The Minutemen were an American punk rock band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Comprising guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, the Minutemen recorded five albums and six extended plays before Boon's unexpected death in 1985. They were noted in the Californian punk community for a philosophy of "jamming econo"; a sense of thriftiness reflected in their touring and presentation.
History
Roots
The band's roots can be traced back to 1971, when Boon and Watt met at age 13. Watt was walking through a park in their hometown of San Pedro, when Boon, playing army with other boys, fell out of a tree right next to him. Both boys shared a passion for music and eventually started playing music together, albeit mostly cover songs. Boon's mother taught D. to play the guitar and suggested that Watt learn to play bass, even though, at the time, Watt did not even know exactly what a bass was. In the summer of 1973, Watt and Boon formed the Bright Orange Band with D's brother Joe on drums. 1976 would be a mixed blessing for the two; that year they discovered punk, however Boon's mother died and the Bright Orange Band disbanded shortly thereafter. The next year, the two joined a band called Starstruck, which had been started by their friend Marc Weiswasser who played drums. Neither of those bands played original songs. After Starstruck broke up, Boon and Watt met George Hurley and formed The Reactionaries with vocalist Martin Tamburovich. According to Watt, the name came from a Mao Tse-Tung quote about how all reactionaries are actually "paper tigers".
Formation
After the Reactionaries disbanded, Boon and Watt formed the Minutemen in January of 1980. Watt has said that, contrary to common belief, their name had nothing at all to do with the brevity of their songs; rather, it was derived partly from the fabled minutemen militia of colonial times and partly to lampoon a right-wing reactionary group of the 1960s that went by that name. In the documentary We Jam Econo, Watt also states that the name was a play on minute (pronounced mahy-nyoot, -noot), meaning trivial, insignificant or unimportant. After a month with no drummer — during which Boon and Watt wrote their first batch of tunes, the band rehearsed and played a couple of early gigs with local welder Frank Tonche on drums. The group had originally wanted George Hurley to join, but he had joined a new wave band called Hey Taxi after the Reactionaries disbanded. Tonche quit the group, citing a dislike of the audience the band initially drew, and Hurley took over the drum seat in June of 1980. (Rehearsal recordings with Tonche on drums later appeared as the posthumous EP Georgeless in 1987.) Their first live gig was as an opening band for Black Flag.
Early Days
Greg Ginn of Black Flag and SST Records produced the Minutemen's first 7" EP, Paranoid Time, which solidified their eclectic style. Like most Punk bands at the time, the band sold the EP at their shows, and at a few local record stores. It became a minor hit with the Hardcore scene. By their first LP—1981’s The Punch Line—they had found their voice and began touring nonstop around the country. They released their second EP and third overall release entitled Bean-Spill. By this time they were becoming one of the more popular bands in the Underground Scene around the country.
Mid Years
At first, they completely avoided guitar solos, choruses, and fade-outs. But by the time of their second LP What Makes a Man Start Fires?, which gained considerable attention from the Alternative and Underground press, they were a part of the band's sound, despite maintaining their Experimental and Punk Roots. They continued their hectic touring schedule, which included their longest tour yet; a double bill with Black Flag in Europe. The long tour strengthened their place as one of most well known acts in the hardcore scene. Later in 1983, they released their third LP, Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat. It was one of the first Hardcore albums to include a Horn (trumpet on "The Product").
Later Years
The Minutemen's eclectic influences were perhaps the best exemplified on 1984's double-album, Double Nickels on the Dime. Though still somewhat obscure to mainstream audiences, Double Nickels has been cited as one of the more innovative and enduring albums of the 1980s American rock underground. On Double Nickels, they co-wrote some songs with other musicians, notably Henry Rollins, Chuck Dukowski and Joe Baiza. In 1985, they released their most commercial-sounding recording, Project:Mersh ("Mersh" being the Minutemen's slang for "commercial"). Though the album sounded more mainstream, it sold poorly compared to "Double Nickels," due largely to the negative reaction to such a commercial album from within the underground community. They continued touring and by the time of their final album, 3-Way Tie (For Last), they decided to take a small break. They played their last tour with another emerging band, REM. Their final concert was in Charlotte, North Carolina on December 13, 1985.
Planned recordings
The coming year (1986) seemed promising, the band had planned to record a half studio/half-live triple album with the working title 3 Dudes 6 Sides 3 Studio 3 Live. The live tracks were to be based on the ballots that they handed out, and as a way to counteract bootlegging especially following an incident with an Arizona DJ. Though, a year later Watt and Hurley compiled various live recordings, based on the ballots, which was released as Ballot Result. In addition, Richard Meltzer had sent Watt lyrics for ten songs for an album on which he was going to collaborate. Due to Boon's death, none of these projects were realized.
Boon's Death
On December 22, 1985, Boon was killed in a van accident, putting an end to the Minutemen. Watt fell into a deep depression, but was convinced to continue performing by Sonic Youth. Every form of media that Watt makes or takes part in is dedicated to Boon.
History
Roots
The band's roots can be traced back to 1971, when Boon and Watt met at age 13. Watt was walking through a park in their hometown of San Pedro, when Boon, playing army with other boys, fell out of a tree right next to him. Both boys shared a passion for music and eventually started playing music together, albeit mostly cover songs. Boon's mother taught D. to play the guitar and suggested that Watt learn to play bass, even though, at the time, Watt did not even know exactly what a bass was. In the summer of 1973, Watt and Boon formed the Bright Orange Band with D's brother Joe on drums. 1976 would be a mixed blessing for the two; that year they discovered punk, however Boon's mother died and the Bright Orange Band disbanded shortly thereafter. The next year, the two joined a band called Starstruck, which had been started by their friend Marc Weiswasser who played drums. Neither of those bands played original songs. After Starstruck broke up, Boon and Watt met George Hurley and formed The Reactionaries with vocalist Martin Tamburovich. According to Watt, the name came from a Mao Tse-Tung quote about how all reactionaries are actually "paper tigers".
Formation
After the Reactionaries disbanded, Boon and Watt formed the Minutemen in January of 1980. Watt has said that, contrary to common belief, their name had nothing at all to do with the brevity of their songs; rather, it was derived partly from the fabled minutemen militia of colonial times and partly to lampoon a right-wing reactionary group of the 1960s that went by that name. In the documentary We Jam Econo, Watt also states that the name was a play on minute (pronounced mahy-nyoot, -noot), meaning trivial, insignificant or unimportant. After a month with no drummer — during which Boon and Watt wrote their first batch of tunes, the band rehearsed and played a couple of early gigs with local welder Frank Tonche on drums. The group had originally wanted George Hurley to join, but he had joined a new wave band called Hey Taxi after the Reactionaries disbanded. Tonche quit the group, citing a dislike of the audience the band initially drew, and Hurley took over the drum seat in June of 1980. (Rehearsal recordings with Tonche on drums later appeared as the posthumous EP Georgeless in 1987.) Their first live gig was as an opening band for Black Flag.
Early Days
Greg Ginn of Black Flag and SST Records produced the Minutemen's first 7" EP, Paranoid Time, which solidified their eclectic style. Like most Punk bands at the time, the band sold the EP at their shows, and at a few local record stores. It became a minor hit with the Hardcore scene. By their first LP—1981’s The Punch Line—they had found their voice and began touring nonstop around the country. They released their second EP and third overall release entitled Bean-Spill. By this time they were becoming one of the more popular bands in the Underground Scene around the country.
Mid Years
At first, they completely avoided guitar solos, choruses, and fade-outs. But by the time of their second LP What Makes a Man Start Fires?, which gained considerable attention from the Alternative and Underground press, they were a part of the band's sound, despite maintaining their Experimental and Punk Roots. They continued their hectic touring schedule, which included their longest tour yet; a double bill with Black Flag in Europe. The long tour strengthened their place as one of most well known acts in the hardcore scene. Later in 1983, they released their third LP, Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat. It was one of the first Hardcore albums to include a Horn (trumpet on "The Product").
Later Years
The Minutemen's eclectic influences were perhaps the best exemplified on 1984's double-album, Double Nickels on the Dime. Though still somewhat obscure to mainstream audiences, Double Nickels has been cited as one of the more innovative and enduring albums of the 1980s American rock underground. On Double Nickels, they co-wrote some songs with other musicians, notably Henry Rollins, Chuck Dukowski and Joe Baiza. In 1985, they released their most commercial-sounding recording, Project:Mersh ("Mersh" being the Minutemen's slang for "commercial"). Though the album sounded more mainstream, it sold poorly compared to "Double Nickels," due largely to the negative reaction to such a commercial album from within the underground community. They continued touring and by the time of their final album, 3-Way Tie (For Last), they decided to take a small break. They played their last tour with another emerging band, REM. Their final concert was in Charlotte, North Carolina on December 13, 1985.
Planned recordings
The coming year (1986) seemed promising, the band had planned to record a half studio/half-live triple album with the working title 3 Dudes 6 Sides 3 Studio 3 Live. The live tracks were to be based on the ballots that they handed out, and as a way to counteract bootlegging especially following an incident with an Arizona DJ. Though, a year later Watt and Hurley compiled various live recordings, based on the ballots, which was released as Ballot Result. In addition, Richard Meltzer had sent Watt lyrics for ten songs for an album on which he was going to collaborate. Due to Boon's death, none of these projects were realized.
Boon's Death
On December 22, 1985, Boon was killed in a van accident, putting an end to the Minutemen. Watt fell into a deep depression, but was convinced to continue performing by Sonic Youth. Every form of media that Watt makes or takes part in is dedicated to Boon.
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