Few bands have influenced modern alternative rock as much as the DC band Fugazi, formed by Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto in 1986. They are your favorite band's favorite band and have influenced notable acts such as Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Deftones.
They are one of the first bands to start the “post-hardcore” genre of music, which has swept across the nation and the world. Their inventiveness and energetic live shows won them an enduring place in music history.
Speaking of their live show, there’s excellent news on the Fugazi front: they are releasing a big chunk of archived live concert footage for people to download and watch. Although members of the band have gone on to other musical projects, Fugazi’s last show was in 2002.
Fugazi was the kind of band that led to the formation of countless other bands
And in 2023, to celebrate twenty years, they released a 90-minute collection of live footage called We Are Fugazi from Washington, D.C., which played in movie theaters for just $5.
Their plan right now is to release their first-ever show on September 3, 1987, and their final performance on November 4, 2002, together with their fans, via Bandcamp. But it won’t stop there. Throughout the year, they will release more live shows, and it is rumored that they have over 800 concerts available.
This is good news for the avid Fugazi fan, but also a testament to not only their work ethic as a band, but also to their staying power, remaining in the collective consciousness so many years after they disbanded.
They are best known for their hit song, “Waiting Room,” with its signature bass line and two-chord guitars, as well as Ian MacKaye’s deep but screamed vocals. It is a song that has spawned more bands than you can count, and many have tried to cover it, including this recent female-led version, which has since gone viral with over 800,000 views.
History has shone fortuitously on the band, who were a part of the thriving 80s DC scene that artists like Dave Grohl grew up in and came out of. Other bands, like emo pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate, have talked about how they wouldn't be the bands they are today without the lasting impact of Fugazi.
This live footage that they're releasing is an opportunity to relive some of the magic of the old days and might inspire new bands in its wake. That’s the thing about creating something original and meaningful: the ripple effects seem to go on forever. Long live Fugazi!