Minor Threat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Minor Threat
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Minor Threat performing at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. in 1981
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Genres | Hardcore punk |
| Years active | 1980–1983 |
| Labels | Dischord |
| Associated acts |
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| Past members |
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Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band. They formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C.. The band was started by singer Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson.
MacKaye and Nelson had played in other bands together. They asked Brian Baker to play bass and Lyle Preslar to play guitar. In 1982, Steve Hansgen joined as a fifth member. He played bass, and Brian Baker switched to playing a second guitar.
Minor Threat only played together for three years. But they had a huge impact on the new American hardcore punk music scene. AllMusic said their music was "iconic." They also noted that their music has lasted better than many other bands from that time.
Minor Threat helped set the standard for many hardcore punk bands. This includes bands from the 1980s and 1990s. Other important bands were Bad Brains from Washington, D.C., and Black Flag from California.
All of Minor Threat's music was released on Dischord Records. This record label was started by MacKaye and Nelson. Their first EP, Minor Threat, and their only full album, Out of Step, are very famous. They are seen as key albums in the hardcore punk style.
Contents
Band History and Influence
How Minor Threat Started
Before Minor Threat, Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson were in a band called the Teen Idles. They played bass and drums while in high school. The Teen Idles became quite popular in the growing D.C. hardcore punk scene. They had about 100 fans, which was a lot back then.
MacKaye and Nelson strongly believed in the "Do It Yourself" (DIY) idea. This meant making music and releasing it themselves, without big companies. After the Teen Idles broke up, they used their band's earnings to start Dischord Records. This independent label released music for the Teen Idles, Minor Threat, and many other D.C. punk bands.
MacKaye and Nelson wanted to start a new band quickly. They found guitarist Lyle Preslar and bassist Brian Baker. Their first show was in December 1980. They played in a basement for 50 people. They opened for other D.C. bands like Bad Brains.
The band released their first two EPs (short albums) in 1981. These were Minor Threat and In My Eyes. They became popular in their region and toured the East Coast and Midwest.
The Straight Edge Idea
One song from their first EP was "Straight Edge." This song helped start the straight edge movement. This movement is about choosing to live without alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs. Other bands like SS Decontrol and 7 Seconds also supported this idea.
The song "Straight Edge" was not meant to be a strict set of rules. But many bands who were inspired by it used it that way. Over time, the song and the term "straight edge" became important for a whole subculture. This idea has grown and spread around the world. Another Minor Threat song, "Out of Step," also showed this belief.
Band Break and Return
The band took a short break after their second EP. Guitarist Lyle Preslar moved to Illinois for college. During this time, MacKaye and Nelson worked on a project called Skewbald/Grand Union. Brian Baker also played guitar for Government Issue for a short time.
In March 1982, Preslar left college to rejoin Minor Threat. The band got back together with a new lineup. Steve Hansgen joined as the new bassist. Brian Baker then switched to playing a second guitar.
Minor Threat's Breakup
Minor Threat broke up in 1983. One reason was that the band members disagreed about their musical direction. Towards the end, Ian MacKaye sometimes missed rehearsals. He wrote the lyrics for the songs on the Salad Days EP in the studio. This was different from earlier recordings, where he helped write much of the music.
Minor Threat went back to being a four-person band after Steve Hansgen left. They played their last show on September 23, 1983. It was at the Lansburgh Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. They shared the stage with the go-go band Trouble Funk and the punk funk band the Big Boys. Minor Threat ended their final show with "Last Song." This song's original title was "Salad Days."
What the Members Did Next
After Minor Threat broke up, the members continued to make music.
- Ian MacKaye started bands like Embrace, Egg Hunt (with Jeff Nelson), and later Fugazi, the Evens, and Coriky.
- Brian Baker played in bands like Junkyard and The Meatmen. Since 1994, he has been a member of Bad Religion.
- Lyle Preslar was briefly in Glenn Danzig's band Samhain. He also joined The Meatmen with Brian Baker. Later, he worked in the music industry and became a lawyer.
- Jeff Nelson played in bands like Three. He now runs his own record label, Adult Swim Records. He is also a graphic artist and an activist.
- Steve Hansgen formed a band called Second Wind. In 1992, he worked as a producer for the band Tool.
Their label, Dischord Records, released music from many D.C. bands. It has become a respected independent record label.
Protecting Their Music
The "Major Threat" Issue
In 2005, a shoe company called Nike used a picture similar to Minor Threat's first EP cover. They used it for a skateboarding tour called "Major Threat." Nike also changed Minor Threat's logo for the campaign. The new picture showed Nike shoes instead of the combat boots on the original cover.
Ian MacKaye spoke out against Nike's actions. He said the band would look into legal options. Fans also wrote letters to protest Nike. On June 27, 2005, Nike apologized to Minor Threat and Dischord Records. They said they destroyed all the promotional artwork.
The "Salad Days" Issue
On October 29, 2005, Fox played a few seconds of Minor Threat's "Salad Days" during a football game. Fox did not get permission from Dischord Records or the band members. Fox claimed the clip was too short to be a copyright problem.
Merchandise and Licensing
In 2013, Minor Threat shirts started appearing in Urban Outfitters stores. Ian MacKaye confirmed that these shirts were officially licensed. He explained that the band and Dischord had decided to work with a company to manage licensing. This was to stop people from selling fake (bootlegged) Minor Threat merchandise. MacKaye said it was "absurd" for the shirts to sell for $28. But he felt his time was better spent on other things than chasing down fake products. Dischord had also taken action against Forever 21 in 2009 for selling unlicensed Minor Threat shirts.
Band Members
- Ian MacKaye – lead vocals (1980–1983)
- Lyle Preslar – guitar (1980–1983)
- Brian Baker – bass (1980–1982, 1983); guitar (1982–1983)
- Jeff Nelson – drums (1980–1983)
- Steve Hansgen – bass (1982–1983)
Music Released by Minor Threat
Original Recordings
- Minor Threat (EP, 1981)
- In My Eyes (EP, 1981)
- Out of Step (studio album, 1983)
- Salad Days (EP, 1985)
Compilation Albums
- Minor Threat (1984)
- Complete Discography (1989)
- First Demo Tape (2003)
- Out of Step Outtakes (2023)
Songs on Other Albums
- Flex Your Head (1982) – "Stand Up", "12XU"
- Dischord 1981: The Year in Seven Inches (1995) contains the first two EPs
- 20 Years of Dischord (2002) – "Screaming at a Wall", "Straight Edge" (live), "Understand", "... Dub"
See also
In Spanish: Minor Threat para niños
