Hardcore punk became a milestone in the American underground, changing not only the musical component of rock music, but also the methods of its creation.
Representatives of the hardcore punk subculture opposed the commercial orientation of music, preferring to release albums on their own. And one of the most prominent representatives of this movement was the musicians of the Minor Threat group.
The Rise of Hardcore Punk by Minor Threat
In the 1980s, the American music industry experienced an unprecedented boom. In a matter of years, dozens of groups appeared, whose activities went beyond the usual genres. Young talents were not afraid to experiment with form and content. As a result, more extreme musical directions appeared.
One of the most popular musical movements of those years was punk rock, which came to America from the UK. In the 1970s, the genre was distinguished by aggressive lyrics and defiant appearance of performers who opposed the public opinion of the masses.
Even then, the foundations were born, which became an integral part of the punk rock movement of the 1980s. And one of the hallmarks of the genre was the refusal to collaborate with major music labels. As a result of this, punk rockers were left to their own devices.
The musicians were forced to "promote" their music on their own, without going beyond the underground. They performed with concerts in the territory of small clubs, basements and makeshift concert venues.
The most prominent representatives of DIY ideas were punks from America. Their musical activities led to the emergence of an even more radical hardcore genre.
Creation of the Minor Threat group
Within the framework of hardcore punk, many young musicians began to play, who had something to say.
The musicians expressed their civil position about power, creating rebellious lyrics and aggressive sound. And one of the first groups within the genre was a band from Washington, called Minor Threat.
The band was created by Ian McKay and Jeff Nelson, who had already played together before. The musicians participated in the hardcore punk project The Teen Idles, which lasted one year.
But it was within the framework of the Minor Threat group that they managed to achieve some success. Soon bassist Brian Baker and guitarist Lyle Priestal also joined the line-up. Together with them, McKay and Nelson began their first joint rehearsals.
The ideology of Minor Threat
Sticking to DIY ideas, the musicians decided to create their own independent label, which would allow them to release records without outside help. The label was named Dischord Records and immediately became known in punk rock circles.
Thanks to the efforts of McKay and Nelson, many young musicians got a chance to release their debut records. Minor Threat's work, released over several years, was also released under Dischord Records.
Another feature that distinguished the Minor Threat group from other performers was a radical attitude towards any narcotic substances. The musicians opposed alcohol, tobacco and hard drugs, which they considered unacceptable within the punk rock scene. The healthy lifestyle movement was called the Straight Edge.
The name is associated with the Minor Threat hit of the same name, which has become an anthem for all supporters of a sober view of things. The new movement quickly became popular on the East Coast of the United States. Then the ideas of Straight Edge were recognized by Europe, destroying the usual stereotypes about punk rock.
The ideas of Straight Edge began to be followed not only by listeners, but also by punk rock musicians who chose a healthy lifestyle. A distinctive feature of the straight edgers was a cross drawn with a marker on the back of the palms.
The movement is still one of the most popular in the genre, having a noticeable impact on popular culture around the world. As opposed to "sex, drugs and rock and roll", a "clear line" appeared, which found its supporters.
First recordings
The musicians created the first few records back in December 1980. Mini-albums Minor Threat and In My Eyes quickly became known among the local audience. Minor Threat concerts began to gather full halls of fans.
A distinctive feature of the band's music was a frantic pace and short timing. The duration of the tracks did not go beyond one and a half minutes of time.
Having released dozens of short tracks, already in 1981 the group decided to take a short break in their work. This was due to the departure of one of the participants in Illinois.
And only in 1983 the first (and only) full-length album Out of Step appeared on the shelves. The record is still considered one of the most influential in punk rock.
Team breakup
In the same year, the group broke up, which was associated with ideological differences. Ian McKay even more often began to be distracted by side projects, skipping band rehearsals. McKay decided to move away from the violence and aggression of hardcore, leaving the scene once and for all.
Subsequent musical activity by Ian McKay and other band members
But such a talented person did not remain idle. And already in 1987, McKay created the second successful group Fugazi. She was destined to make another revolution in the genre. According to professionals, it was the Fugazi team that became the pioneer in post-hardcore, which became one of the main musical genres in the next decade. McKay also managed to work with Embrace, Egg Hunt, which did not have such significant success with listeners.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that the group existed for a few years, the musicians managed to bring to hardcore punk those elements that have become its integral part for many years.
Minor Threat's music has influenced successful bands such as Afi, H2O, Rise Against and Your Demise.
