Artist

Government Issue

1980-1989·Washington, D.C.

Government Issue was one of Dischord's earliest bands, helping define the DC sound alongside Minor Threat through the early '80s. They appeared on 1982's *Flex Your Head* compilation, the record that documented the scene at its most explosive and concentrated. Alongside other DC bands, Government Issue helped establish hardcore's oddly territorial character in this period — local scenes with their own sound, their own dance styles, their own codes, resisting the nationwide homogenized rock that had come before, as Ian MacKaye described to Maximum Rocknroll on tour: "This territorial kind of music scene... it's the first time in the U.S. that this has happened to rock music to a great extent." Government Issue stayed active through the decade as DC hardcore evolved into post-hardcore experimentation.

At a glance

Active
1980–1989
From
Washington, D.C., USA

Listen

Spotify

In the issues

  • DC Hardcore
    Supporting cast · 1979-1986

    DC Hardcore is a music scene from Washington, D.C., USA, 1979–1986. Its principal artists include Minor Threat, Fugazi, Ian MacKaye and Bad Brains. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 18 dated events.

Family tree

Bands that shared members with Government Issue, and who.