Four Bands Talk the Meaning of Ian

Ian week continues to thunder forward here at Punknews. While we've featured a lot foi writers talking about the Don of D.C. , we haven't heard much from artists themselves. So, we asked four artists to tell us what Ian means to them. Check that out below!Photo by Amy Farina

Monty Messex of DFL "Minor Threat – minors’ that are a threat or a threat that’s minor. Which is it? One, the other? Both? Nether. It’s up to me to decide. That’s what I love about Ian Mackaye and Minor Threat, the shit’s smart and meaningful and all wrapped up in lo-fi fast-as-fuck short-ass moshed-out killer songs (fucking love those moshes); songs that spoke to me when I was a snot-nosed punker and still do almost 40 years later. And although Minor Threat is early 80’s hardcore, somehow there music is timeless, at least to this old punker. I guess that makes their music classic, classic hardcore – If there is such thing?
Minor Threat had a huge influence on DFL. Along with a few other early 80 hardcore bands, such as Bad Religion, Adolescents and China White, to name a few; Minor Threat made me want to start an early 80’s hardcore band. And although DFL’s not Straight Edge, we try to keep things positive and stay true to that hardcore spirit in our own fucked up way. Oh yeah, Brian Baker played bass in DFL for a hot second (he played this crazy Malibu house party with us, that was rad) and DFL opened for Fugazi in 1993 (thanks Mike D. for hooking us up)! "

Johnny Madcap "I was in high school just getting into punk rock. I had heard the ramones and the dead kennedys. I loved every second of every song. But i clearly remember the day I heard Minor Threat. I was leaving autoshop and I realized i had forgot something inside so i set down my backpack and ran back inside. As i came out I saw someone stealing my bag. I ran after him and eventually caught up. He turned to me and said "oh this is your bag" i said yes. As he looked at the bag and saw the DK patch he said "you listen to this stuff?". We walked to his locker and he told look those bands are great but check this out. He handed me complete discography by Minor Threat. I said cool thanks and we went our seperate ways. I ran home that day and couldn't wait to throw this new gem on. The opener Filler screamed out of my speakers. It grabbed me by the throat and said revolt! I listened to it at least 10 times that night. Minor threat still lives with me and the guy that stole my backpack is still one of my best friends. Thank you Ian Mackaye!"

Kyle Matt of Gozer "I skipped school in tenth grade to go the record store and ended up going home with my first Fugazi Record , a copy of “In on The Kill Taker” . I knew Minor Threat and I knew Rites of Spring so this was a no brainer. While it’s not everyone’s go to Fugazi record it changed the way I looked at and thought of music while remaining in my top 5 to this day. It blended elements of music I loved and music I had never even thought of listening to. I can’t really name another band that allows me to get excited over every piece of instrumentation like Fugazi does and still find myself confused as to what air instrument to play along to “Smallpox Champion”. If I can find a way to make music that impacts me 1% the way Fugazi did I’ll consider myself a success. Listening to Fugazi opened the door to bands like Embrace , The Evens and so many other bands that share seven degrees of separation with them. To this day no one has packed as much of a sense of raw emotion , energy and passion into their entire discography and I’m pretty sure I’ll stand by the statement to the grave."

Keith Morris "IAN MACKAYE = STUD PRINCE CHAMPION!"