n Thomas Garner MacKaye (/məˈkaɪ/;[1] born April 16, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, label owner, and producer. Active since 1979, MacKaye is best known for being the frontman of the influential hardcore punk bands Minor Threat, the post-hardcore bandsEmbrace and Fugazi, as well as The Evens, and member of The Teen Idles.[2]
He is a co-founder and owner of Dischord Records, a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label.
A key figure in the development of hardcore punk, straightedge, and an independent-minded, do it yourself punk ethic, MacKaye also works as a producer, and has produced releases by Q and Not U, John Frusciante, 7 Seconds, Nation of Ulysses, Bikini Kill, Rites of Spring, Dag Nasty, andRollins Band among others. Along with his seminal band Minor Threat, he is credited with coining the term "straight edge"[2] to describe a personal ideology that promotes independence by countering the popular appeal of drug and alcohol abuse, though MacKaye has stated many times that he did not intend to turn it into a movement.
Contents
[hide]Biography
Youth]
Ian MacKaye was born in Washington D.C. on April 16, 1962, and grew up in the Glover Park neighborhood of Washington D.C. His father was a writer for the Washington Post, first as a White House reporter, then as a religion specialist; the senior MacKaye remains active with the socially progressive St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.[3] According to MacKaye's longtime friend, singer Henry Rollins, MacKaye's parents "raised their kids in a tolerant, super-intellectual, open-minded atmosphere."[4]
MacKaye first learned to play piano as a child. He eventually took lessons, but quit when his mother placed him in a more academic environment to continue his instrument. He first attempted guitar at around ten due to inspirations such as Jimi Hendrix, but again he quit when he was unable to understand the correlation between piano and guitar.[5]
MacKaye listened to many types of music, but was especially fond of mainstream hard rock like Ted Nugent and Queenbefore discovering punk music in 1979[6] when he saw The Cramps perform at nearby Georgetown University. He was particularly influenced by the California hardcore scene. MacKaye looked up to hardcore bands like Bad Brains and Black Flag and was childhood friends with Henry Garfield (who later changed his name to Henry Rollins).
Early bands]
Ian MacKaye's first band consisted of one performance as The Slinkees in the summer of 1979, performing a song titled "I Drink Milk."[7] The band also recorded two demo tapes of covers as well as songs that would later be recorded by the Teen Idles.
Ian MacKaye's next project, The Teen Idles, he played bass guitar and sang back up vocals in from 1979–1980, and the short-lived Skewbald/Grand Union (1981–1982).
His brother Alec MacKaye has also been active in several notable bands, such as Untouchables, The Faith and Ignition.[8]
Minor Threat
Main article: Minor Threat
After feeling creatively limited in the Teen Idles, MacKaye was determined to be the frontman and primary lyricist for Minor Threat (1980–1983). MacKaye cited the dynamic performance of singer Joe Cocker in Woodstock as a major influence on his own animated stage persona.[4] The Teen Idles and Minor Threat were modestly successful in and around Washington D.C., but would later be cited as two of the earliest and most influential hardcore punk groups, and as pioneers of thestraight edge philosophy that rejects use of drugs (including alcohol). In his early teens, MacKaye saw the negative effects of drug abuse on several close friends and one immediate family member, and he vowed to never use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.
Minor Threat - Complete Discography Full Album (1989)
Minor Threat
Complete Discography
Punk, Hardcore
Dischord
1 Seeing Red
2 I Don't Wanna Hear It
3 Filler
4 Straight Edge
5 Small Man, Big Mouth
6 Screaming At A Wall
7 Bottled Violence
8 Minor Threat
9 Stand Up
10 12XU
11 In My Eyes
12 Out Of Step (With The World)
13 Guilty Of Being White
14 Steppin' Stone
15 Betray
16 It Follows
17 Think Again
18 Look Back And Laugh
19 Sob Story
20 No Reason
21 Little Friend
22 Out Of Step
23 Cashing In
24 Stumped
25 Good Guys (Don't Wear White)
26 Salad Days
All rights to Minor Threat and Dischord Records.
Fugazi
Main article: Fugazi
Bad Mouth [05:46]
Burning [08:23]
Give Me the Cure [11:02]
Suggestion [14:00]
Glue Man [18:45]
FUGAZI - repeater
1. Turnover - 00:00
2. Repeater - 04:16
3. Brendan # - 07:18
4. Merchandise - 09:50
5. Blueprint - 12:50
6. Sieve-Fisted Find - 16:43
7. Greed - 20:08
8. Two Beats Off - 21:55
9. Styrofoam - 25:24
10. Reprovisional - 28:00
11. Shut the Door - 30:17
12. song # 1 - 35:06
13. Joe # - 38:00
14. Break-In - 41:03
Fugazi - 13 Songs (Full Album)1. Waiting Room 0:00
2. Bulldog Front 2:53
3. Bad Mouth 5:46
4. Burning 8:21
5. Give Me the Cure 11:01
6. Suggestion 13:59
7. Glue Man 18:43
8. Margin Walker 23:06
9. And the Same 25:37
10. Burning Too 29:04
11. Provisional 31:54
12. Lockdown 34:12
13. Promises 36:22
The Evens
MacKaye currently sings and plays baritone guitar in The Evens with drummer and vocalist Amy Farina of the Warmers. The band pride themselves on playing in non-standard locations, such as community centres, bookshops, or other atypical spaces.[10]The Evens released their self-titled album in early 2005, breaking a three-year silence by MacKaye. Their second album, "Get Evens", was released in November 2006. On September 22 they announced on Dischord Records' website: "The Evens are currently mixing a new record, due out at the end of this year (or early 2013 at the latest)."[11] The new album is called The Odds and was released November 20, 2012.[12]
Other projects
In 1982, MacKaye sang lead vocals on one version of a Government Issue song titled "Asshole". The previously unreleased track was featured on the 20 Years of Dischordcollection released in 2002. Backing vocals and collaborations—as, for example, with brother Alec MacKaye's former band Ignition—are numerous.
MacKaye contributed an extra guitar track to "Youth Against Fascism", the second single from Sonic Youth's 1992 album Dirty.[13]
In 1988, he recorded vocals with Ministry's Al Jourgensen, Paul Barker, and Bill Rieflinfor the band Pailhead's EP titled "Trait." He also co-wrote the song "I Will Refuse" which was also released by the Wax Trax! record label.
In February 2004, MacKaye produced the recording sessions for John Frusciante's solo album titled DC EP. After working with MacKaye, Frusciante states "Ian is one of the only living people who I really respect and look up to, so it was an honor and a pleasure as well as a great learning experience to hear his perspective."[14]
MacKaye has also contributed guitar and backing vocals to Joe Lally's solo albums There to Here, released in October 2006, and Nothing Is Underrated, released in November 2007.[15]
Throughout his music career MacKaye has engineered and produced releases by a number of bands primarily on his Dischord label including 7 Seconds, Antelope, Bikini Kill, Black Eyes, Lungfish, Nation of Ulysses, One Last Wish, Q and Not U, Rites of Spring, Rollins Band, and others.
Dischord records
Main article: Dischord Records
MacKaye co-founded Dischord Records with Jeff Nelson in 1980 and it continued as a DIY project, whereby those involved learned how to produce records—MacKaye claims that they crafted 10,000 singles by hand for a Teen Idles release.[16] The label was originally formed as a means to distribute a Teen Idles 7-inch EP, but over time it transformed into a well-established independent record label that worked with different Washington, D.C.-area artists. MacKaye notes that the focus on Washington, D.C. musicians was inspired by folk labels such as Folkways Records and Arhoolie Records.[citation needed]
Campaigning, business and activism
]
Throughout his career, MacKaye has opted to advertise in independent and underground media and perform in unconventional venues. Such practices keep admission prices low (in the $5–$15 range) and allow fans of all ages to attend performances. Maintaining a low overhead and protecting monetary assets are also important ideals for MacKaye, who in the summer of 1990 formed the corporation Lunar Atrocities Ltd[17] in order to shield his own and his band mates' personal assets from the threat of lawsuits. As Seth Martin, MacKaye's financial adviser explained to the Washington Post in a 1993 interview: "protection from liability is the main reason to form a corporation, and for these guys it makes sense. If someone got hurt stage-diving and decided to sue, it would be a little harder to go after their personal assets."[18]
MacKaye has also been known to rebuke concert violence and to confront crowd surfers and other unruly concert attendees who start fights. This is especially true of his days with Fugazi. When audience members became belligerent or violent at a Fugazi show, the band would cease to play (sometimes right in the middle of a song) and MacKaye would tell them to stop. If those people continued their deviant behavior, he would have their admission price refunded and have them ejected from the concert venue.[19][20]
In 2007 MacKaye provided technical audio assistance to Alan Canfora, a former Kent State University student who, in 1970, was injured by a gunshot while protesting the U.S. invasion of Cambodia. MacKaye cleaned up a field recording of the incident made by another student named Terry Strubbe. According to Canfora, a voice can be heard on the tape yelling, "Right here! Get set! Point! Fire!" before a 13-second volley of gunfire commences.[21]
Straight edge philosophy
Main article: Straight edge
The song "Straight Edge" was written by MacKaye for his band, Minor Threat and was released in 1981 on Minor Threat's self-titled EP. It was a song that described his personal life free of the drugs and the self-destructive idea of "sex as a conquest" which served as a part of the "sex, drugs and rock'n roll" banner originating as a rebellion in the 1960s—smoking, drinking, and drug use. The song came about through MacKaye witnessing his friends abusing alcohol/drugs and acting recklessly. He decided early on that it was not the lifestyle for him, having never fit in with it. MacKaye's main goal was to fight against the people around him who abused substances.[22] His decision to abstain from substances began to influence youth culture as Minor Threat gained popularity through numerous live shows and sales of their EP. Although to MacKaye the song did not represent a philosophy or a movement, over time people adopted the philosophy of the song and many bands began to label themselves straight edge, founding the straight edge movement. Although straight edge is not explicitly supportive of vegetarianism, MacKaye has stated that he is a vegetarian because he regards it as a logical progression of his views.[23] He follows a strict vegan diet.[24][25]
Although "Straight Edge" gets the most attention, MacKaye wrote other songs with Minor Threat describing his clean lifestyle as well, most notably "Out of Step (With the World)," in which he said "I don't smoke. I don't drink. I don't fuck. At least I can fucking think." "In My Eyes" is also at least partially about his philosophies, with lines such as "You tell me it calms your nerves; you just think it looks cool."
Relationship and involvement with Riot Grrrl[edit]
Ian MacKaye has been a strong proponent of the Riot Grrrl movement, going as far as to produce Bikini Kill's self-titledEP. Because of the male dominated tendencies of punk concerts during the 1980s, he feels women were pushed away from the movement. He has discussed gender inequalities in some of his songs such as Fugazi's "Suggestion". Despite being a supporter of Riot Grrrl, he came under criticism by those within the movement who claimed MacKaye was simply capitalizing on gender inequality for ulterior motives and that it was not his position to be a part of Riot Grrrl. MacKaye dismissed these claims as unfounded and ignorant.[26] Arguing the success of the movement, MacKaye mentions that he used to note the oddity of a woman playing in a band, but now it has become a normality.
Equipment[edit]
Guitars[edit]
- Gibson SG – MacKaye's main guitar with Fugazi was a white 1970 Gibson SG. He also frequently used another 1970's brown SG. Both guitars are fitted with a DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker in the bridge position.[27]
- Creston Electric Instruments Baritone – MacKaye uses a Danelectro baritone guitar with The Evens.[28]
Amplification[edit]
- Marshall JCM 800 100 watt 2203 [Horizontal Input]
- Marshall JCM 800 4x12 cabinets fitted with 65 watt celestion speakers.
- Note: Guitars were plugged directly into the high gain input in his JCM 800's, his presence and treble were set very low and the bass and mids cranked on the amp.
- Fender Tweed Deluxe, used when performing with The Evens.
Effects[edit]
Contrary to popular belief, he had never used any effects.[27]
Personal life[edit]
On May 24, 2008, Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina had their first child together, a son named Carmine Francis Farina MacKaye.[29]
His younger brother is Alec MacKaye, also a musician. His musical collaborations with Ian are limited but he is known for appearing in the iconic photograph used for many Minor Threat releases including Complete Discography.
He has been close friends with Henry Rollins since childhood[30] and was the first person to take the stage at Rollins' 50th birthday performance at the National Geographic Explorers' Hall in Washington DC on February 13, 2011.[31]
Despite persistently voting Democratic, MacKaye does not explicitly consider himself a Democrat. He has explained that he votes solely for the politician least likely to engage in war. He also noted that he had voted for Obama in the 2008 presidential election.[32] When further probed for a summation of his political views, he explained:
Works outside of music[edit]
Filmography[edit]
MacKaye was interviewed in the documentary films Roll Up Your Sleeves, DIY America, American Hardcore, 930 F,Another State of Mind, Instrument, Dogtown and Z-Boys, D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist, Don't Need You: The Herstory of Riot Grrrl, Punk's Not Dead, We Jam Econo, I Need That Record, EDGE: Perspectives on Drug Free Culture, Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC [34] and the K Records documentary The Shield Around the K.
MacKaye was also featured in professional skateboarder Mike Vallely's film Drive.[35]
In 2014, MacKaye featured in the documentary Foo Fighters Sonic Highways which follows and celebrates the Foo Fighters on their 20th anniversary, and the making of their 8th studio album Sonic Highways. The documentary revisits the band's sources of inspiration where MacKaye, among others, have played a defining role.
Books[edit]
MacKaye has contributed to several books, including The Idealist by Glen E. Friedman (Burning Flags Press, 1998, updated 2004, ISBN 0-9641916-5-2), a foreword to indie-punk band photographer Pat Graham's photobook Silent Pictures, an introduction to Susie Horgan's photobook Punk Love, Interrobang?! Anthology on Music and Family, edited by Sharon Cheslow and is interviewed in American Heretics: Rebel Voices In Music by Ben Myers (Codex Books, 2002). MacKaye is also featured in the Friedman book Keep Your Eyes Open (ISBN 0-9641916-8-7), a collection of Fugazi photos taken by Friedman over the course of the band's career.
| Ian MacKaye | |
|---|---|
MacKaye in 2008
| |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ian Thomas Garner MacKaye |
| Born | April 16, 1962 Washington, D.C., US |
| Genres | Hardcore punk, punk rock,alternative rock, post-hardcore |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician, producer, record label owner |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass, baritone guitar, piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels | Dischord |
| Associated acts | Fugazi, Minor Threat, Teen Idles, The Evens, Embrace,Egg Hunt, Skewbald/Grand Union, Pailhead |
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