Killer episode this week on the pod. Check it out here, here, or here and check the playlist here or here.
I’ll shoot it to Bedge…
1981 was the year hardcore really came into its own as a fully-formed, crystallized genre with musical and lyrical attributes independent from “regular” punk, and scenes springing up all over the industrialized world to support it. This is to hardcore what 1977 is to punk, what 1964 is to the British Invasion, and what 1956 is to rock ‘n’ roll. I talk about 1.5 a lot, which are the bands and records that fall between punk and hardcore, both stylistically and largely in that late ‘70s/early ‘80s window. 1981 was the year 1.5 peaked, with now-classic records by Adolescents, TSOL, Agent Orange, Bad Religion, Kraut, TX Stains, Effigies, CH3 and DOA, and it’s also the point at which capital “H” Hardcore music was coming on strong. Going through the year on Discogs, about half of these bands are household names to this day.
If you’re an Epifat fart rocker, a sxe kid, a Negative Approach sycophant, Team Dez, Team Rollins, a 1.5er, a 2.0er, a Mohican, a D-beat D-bag, a fuzzy dice brOC car collector, a death rocker, or a skate rocker, 1981 is like ground zero for you. But most importantly, there is so much great, timeless music jammed into this one year.
The disrespect of Bedge not capitalizing “SXE” AKA THE STRAIGHT EDGE. For his malfeasance, Dan might have to throw him into one of those Miller Beer vats in Irwindale that you see when you’re driving on the 210 freeway. Other than that, killer breakdown. Go check out Future Confusion to reward him for his efforts.
I’ll add a couple more things so I don’t get buried in what about…? emails.
In Germany, H'art Musik starts putting out records including this excellent comp. In Sweden, Massmedia breaks up and out of the ashes forms a ripping Hardcore band called Headcleaners. In Italy, Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers put out their first, completely unhinged 7”. In Japan, Anarchy put out their 3rd 12”, The Stalin put out their 1st, and GISM played their first show.
Finally, this is a pretty sick year for Punk comps: Rodney on the ROQ Volume 2, Public Service, Who Cares, Strength Through Oi!, Let Them Each Jellybeans!, Strength Thru Oi!, Busted At OZ, and the Process of Elimination E.P.
Hell yea.
If you’ve been listening to 185 Miles South for a while, you know basically every contributor to it is a Minor Threat mark. ‘81 gives us Filler which may be the best hardcore album of all time. It also gives me an excuse to dump this Minor Threat family tree on your ass from Flipside #37:
And hell…to even things out, here’s The Exploited playing “Dead Cities” on Top Of The Pops in 1981:
Our playlist picks for 1981:
One last thing, on the pod I talked about a conversation I read on Tony Rettman’s substack where they were discussing the “Emo Blast Beat” AKA “The Scissor Beat.” I chose “Cos The Elite” by The Fix, a song that features that beat in the final sequence (@1:03). Can anyone out there find an earlier example of it being used? I’ll update here someone comes up with something.
Have a killer week everyone, and take this opportunity to spread the gospel of 1980s Hardcore - the greatest music in the history of Earth.
Dan wins, most Minor Threat songs.