REQUIRED LISTENING Teen Idles - Minor Disturbance: Ian MacKaye’s first release — the few who listen pick up guitars and start playing loudly Minor Threat - Minor Threat EP: Introduces the world to straight-edge and makes D.C. the American capital of punk Youth Brigade - Possible EP: Ex-Teen Idles members reform for a year and put out an EP with eight songs lasting 10 minutes
For D.C. natives, mapping the history of one of the earliest and most influential moments in punk rock isn’t any harder than looking in their own backyards. During the ‘80s, the District served as one of the birthplaces of the underground hardcore punk scene, influenced by the British punk rock movement that captivated scads of disaffected youth at the time.
The ‘80s were as fractured a decade as any to foster the kind of haven that was ideal for punk rock to make its mark. When considering the spirit of the times — solidly in the world of Reagan and social conservatism — rebellion and anti-establishment were attractive sentiments. Musical movements were able to bolster a feeling of camaraderie, which is especially true for punk rock, a genre that not only dwelled in the underground but, out of necessity, thrived on it.
London landmarks like The Clash and the Sex Pistols sang of anarchy and attacked conformity with an intentionally grungy garage-rock style. Here in the States, the Ramones would gain a following amidst the disapproval of people who found their music to be too much of an acquired taste.
Hardcore Punk
As punk rock was able to immediately grip punk culture in its budding stages, hardcore punk was also beginning to take root. Unlike the more popular acts of the early ‘80s, hardcore punk bands placed importance on the individual, promoting brotherhood and a strong work ethic. They emphasized the strength of a unified whole as opposed to the sum of its parts, eschewing any corporate powers for help.
Unlike the mainstream punk subculture of patched leather jackets and neon-colored liberty spikes, most hardcore punk acts did away with the flashy gimmickry and stressed the anti-authoritarianism. Their sound was heavier and their subculture was one of intense discipline. Bands typically refused signing to major labels and would instead go on to create their own labels, working from the ground up in the most literal sense. Hardcore punk bands also abstained from self-destructive habits like drugs and alcohol, challenging popular misconceptions of the subgenre.
To speak of hardcore punk without at least mentioning its predominance in the D.C.-metro area would be a major disservice. Here are a few of the most memorable names in hardcore punk.
Minor Threat
If you happen to be in Tenleytown, take a walk down Nebraska Ave. until you reach the Woodrow Wilson Senior High School on Chesapeake Street. You’ll be surprised to know that this was where the founders of the “straight edge” movement got their start. Lead singer Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson played for The Teen Idles before teaming up with Georgetown Day School students Brian Baker and Lyle Preslar to form Minor Threat in late 1980.
“Straight Edge,” arguably one of their most iconic songs off their first EP, would instill a key component in modern hardcore punk. With its imploring lyrics — “I don’t even think about speed /That’s something I just don’t need… Always going to keep in touch/Never want to use a crutch” — hardcore punk would be defined by its defiant attitude towards drugs and alcohol.
MacKaye would later form the influential band Fugazi. MacKaye and Nelson also founded Dischord Records, a D.C.-based independent hardcore punk label that allowed them to produce and distribute their own albums. Although they disbanded in 1983, their members still make notable contributions to music and their albums are incomparable in the world of punk rock.
Bad Brains
Formed in 1977, Bad Brains is said to have been the pioneers of D.C. hardcore punk. They gained immediate attention in the underground scene not only for their unusual and diversified sound, but also because they are African-American. They would frequently play shows alongside Minor Threat and other bands signed to Dischord Records but were eventually barred from District venues after a brief scuffle with the authorities.
Their self-titled 1982 debut album had a kind of energy unmatched by hardcore punk bands of the time, brought on by the endless hours of strenuous practice in between school and jobs. Early interviews show that they drew influence from the Sex Pistols, The Clash and even Led Zeppelin. The bands and artists that would later draw influence from them, including Henry Rollins, Smashing Pumpkins and Beastie Boys, are innumerable. Although their style is ever-changing, their fixture in hardcore punk remains the same.
State of Alert
While they only released one album on Dischord Records and played a few gigs in the course of their year-long career, State of Alert had an influence on punk rock that is still palpable to this day. It was the starting point of contemporary hard rock icon Henry Rollins before he joined prominent punk band Black Flag in 1981. Although SOA’s songs barely registered at the 60-second mark and their “No Policy” album clocks in at a mere eight minutes, their punchy, aggressive style would only be emulated for decades to come by the many branches of hardcore punk.
scho@theeagleonline.com
