Flex Your Head: The History of Punk in Our Nation’s Capital

In 1980 one of the most legendary punk labels was created by Ian Mackaye and Jeff Nelson to release their band Teen Idles first E.P. Minor Disturbance. The band did the record packaging themselves to save money. However, to fully understand the D.C. hardcore scene, everything prior to it needs to be understood as well.

The Bad Brains were a punk band formed in Washington D.C. in 1977, though their first full album was not released until 1982. Although they were never a part of Dischord Records, they were one of the first bands to kick off the punk scene in DC. With lead singer H.R’s chaotic vocals and stage presence, drummer Earl Hudson’s incredible drumming who inspired Dave Grohl of Foo FIghters and Nirvana, and Dr. Know and Darryl Jenifer on Guitar and bass, they made waves through the punk scene around the United States.

In 1980, Minor Disturbance, the first E.P. of Ian Mackaye and Jeff Nelson’s band was released as Dischord number 1. Mackaye would continue to recruit underground music from D.C. including State Of Alert, whose lead singer, Henry Rollins, would go on to become the lead singer of Black Flag and become a punk icon. Mackaye’s two most famous bands, Minor Threat and Fugazi would release from this label as well. Dischord Records is still releasing albums from the D.C. underground to this day. Dischord was first created to release Teen Idles first album but grew into a way to pick up small D.C. bands and project them to the entire United States.