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Ian MacKaye and the rest of the people over at Dischord have been promising a Minor Threat DVD for sometime now, and finally on Nov. 11th it was released. This very full DVD includes 3 full length concerts, a hilarious Q & A with Ian and a very oblivious reporter and a 16 page booklet featuring lyrics, a history of the D.C scene, some photos of the band and 2 pages full of flyers from various shows.

OK, onto the show, the first show is a taping from one of Minor Threat's first shows ever (only a week after forming) at the D.C. space on December 17th, 1980. Unfortunately, the video quality of this concert is very poor, as it was shot in B&W and very long ago. With the exception of that though, the sound is very good as is the excellent performance. It's a great collectors piece, being a very rare and extremely early show. From here, though, things get much better.

The next concert takes place at the Buff Hall in New Jersey on November 20th, 1982. This time we have full color footage and even better sound quality. The band blasts through an 17 song setlist. Some highlights include a frenetic "Sob Story", the always pleasing, blistering cover of Wire's "12xu" (which sends the crowd into a violent fit of excitment and ends with an altercation between a guy who pushes a girl off stage.). Ian, as always, keeps his cool throughout the concert, even when the crowd is knocking into him every second. He gets a little pissed, asking the crowd several times to "give me some fucking room", which is completely understandable - I would have smacked some of those fuckers. Anyway, the concert goes on smoothly, with Ian trading vocals off with several different kids, some actually snatching the microphone from him for brief periods of time. This concert represents Minor Threat's music perfectly - it is chaotic, loud and totally out of control. The audience seems to be part of the performance rather than just watching it. This, at times, can be irritating to the band, but overall it works well.

The next and final concert of the DVD is of better video and sound quality than either one of the others. It takes place on June 23rd, 1983, shortly before the band called it quits, at the infamous 9:30 Club in Washington DC. The show begins with an extensive introduction curtousy of the always amiable Ian MacKay. They first play "Stand Up", then break into "Seeing Red." It's interesting to see the progression of the band over the DVD's different concerts, in this final one the band is at it's tightest and most focused. It's a joy to watch. They rock through a host of 15 other killer tracks like "In My Eyes", "Out Of Step", "I Don't Wanna Hear It", "Filler", and closing with "Stepping Stone".

Along with the concert footage is an interview with Ian circa July 1983. The whole thing is rather humorous, considering the reporter has no idea what anything in the punk scene is about. Some of these goofball questions are "How do you want people to dance?", "Why do you scream?", "Why do you play so fast?", "Why do people dress like you?", "Why are you doing what you are doing?", "Are you the hippies of the '80's?", and, finally, "Are you an angry person?" to which Ian silently nods his head... classic stuff.

Overall, this is DVD gem and a must own for Minor Threat and hardcore fans.



People who liked this also liked:
Paint It Black - ParadiseBad Religion - SufferMinor Threat - Complete DiscographyDead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting VegetablesNirvana - NevermindNOFX - Punk In DrublicMinus The Bear - Menos El OsoMinutemen - Double Nickels on the DimeCircle Jerks - Oddities, Abnormalities, and CuriositiesSamiam - Whatever's Got You Down



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    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 8, 2005 at 7:17 PM (EST)

    I think minor threat is the shit so stop hating punk is punk

    Posted by mrwaffles on 2004-05-02 21:20:22
    My Score:

    i've never heard anyone mention Blink182 and Regan youth in the same breath.

    Posted by KlashedKi on 2004-04-25 03:45:24
    My Score:

    Man so much flame bait on the previous posts but otherwise I'm getting this dvd no questions asked simply because I wasn't alive when Minor Threat had everyone was by the balls, so I was screwed.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 5, 2004 at 5:59 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    god vanilla ice rules.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 5, 2004 at 5:55 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I think that minor threat, green day, blink 182, the misfits, the clash, gorilla biscuits and reagan youth stole all their music from good charlotte and vanilla ice. Im really serious. Really.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 at 12:38 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Fugazi = emo crap?

    You sir, are an idiot. Maybe you should check out Repeater or In On the Killtaker. Emo crap my ass.

    ...evildeadalive

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 at 2:52 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    And I meant tight as in their sound, not a description of how good they are.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 at 12:45 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Minor Threat= Tight hardcore

    Fugazi= Post punk with a tinge of hardcore

    I like'em both, personally.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 22, 2003 at 8:56 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I just learned that Ian McKay is the singer for Fugazi. Minor Threat = Radical. Fugazi = Emo Crap

    Posted by HarleyQuinnPunk on 2003-12-22 00:18:42
    My Score:

    I luv Minor Threat. They're awesome

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-12-21 12:30:29
    My Score:

    oh great, from Autumn to minor threat got reviewed. Woopdie-fuckin-doo. Maybe if they had a chick singing instead of their out of tune 40 year old man middle aged dude id care. Can minor threats drummer sing worse then their already terrible singer WHILE playing incredibly simple beats? NO.

    what a ripoff

    heh. its fun being ridiculous.

    Posted by dignin on 2003-12-20 20:03:47
    My Score:

    "I'm not sure if anyone knows where this came from but when Bad Religion's The Gray Race came out there was a magazine that wrote about what a bunch of offspring ripoffs they were. now that's funny."

    Someone called one line drawing a dashboard ripoff in a review I saw.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 19, 2003 at 4:05 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Am I the only man on Earth who realizes how much Fugazi ripped off Taking Back Sunday?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 19, 2003 at 3:26 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Minor Threat is a Green Day ripoff. I mean just listen to them. They just played stuff a little faster and shittier. They also ripped off Dashboard Confessional.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 19, 2003 at 2:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    its funny that people are getting pissed when its obiously someone just fucking around

    i have this on VHS, much more punk than DVD

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 at 6:32 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Old people suck

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2003-12-18 12:19:05
    My Score:

    I like green day.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 at 11:03 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Green Day sucks and should not even be on any punk site

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 at 10:10 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I'm hanging my head in shame at the guy that actually took the Green Day comment seriously. It was so fuckin' obviously a joke, a fine one I might add. I'm not sure if anyone knows where this came from but when Bad Religion's The Gray Race came out there was a magazine that wrote about what a bunch of offspring ripoffs they were. now that's funny.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 at 6:39 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    mere children

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 10:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yummy down on my hot man-chicken.

    Posted by Wooderson on 2003-12-17 20:51:11
    My Score:

    "To the kid who said they are a Green Day ripoff. You must be one of the most stupid little 14 yr old new punks I have come across. I have been in the scene longer then you have been alive"

    Nah I think you must be one of the must stupidest people alive (as well as most of you people who got bent out of shape over it) to actually take that green day/ minor threat thing seriously.

    Sometimes the people on this board make me just hang my head in shame.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 6:48 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    must buy this

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 4:34 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yeah...its obvious...NOBODY is that stupid lol......come on guys....I mean...who doesn't know that Minor Threat formed when Billie Joe was 8 years old. 1980...Green Day formed in what? 1989?

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 3:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "i have to agree minor threat fucking suck...they're just a bunch of green day rip-offs who can't play their instruments or sing for shit
    "

    that was me

    i'm 20 years old

    it was a joke, sarcasm if you will

    god its easy to piss you fucks off

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2003-12-17 14:08:22
    My Score:

    "I haven't seen this DVD, but I'll trust the review that it is sweet as hell. Now if only I could find an Embrace video...."

    If you do, I beg of you to let us know where and how. Please.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2003-12-17 14:07:14
    My Score:

    just a hint. i was born in '86, which means i'm 17 years old, a senior in high school.

    so he's most likely hit it by now.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 1:35 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    if it weren't for bands like green day and blink, Minor Threat wouldn't have anything to model their songs after. you fucking idiots, minor threat is one of the worst new bands i've ever heard

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 12:49 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "i have to agree minor threat fucking suck...they're just a bunch of green day rip-offs who can't play their instruments or sing for shit"

    ??? let me guess, you were born in 1986 and haven't made it into high school yet ?

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 12:48 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    To the kid who said they are a Green Day ripoff. You must be one of the most stupid little 14 yr old new punks I have come across. I have been in the scene longer then you have been alive. Don't open your mouth with useless garbage like that. Minor Threat was part of a movement that spawned many different genres of punk and hardcore. I am sure many of those crappy pop punk bands you like were influenced by Minor Threat in one way or the other.This DVD is amazing. Get it for the NJ show alone!

    Posted by yellowtrash on 2003-12-17 11:46:02
    My Score:

    If you really want this DVD, buy it direct from Dischord because shipping, as always, is included in the US.
    I haven't seen this DVD, but I'll trust the review that it is sweet as hell. Now if only I could find an Embrace video....

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 11:39 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    i have to agree minor threat fucking suck...they're just a bunch of green day rip-offs who can't play their instruments or sing for shit

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 10:04 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This band fucking sucks cock and whoever likes them should rot in hell becuz they are gayand like little boys

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 10:54 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I like minor Threat a lot.

    My favorite way to listen to Minor Threat is when I'm totally shitfaced. Then I draw Drunk X's on my hands that usually end up looking like sanskrit characters.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 10:24 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    why are yus bringing the Iraq/US debate from the THE CODE post in here?? Post your comments in the freakin post weirdos. And yes, being the person arguing with Tahoejeff he is the problem ! HA, just kidds.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 9:49 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    How tall is--

    Joey Cape?
    Ian McKaye?
    Tony Sly?
    Jason Cruz?
    Blake Schwarzenbach?

    Thanks!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 8:16 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    try interpunk.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 8:13 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    anybody know where i can get this?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 8:02 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    there arent bands like minor threat anymore.....things are way to different now then they were then....even if your the cool kid who knows millions of no name hardcore bands.....your dumb

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 7:41 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I'll drag your ass through the streets bitch

    Posted by lunchbox on 2003-12-16 19:23:39
    My Score:

    i have to buy this dvd. minor threat was such a great band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 5:44 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    fuck! could they not have this on the vhs version? oh well

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 5:44 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    So what if they dragged a dead American soldier in the streets?

    How would YOU feel if a bunch of power-hungry strangers from the other side of the planet arrived to your hometown with intentions of deciding how you would live your life?

    Posted by skankin_in_the_pit on 2003-12-16 17:36:55
    My Score:

    Great review. This is such an awesome DVD. The Q&A is funny as hell.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 5:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "by Tahoejeff on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 @ 13:12:13 EST

    what if he had a grenade?? They go to help him out and it goes off?? I d consider that a threat. maybe the cheering was wrong, but put yourself in the same situation. A guy is building something to try and kill you...you kill him first. If I was the one still alive...I might cheer too...Its not like they're perfectly innocent? What about when they drag a dead American around on the ground as they burn the flag and shout for joy. Not exactly classy. Theres two parties fighting here...what about when Iraq tried to take over Kuwait? Werent they illegal foreign occupiers who invaded a sovereign nation? Id say so...and isnt that really what started this whole thing back in the early 90's. But still I cant buy that all these people were hurt by cluster bombs its not like we dropped cluster bombs in heavily populated areas and schools. The desert is filled with landmines...land mines that we sure as hell didnt plant. the fact of the matter is that there is no way of telling how these people got hurt. Like I said before...these pictures and fake quotes are just propaghanda and really have no proven legitimacy "

    And TahoeJeff is officially a tool. Anyone who can defend men who gang up and shoot someone knowing that they pose no present threat and then cheer is fucked. People like TahoeJeff are America's biggest problem.

    -NOBSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 5:07 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "that's crazy, the last show on there was two months after i was born, i don't know, it sucks that there aren't bands like minor threat anymore"

    obviously you are not looking hard enough.

    No one can deny the influence this band has had on the hardcore and punk rock world community. This dvd should be well recieved. now go get drunk.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 4:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    that's crazy, the last show on there was two months after i was born, i don't know, it sucks that there aren't bands like minor threat anymore

    and even though i think the idea of straight edge is rediculous (if you don't want to drink etc. then don't do it)there's no use in categorizing it, ian mackaye has amazing ethics and fugazi is sweet too

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 4:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Contrary to popular belief, I really like this band. And though their lyrics are a bit preachy, I even admire Ian McKaye, cos it really wasn't his fault at all straight edge became what it did.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 4:08 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i ahve the vhs....but you gotta love the extras....and its the 21st century so i need a dvd

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 1:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i hate this band they suck and should rot in hell for all of eternity

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 1:36 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    oh man, i thought the dvd was just gonna be the 9:30 club show (same as the VHS) plus a few extras! TWO EXTRA SHOWS?!?!?! i don't care if i already have the VHS, i gotta pick this up! the interview sounds great too. minor threat was so entertaining live, with ian running around like a headless chicken. you should all also get "another state of mind", even if just for the classic MT "no microphones" scene.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2003-12-16 13:32:21
    My Score:

    That Q&A is the best part of the DVD. Ian's reactions to the questions are absolutly priceless.

    and look at how young Baker was in some of those pictures. High-larious

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 1:08 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    ...i like WIRE ALOT...
    -Janelle

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 1:04 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Wow, great review. Now I must have this :)