* En anglais uniquement
Ian MacKaye is arguably the most recognizable name when it comes to
Fugazi (and quite possibly, all of Washington D.C. hardcore), but that's not to say that his
Fugazi bandmate, singer/guitarist
Guy Picciotto, hasn't contributed significantly to the group as well. Born in D.C. on September 17, 1965, it was a local
Cramps show in 1979 that inspired
Picciotto to get involved in the punk scene (strangely enough,
MacKaye was at the same show and also lists it as a life-changing event), while further
Clash and
Bad Brains gigs convinced him to form his own band. Soon after,
Picciotto befriended school classmate/drummer
Brendan Canty, resulting in the formation of such obscure groups as Black Light Panthers and
Insurrection. It was also around this time that
Picciotto first met
MacKaye as he was forming the hardcore groundbreakers
Minor Threat. As a result,
MacKaye signed
Canty and
Picciotto's next group,
the Rites of Spring, to
Minor Threat's label, Dischord. Formed during the spring of 1984,
the Rites of Spring was an incredibly short-lived group, who only managed to issue a full-length (1985's Rites of Spring) and a 7" ngle (1986's four-track All Through a Life), but proved to be incredibly influential, especially years later with emocore bands.
Canty and bassist
Joe Lally formed a new group with their pal
MacKaye in 1987, and it didn't take long for the trio to invite
Picciotto onboard as well, resulting in the formation of
Fugazi. Few rock groups can claim to be as uncompromising as
Fugazi has been since their inception, as they became renowned for their penchant for keeping record and ticket prices to their shows affordable, and continually turning down offers to jump to a major label. Like
Minor Threat and
Rites of Spring before it,
Fugazi instantly became one of underground rock's most respected and influential outfits, especially on the strength of such classic releases as 1990's
13 Songs, 1990's
Repeater, and 1993's
In on the Killtaker. Additionally,
Picciotto has found the time to work with other bands -- lending a hand in either producing, engineering, or mixing albums by such bands as
Blonde Redhead,
Chisel, Make Up, and
Quix*o*tic, and has also made super 8 movies (Silly Game, Please Cry, etc.). ~ Greg Prato