On May 8, 2020, a great new record was released by a new band called Fake Names. Fake Names includes guitarist Brian Baker. I have been a Brian Baker fan for a long time, but this new project has just cemented Baker’s place at the top of my guitar hero list. Let me be clear, I am not a musician myself and I am not professing that Brian Baker is any more technically proficient than any other guitar player out there. I wouldn’t be much of a judge of technical skill level when it comes to playing guitar. What I do know is what I like. And what I like is rock n roll. And I like Fake Names, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.

At the end of 2019, I declared that “The Coming Collapse” by Foxhall Stacks was one of the best records of the year. Brian Baker is in that band (although he plays bass). Foxhall Stacks released a 4-song EP recently called “Copy of a Copy of a Copy of a Copy” that is just outtakes from “The Coming Collapse.” If these songs are outtakes, that is truly saying something. For me, most everything Brian has been a part of has been pretty damn good, and I could argue that he’s getting better with age.

Junkyard is a hard-rock band that formed in 1989 that is still making some of my favorite music today – Brian Baker is on the guitar (although not touring with them anymore). Their website describes them as Rock & Punk & Roll. Perfect description. They hit MTV with the wave of hair-metal bands but they never fit that mold. I saw them headline the Bayou in D.C. back in 1990. (As an aside, the opening that night was the Black Crowes.) Brian was tearing it up. Junkyard made a couple of amazing records and a couple more that didn’t get released until years after they were made, which are also good. But when they re-formed and made “High Water” in 2017 with Brian Baker pitching in on guitar, they hit it out of the park, again. Just excellent.

So, Brian Baker plays in Fake Names, Foxhall Stacks and Junkyard. That is incredible to me. But I am not done.

Dag Nasty is a band from D.C. that emerged from the hardcore punk scene, but they were progressing in musical proficiency and expanding that genre (which Brian was criticized for by some). Dag Nasty made records in 1986, 1987 and notably 1988’s “Field Day.” In 1992 Dag Nasty released “Four on the Floor” and in 2002 they released “Minority of One.” These later two records are lesser known and may not appeal much at all to the original, more hardcore- inclined fans. For me though, they are the best two, with “Four on the Floor” being my favorite Dag Nasty record. I highly recommend you check it out.

Brian Baker was a fixture in – and founding member of – that D.C. hardcore scene (HarD.C.ore). He played in the scene’s most revered band, Minor Threat. I am a Minor Threat fan, although I do have to pick & choose songs because many of them are, shall we say, lacking in melody. After Minor Threat fractured, and prior to Dag Nasty I believe, Brian played briefly in my favorite D.C. hardcore band, Government Issue. I should mention that I grew up near D.C. and was a frequent presence at punk shows during that era. So far, I’ve named six different bands that all mean a lot to me, all of which Brian Baker has been an instrumental part of. Impressive…..

I have left out the one band that Brian has committed his career to, the one that he is best known for: Bad Religion. You might think I was saving the best for last, but if I’m being honest, I’m not the hugest fan of Bad Religion. They have a ton of records and I certainly enjoy some of their songs, but I cannot say that I follow them closely. That seems odd, but that’s just the way it is. There have been other bands as well – The Meatmen, Samhain, and more. Brian Baker is one prolific dude, that’s all I can say. I doubt that I have scratched the surface, as I know he has played on many records for other musicians. He was once offered the job of touring guitarist in R.E.M. but declined in order to take his spot in Bad Religion.

I have plenty of other guitar heroes – David Minehan (The Neighborhoods), Warner Hodges (Jason & the Scorchers), Chris Bonacci (Girlschool, for the song “Are You Ready” all by itself, plus a couple of others). I could make a really long list. But Brian keeps showing up on stuff I really like. Brian Baker is my favorite guitarist because he plays music I love, and lots of it, and it’s not all the same. But it is all rock n roll. I’ll be waiting for the next project, and if Fake Names and Foxhall Stacks are any indication of what’s to come, it’ll be well worth the wait.

Fake Names – “First Everlasting”

My favorite Junkyard song-- “Simple Man.” Brian on the right. Great lead guitar starting at 2:32. Terrible video though

Junkyard—“Faded.” Thirty years later! Brian on the right with the 12XU sticker on his guitar.

Brian playing with Junkyard way back in the day on the song “Hollywood.” Go to the 2:00 minute mark and see Brian take over on lead guitar.

Brian with Bad Religion – “Infected” (a very fitting song for the times we are living in). Brian on the left.

THEN…..Brian on the right at Dischord Records house with Minor Threat

AND NOW…..Just recreating the photo, not the band. I never could have predicted such a great career.