tune suddenly erupts in a violent frenzy of distorted guitar.  Brigman's Jungle Rot was self released and not surprisingly poorly distributed 30 years ago;however, time has been the great equalizer here and now  the LP has acquired the stature it deserves and Bona Fide Records is proud to offer the deluxe CD reissue of this psychedlelic punk classic in conjunction with  Anopheles Records of San Francsisco who have simultaneously released Jungle Rot on vinyl.     Both releases are now available at fine stores, online or direct from us and Anopheles.  Fans of pure undiluted rock n roll and proto punk can finally own a great sounding copy of  the garage rock  epic  Jungle Rot  without   going broke!

Copyright © 2006 Bona Fide Records. All Rights Reserved.