A few weeks ago, a few friends and I attended the Fugazi show at the Electric Factory.
Shows there are usually in the fifteen to twenty dollar range, but because this was a Fugazi
show tickets were only $6.25 (the quarter went to charity). The show itself was one of
the most amazing I’ve ever been to. The two opening bands, Lungfish and The Ex, are
great foreign bands that I wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise. I particularly enjoyed
The Ex’s set, though Lungfish’s front man did know a thing or two about spacial
relationships and the value of oxygen. Then Fugazi came on, and they just blew me away.
They played with amazing intensity. Ian’s shirt was completely soaked with sweat by the
end of the show, and the only time they paused was to talk about the WTO protests in
Seattle, and to throw out some asshole who punched somebody. But unlike most intense
punk rock shows, Fugazi also had the great, creative music to back it up.
Ian brings this creativity and intensity to everything he does, from the early eighties
hardcore band Minor Threat, to his DC indie label Dischord, to Fugazi. This interview
really doesn’t do his work justice, what you really need to do is go out and buy pretty
much any CD on Dischord, particularly the Fugazi and Minor Threat stuff. But read the
interview too.
How has the independent music scene changed since when you were starting out?
the independent scene that i consider myself a part of now didn't even exist when we first
started playing in bands... so it's nearly impossible to compare anything. obviously, the
impact of major labels on the punk underground in the early 1990's has been massive, but
it's hard to say what changes have occurred over the years. i tend to think that i've
remained really focused on my work with the band and the label and haven't had to really
be part of what most people consider the independent scene. i just work... that's it.
A lot of artists, such as Public Enemy, have used the Internet, particularly MP3
technology, to cheaply and independently get music out to a large audience. Are you
at all interested in doing this?
i'm interested in the download applications that develop into legitimate distribution for
music, but i'm not particularly well-versed in this area and can't really comment about any
of the more specific ideas that are being advanced by people at the moment. i have a
tendency to wait for the people to decide what technology they want to go with before i
jump into anything.
Who were your early influences and idols?
i don't even know where to begin as for as influences are concerned since i consider myself
influenced by so many people, most of whom are just people in my life... my parents and
so forth.... i grew up listening to the beatles, jimi hendrix, and janis joplin. i'm still a
massive fan of that work and would certainly count them among my top musical
influences. punk rock changed my life in the late 70's and i have the bad brains and black
flag to really thank for that. politically, there are more than a few 60's radicals that really
have inspired me, but to mention them by name would require too much context to explain
what they meant to me.
What do you think of the influence you yourself have had, through your music, the
concept of straightedge, and your role in the independent music scene?
i don't really spend too much time thinking about this sort of thing. i realize there are
people who consider me an influence, but i try to keep my eye on my work... that's the
best way to get things done.
You and Henry Rollins seem to have comparable careers in a lot of ways... you were
both in legendary punk bands in the early eighties, and you’ve both gone on to start
your own record labels and do amazing work which transcends the punk label. So
what's your opinion of Rollins?
i've known henry since i was 11 years old and consider him one of my best friends. i think
he's a tremendously talented person and one of the hardest working people i've ever
known.
If you were a cartoon character what would your show be like?
i don't have any idea. probably fairly boring.
What's your favorite band, book, and movie?
i don't have any absolute favorites but here's three things i might recommend:
book: invisible man by ralph ellison
band: fela kuti
movie: come and see (a russian film about world war 2)
What's in the future for Ian MacKaye?
i don't think about the future.
That's about it. Could you give a few words of advice for the youngins, the up and
coming musicians, writers, indie label heads, etc.?
play music because you love it. release records because you love music. write because you
have to. any requirement that you have to make money will seriously impede any
chance of success.
ok. that's it. take care. ian/fugazi
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