Fugazi

Fugazi is an American post-hardcore band that formed in Washington, D.C. in 1987. The band’s continual members are guitarists and vocalists Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto, bassist Joe Lally, and drummer Brendan Canty.

Lead singer Ian MacKaye was a member of the hardcore punk band Minor Threat from 1980 to 1983. MacKaye decided, after playing with a number of other groups, to go in a more experimental direction, incorporating elements of reggae, noise rock, indie rock, and the New York City ‘No Wave’ scene of the early ‘80s. Other guitarist and vocalist Guy Picciotto, as well as drummer Brendan Canty, were both members of Rites of Spring, a 190s post-hardcore band that too originated from Washington, D.C.

The band released its first EP, Fugazi, in 1988, followed by another EP, Margin Walker and the compilation album 13 Songs. Fugazi helped inspire the growing emocore genre, and influenced the grunge and pop-punk movements of the ‘90s.

Fugazi released their first full-length album, Repeater, in 1990. Despite failing to chart high at first, Fugazi’s heavy touring and critical acclaim helped the album sell over 300,000 copies by 1991, and it is often cited as one of the first releases of the alt-rock explosion.

Fugazi continued to play and record, releasing six more albums – the introspective Steady Diet of Nothing, the abrasive In on the Kill Taker, the subdued Red Medicine, the manic End Hits, and the hauntingly final The Argument. They are noted for their DIY ethical stance and contempt toward the popular music industry. Their style switched back and forth between releases, trading off between slow, quiet, and introspective, and loud, fast, and outraged, culminating in the itself-embattled essay The Argument, which could switch between moods in the span of just one song.

The group has performed numerous worldwide tours, produced six full studio albums, 3 EPs, two compilations, a demo tape, a film, and a comprehensive live series, gaining critical acclaim and notoriety around the world. Fugazi has been on indefinite hiatus since 2002, after their final performance on November 4th at the Forum in London, England.

Fugazi as a whole may not have performed since then, but its members have performed in other projects over the years. Today, Ian, Joe, and Ian’s wife Amy Farina of The Evens can be found performing in Coriky. Joe Lally and Brendan Canty play in the instrumental group The Messthetics alongside Anthony Pirog, and Brendan Canty played drums on an EP from Fake Names.