Hailed by Alternative Press as the “…glorious love child of Joan Jett & Kurt Cobain,” theWorst has been on a meteoric rise since their inception. Led by bandleader and true survivor, Brooke Binion, the band has gained a reputation as a one-of-a-kind raucous live act, fueled by an aggressive raw sound, anthemic songs and a brutally honest lyricism that is rare in today’s highly commercial and often fabricated mainstream music scene . Having toured nationwide and coast to coast since 2016, the theWorst, who are comprised of Binion on lead vocals and guitar, alongside Will Bradford (SeepeopleS) on bass and Craig Sala (Paranoid Social Club, Kurt Baker, Planeside) on drums, earned wide critical acclaim with the release of their debut album Jane Doe Embryo, and the recent release of their new single, ‘Blacksheepish,’ all produced by by Will Holland (Pixies, Fall Out Boy) and recorded at the legendary Chillhouse Studios in Boston, MA.
Recently, the band dropped a new single for charity, entitled ‘Lifer,’ on the non-profit record label CommunityZ RecordZ, with all the proceeds going to the local Maine charity, Maine Trans Net, an organization that supports transgender people and the challenges they face in today’s world. Currently theWorst are finishing their second full length album with Will Holland, entitled Yes Regrets, which features guest musical contributions from the likes of Dana Colley (Morphine, Vapors of Morphine), Tony Bevilacqua (The Distillers), Nikki Glaspie (Beyoncé, Nth Power, Maceo Parker), and Nate Edgar (Nth Power, John Brown’s Body) and is slated for release on RascalZRecordZ in the spring of 2021.
Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.
When I play acoustic shows, I often cover the song “Crockpot” by Slothrust and every time I think “damn I wish I wrote that song.” The lyrics are blunt and quick witted and the dynamics are perfect. Seems to connect with a lot of people as well.
Explain the title of your album.
The title of the new (upcoming) album by theWorst is Yes Regrets and that kind of explains itself. It was a very regrettable few years, or maybe entire adulthood. I’ve never understood the “no regrets” model. I have a lot of regrets. I would take it back if I could.
Does your album have an overarching theme?
Every song is about a different experience and there’s even more than a couple human subjects, but overall it deals with navigating the world as a person with bipolar syndrome and a significant drug and alcohol problem. Basically not ever being able to trust yourself and your own brain.
What have you missed about touring?
We have missed everything about touring. We thrive being in a new place everyday, sleeping in the van or creepy hotel rooms and meeting new people. And getting to play a show to a new room of strangers every night. There’s not much else like it and I can’t wait to be able to do that again. This is the first time in my life I’ve been able to hold down a day job where I have to be there really early in the morning and for that I’m proud and grateful. But I can’t wait to take much needed chaos breaks.
How do you manage having a good time at shows, but also trying to stay mentally and physically fit?
For the first time in this band’s life, there won’t be a single person with a drug or alcohol issue on tour with us. We still have fun at shows, we just don’t suffer for it later. But we haven’t gotten to properly tour yet, so hopefully that dynamic will be ever MORE fun and less shitty. Pumped to find out. I plan on using a lot of meditation.