Does anyone out there miss Minutemen and the late great D. Boon? It’s really hard to overstate just how significant Boon’s tragic death was back in 1985 (as a result of a traffic accident) not just to the punk scene, but really in the broader history of rock music as a whole. Indeed, in just a few short years, Minutemen evolved from their hardcore punk roots to something else entirely by the time they released their classic Double Nickels on the Dime album in 1984, which found the band slowing their attack and incorporating elements of blues, jazz, funk, and spoken-word into their notoriously tight/abbreviated/punchy jam sessions. It’s not only one of the most eclectic punk albums ever produced but would get this writer’s vote for perhaps the greatest punk album of all time, period. And with all due respect to Mike Watt and George Hurley (whose respective performances on that album are equally legendary), ultimately D. Boon was the heart, soul, and primary driving/creative force in the band, all of which are on full display in resounding fashion on that album in particular.
So, on what would have been Boon’s 66th birthday today, let’s soak in this awesome performance of “The Glory of Man” from UCLA back in 1985. R.I.P. D. Boon, who not only was an innovative guitar player and thoughtful lyricist but had some pretty shit-hot dance moves to boot.
