A Brief Chat With Ian Mackaye.

Ok, this interview basically fell into my lap.  Ian MacKaye was contacted by my girlfriend's brother, Rich Cardillo.  He did all the legwork.  I emailed him about 14 questions.  He took those questions and cut some of them out and added a few of his own before sending them to Ian.  What you see below is the result.  This interview is pretty short but you take what you can get.  I want to personally thank Ian Mackaye for taking the time to answer these questions.  I would also like to extend my thanks to Rich Cardillo for volunteering all this to me.  I really appreciate it!!   D-Tox
This interview  was done via email around Halloween of 2000!

1. As a credit to Fugazi's integrity, it has always appeared to be held in the highest regard by the press, the fans, and other bands; almost as untouchable.  Do you ever feel that Fugazi's name is used as a mark of instant credibility (by other bands, or music fans/press)?

Ian: i suppose that it's possible that this happens time to time, but i try not to get too caught up in the weird science of these situations. we have turned down interview and appearance requests by any number of magazines, television shows, and festivals because it seemed that it would have been much more of a boost to their legitimacy (or egos) than any real opportunity for us to present our music or ideas.

2.  Around the time of In on the Kill Taker, Fugazi was often written up as an up-and-coming band, by those less informed.  (I even believe Gavin Rossdale named Fugazi his favorite up-and-comer while on MTV).  Do you ever get tired of hearing of your band as up-and-coming?  Do you ever tire of the ignorance surrounding such a statement?  Do you cringe at being name-dropped on MTV?

Ian: i don't pay much attention to this sort of stuff. i don't watch mtv and don't know who gavin rossdale is. mtv exists, but not really in my world. i've heard of it, but then again i've heard of professional wrestling and disneyland.

3.  Your live performances are filled with intensity and energy.(the show on the Mall this summer was great)  Whenever I've daydreamed of being a musician, I've always imagined the emotions rising up again as each song is played - but does that intensity ever wane?  Do the  songs become just "songs" after a while?

Ian: songs sometimes ebb, but never just become perfunctory exercises, if that's what you mean by "songs". what i find particularly satisfying is when a song comes back to life after a struggle to reclaim it. most of the songs we play, maybe all of them, are imbedded in me in a way that i don't think i can really understand or explain. they are like wrinkles. they grow up and change with me, and get deeper.

4. What do you think about the "In My Eyes" ep going for well over $80 on EBAY?

Ian: the early dischord singles have been hot commodities in the record collecting world for 15 years, so it's nothing new to me. we certainly didn't intend to create collector's items when we made the records, but the fact that the 7"'s were limited in number (a few thousand each) certainly resulted in just that. the music was always the point for us, which is why we put the two minor threat singles on a 12" back in 1984 (they are still available in that format) as well as releasing everything on a cd in the late 80's. in fact, almost everything we've ever released in our 20 years is still available in one format or another.

5. Do you ever miss the Salad Days?

Ian: no.

6. Have you ever experienced the "adult crash" of Minor Threat?

Ian: I don't know. i don't think so... but than again, i still don't really feel like i ever made it to 'adult' status. i suppose now that i'm 38, i good and well am an adult, but i never seem to have figured out the rules for that sort of behavior, or maybe i've luckily avoided it.

7. Are there any hardcore punk bands around today that inspire you?

Ian: there are bands that inspire me, but I'm not sure if they would qualify as 'hardcore punk' or not by your definition. I am struck by how few, if any, really charismatic figures seem to be out there at this time, but this may well have something to do with my perspective or my sphere of knowledge.  I've asked various people I've met if they could think of any singers or bands that could not be missed, but so far no one really has come up with anything. I know the bands are good, but what about the bands that take it to a level of necessity?  lungfish from Baltimore are a good example of a band that does that for me. I believe them.

8. How many songs did Skewbald have?

Ian: only three with lyrics, and they all appeared on the single (two are connected). we probably wrote another 9 or 10 pieces of music but never finished the songs.

9. What are your thoughts on older bands like Youth Brigade and 7 Seconds still playing their old songs and touring?

Ian: I haven't seen youth brigade since 1983 or 84, so i can't say much about what they are up to.   I did see 7 seconds about 4 or 5 years ago and while I generally avoid all reformations and nostalgia shows, I did enjoy their show quite a bit. I have known and liked kevin, Steve, and Troy for years and years and i was happy to see them. as I said in an earlier answer, I don't miss the 'salad days'.  while I do think that the music from the early punk days was incredible, and for me, absolute, the fact remains that it has been done. that's why I think music today is more important, because it's about the doing. there is still work to do.

10. Do you regret writing the lyrics to Straight Edge or Out of Step? What do think of how the term straight edge has changed over the years? If you could go back now would you still write those songs?

Ian: 1. no. 2. I am amazed at the social phenomenon that has kept the term 'straight edge' in such a prolonged volley, but don't really have a sense that there really is any one definition of the term itself at this point. there are many media reports of people who fly the words 'straight edge' who behave in a manner that I completely disagree with, but i suspect that there are far more people who go unreported who probably are just trying to do the right thing in life. remember the violence gets the newsprint. 3. yes.

11. A lot of bands (REM, Radiohead, etc.) have been putting aside their guitars for electronic instruments.  You explored some new ground with End Hits, although in a different way - ever have the desire to move away from the 2 guitar, bass, and drum(s) set-up?

Ian: we are trying to write good, interesting songs. we are always open to idea of fooling around with sounds to reach this goal, but I can't imagine that we would ever move too far away from our basic instrumentalization.