A meteor-sized crater was left in the hardcore punk community in 2016. In May of that year, the legendary frontman John Stabb lost his battle with stomach cancer, leaving behind one of the most enduring and overlooked legacies in punk history. As the leader and only consistent member of D.C. legends Government Issue, Stabb’s raw vocals and poetically abstract approach to songwriting made him a quick favorite amongst the hardcore community. Throughout the band’s nine-year run, and under Stabb’s watchful eye, Government Issue went from hardcore darlings to nuanced fusion experts, with later albums diving into more psychedelic territories.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we look back fondly on a prime example of Stabb’s lasting legacy. This week’s video comes from the great Sohrab Habibion, who captured the D.C. hardcore scene at its prime and then digitized the footage for modern consumption. In this video from 1985, we watch a young Government Issue tear down D.C.’s WUST Radio Music Hall. At the time, the band consisted of Stabb, Tom Lyle on guitar, John Leonard on bass, and Marc Alberstadt on drums. You can watch the electrifying performance below.
