Of all the bands that emerged from the 80’s hardcore explosion, Minor Threat has to be one of the most pure examples of the movement. Their ruthless aggression and sober approach to the new subgenre brought the ethos of the scene to life and set the standard for the bands to come after. Along with fellow D.C. punks Bad Brains, Minor Threat created a platform for like-minded punks from the uptight, political city, going as far as to oversee the iconic Flex Your Head compilation, which introduced the world to bands like Void, Youth Brigade, and Government Issue. The band saw Hardcore as more than something new to latch their band to; they saw it as a movement, an answer to the flood of New Wave bands that were infiltrating their beloved genre.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we celebrate Minor Threat by looking at the band fresh off the release of their legendary LP, Out of Step. We have a full concert from June of 1983, only a few months after the April release of Minor Threat’s essential LP. The footage is from the legendary D.C. venue, 9:30 Club, and has a little of everything that made Minor Threat such a lasting and vital band. Everything from their unadulterated punk fury, live performance prowess, and dedication to the straight-edge lifestyle is on display in this 40-minute onslaught of nostalgic Hardcore benevolence. You can watch the full homecoming performance below.
