Fugazi has always been one of my all time favorite bands. I read about them when I was 13 years old and found ‘repeater’ and ‘steady diet of nothing’ in the local library, taped the albums and listened to them endlessly. A friend of my sister had all the albums on cd and borrowed them to me. A whole new world opened up for me. I bought every album and EP they released and listened to them over and over again. They’re one of the most inspiring bands out there. When I got ‘Dance of days’ (the book about the whole DC punkscene) I first read it entirely and then read all the parts about Fugazi, Minor Threat, Ian Mackaye and Dischord Records again. There’s something very inspiring about how this whole scene developed and I think I could write an entire zine about how it all influenced me. But now I want to talk about Fugazi, and more specifically my top 5 Fugazi songs.
Turnover (from the album Repeater, 1990):
Choosing my 5 favourite songs out of their immense backcatalogue wasn’t easy but this is without a doubt my number one. I’ve always loved the way Fugazi opened their albums. Every first song on every album immediately grabs your attention. ‘Turnover’ is the first song on ‘Repeater’ and it starts with some quiet muted guitarchords and a dubby bassriff and drumpart. After 30 seconds the leadguitar cuts in and Guy Picciotti (what an amazing voice by the way) starts yelling/singing. That main guitarriff sounded like an alarm to me and woke me up. This is the first Fugazi song I ever heard and it’s still my favourite. There was no way back after I heard this for the first time.
Waiting Room (from the selftitled EP, 1988):
Probably the most well known Fugazi song. This is an anthem, nothing more, nothing less. It has all the ingredients to be a classic: the groovy bassriff in the intro, Ian Mackaye’s awesome voice and lyrics and a chorus that was made to singalong to. I love the videofootage of Fugazi playing this song live with Guy Picciotti dancing (he didn’t play guitar yet) and singing backing vocals.
Forensic scene (from the album Red Medicine, 1995)
This is a slower and moodier song with an extremly catchy chorus. When I first got into Fugazi I only had 2 years of english education in school and I remember that I thought that there were way too much difficult words in this song. Years later I understand the words but I still don’t get what this song is about. Guy Picciotti’s lyrics are way more cryptic than the one’s written by Ian Mackaye, which are more direct. So I have no clue what this song is about but I love it!
KYEO (from the album Steady diet of nothing, 1991)
Another Ian Mackaye anthem! I always feel the urge to sing along when I hear Ian Mackaye sing. I love the guitarriff this song is based on. I think I’ve whistled this riff about a thousand times. This is the last song on ‘Steady diet of nothing’ and the album definetely ends with a banger! WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN DOWN!!
Burning (from the selftitled EP, 1988 / 20 years of Dischord Records cd box, 2002)
I especially love the live version of this song which is on disc 3 of the ’20 years of Dischord records’ cd box. The way Picciotti yells ‘this one’s for Fire Party’ and then the feedback of Mackaye’s guitar blasting to my stereo always give me the chills. This is an awesome song that starts with a basic guitar and bass riff and a slow rythm but bursts into a fest of feedback, noise and Picciotti’s typical singing/yelling near the end. Awesome!
5.
B
Greatness!!!
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