Minor Threat was one of the most influential bands to emerge from the hardcore punk community of the early 1980s. The band, led by the intensely opinionated Ian MacKaye, defined the sound of the Washington D.C. scene it helped establish. Minor Threat's career lasted only three years, but its short bursts of propulsive punk rock and angry tales of societal ills and nonconformity helped it concrete itself as one of hardcore music's essential bands. The group subscribed to straight-edge values, denouncing those who dabbled in drugs or alcohol, and devoted itself to DIY practices, building its devoted fan base all on its own. In the aftermath of the breakup, MacKaye formed Fugazi, another legendary group that leaned more on indie rock styles.
