Ian MacKaye – Geniune Badass
By RayMonday, October 27th, 2008
Last Tuesday I went to a Q&A session at UC Irvine with the legendary Ian MacKaye (Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Embrace, Egghunt, Skewbald, Fugazi…oh, and Pailhead). I personally did not know what to expect as I have never been to an open forum like this one and was also wondering if anyone would show up as it was not promoted beyond the message boards of the hardcore world. I was blown away and around 150-170 people showed up and packed into this tiny room to ask him questions. Even the pro skater Geoff Rowley was there among many other Orange County regulars.
He spoke for about 2 hours and really did answer every question to the best of his ability. A local promoter asked him, “What is the most amount of money that Minor Threat has been offered to reunite and would it ever happen?” He basically stated that the past was the past and they would never play together again. It was also very interesting because he basically said that anyone who wants to see Minor Threat now to start a band on their own and be better than them.
Overall it was very endearing hearing the master of do it yourself attitude speak about how he has operated his life and business over the course of 46 years. In this day and age of downright exploitation of music and the affects of that practice, he is still doing it with his band The Evens. What I took away from the evening is the age old adage of “loving what you do and do what you love” never ring more true.
Tags: diy, fugazi, ian mackaye, minor threat, the evens
October 29th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I was there as well, sitting front and center on the floor because of the lack of space. It was really nice to get to hear his thoughts on the music industry. I’ve always been able to relate to his opinion on music. You could say he’s my DIY conscience or something. It appeared that he’d closed himself off from so much that is the industry that we’ve come to love and hate. I wonder what he’d listen to if he opened himself up to it.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Rob-
I agree with you on that front. I do like his attitude of reunions (mostly in particular to Minor Threat) and the fact that you should start a band that is BETTER than Minor Threat in order to get the same sort of vibe that was happening back then. Then again, I still do wish he would get off of his proverbial high horse and do it because I want to see it damn it!!! Ha
November 28th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Ian MacKaye was the most difficult interview I’ve ever had to do. Well spoken and articulate, but damn, it was intense…