Ian MacKaye

Ian MacKaye - Guitarists, Family and Facts

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Ian MacKaye Biography Stories 

Ian MacKaye's Personal Details

Ian MacKaye is a musician best known for being the lead singer of the hardcore punk bands Minor Threat and The Teen Idles

InformationDetail
BirthdayApril 16, 1962
NationalityAmerican
FamousGuitarists, Singers
SpousesAmy Farina
SiblingsAlec MacKaye
Known asIan Thomas Garner MacKaye
ChildrensCarmine Francis Farina MacKaye
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Dischord Records
Birth PlaceWashington, D.C.
Height175
GenderMale
FatherWilliam R. MacKaye
MotherMary Anne Garner MacKaye
Net Worth$5 million as of May 24,2017
Sun SignAries
Born inWashington, D.C.

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Ian MacKaye's photo

Who is Ian MacKaye?

Ian Thomas Garner MacKaye is a musician who redefined the musical genre of hardcore punk—his fans call him the unofficial Godfather of hardcore. In addition to being a singer of immense talent, he is a highly creative songwriter and guitarist too. He has played a prominent role in the development of hardcore punk and punk ethics. In order to maintain the high standard of his music and to ensure his creative freedom, he has over the years refused to sign with any major label. Even as a child he loved music and learned to play the piano and the guitar. However, he quit his music lessons when he was unable to find any correlation between the two instruments. He was brought up in an intellectually stimulating and open-minded environment. He was also a rebel of sorts as a teenager—while the other youngsters of his age were dabbling in drugs and street crimes, the young Ian was immersing himself in hardcore music. He is one of the co-founders of the iconic band Minor Threat, which though short-lived, is credited to have revolutionized hardcore music. He also pioneered the ‘straight edge’ philosophy which advocates abstinence from drug use and alcohol. The unconventional musician is the co-founder of the independent record label, Dischord Records.

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Childhood & Early Life

He is the son of a journalist and his wife. He father worked as a White House reporter and then became a religion specialist. He was brought up in an intellectual and open minded environment.

He loved music from a young age and learned to play piano and guitar. He listened to various types of music but his favourite was hard rock and he idolized singers like Ted Nugent and Queen.

As a teenager he witnessed several of his friends waste away their lives under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He vowed never to use them and incorporated this philosophy through his music too.

Career

His first band was called The Slinkees and they performed a song titled “I Drink Milk’ in 1979. They also recorded two demo tapes consisting of covers and original songs.

Along with Nathan Strejcek, Geordie Grindle and Jeff Nelson, he formed a hardcore punk band, The Teen Idles in 1979. The band was one of the first punk rock groups to break out of their regional scene to become famous nationally. The band disbanded in 1980.

MacKaye and Nelson decided to start another band. Along with new additions Lyle Preslar on the guitar and Brian Baker on the bass, they formed the new band, Minor Threat in 1980.

The band released the album ‘Minor Threat’ in 1984. It had the song ‘Straight Edge’ which helped to kick off the straight edge movement which advocated that musicians keep away from a life of alcohol, smoking, and drugs.

The band was a short lived one. In spite of being around for such a short period, the band had a great impact on the hardcore punk rock movement of the 1980s.

After the break up of this band, MacKaye worked with several other groups like Embrace, Egg Hunt, Pailhead and Ministry. Most of these bands were short lived.

He and Nelson founded the independent record label Dischord Records in 1980. The label employs do-it-yourself ethic and produces all its albums by itself and sells them at discounted prices so that everyone can buy them.

He formed the post-hardcore band ‘Fugazi’ in 1987. He along with Guy Picciotto served as the guitarists and vocalists. The band was famous for its ‘Do-It-Yourself’ ethics and unconventional business practices.

The band’s album ‘Repeater’ was out in 1990. It featured complex guitar and rhythm section interplays and was included in the book, ‘1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die’.

In 1993, the album ‘In on the Kill Taker’ was released to both critical and commercial success. It is considered to be the band’s breakthrough album and displayed a diverse range of musical influences.

The band began working on their next album even as they were touring to promote the previous one. Their 1995 album, ‘Red Medicine’ includes the tracks ‘Do You Like Me’, ‘Birthday pony’, and ‘Combination Lock’.

‘The Argument’, released in 2001 was the last album by the band before they went on a hiatus. This album too like its predecessors was a critical and commercial success.

Fugazi was known to tour extensively; they played over 1000 concerts in all 50 U.S. states and in other countries too between 1987 and 2003.

He formed a duo with Amy Farina, called The Evens. He provided the vocals and played the guitar while Amy played the drums. The duo toured and performed at shows, and also recorded albums. They became famous for playing at unconventional venues.

Major Works

He is very influential musician who made tremendous contributions to American hardcore punk and post-hardcore music. An unconventional musician, he is respected for his love for music and high ethical stance. He refuses to commercialize his music and is credited to have started the ‘straight edge’ movement.

Personal life & Legacy

He was in a relationship with Amy Farina with whom he had a child in 2008.

His younger brother Alec is also a musician and he is a close friend of Henry Rollins.

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Ian MacKaye biography timelines

  • // 1979
    His first band was called The Slinkees and they performed a song titled “I Drink Milk’ in 1979. They also recorded two demo tapes consisting of covers and original songs.
  • // 1980
    Along with Nathan Strejcek, Geordie Grindle and Jeff Nelson, he formed a hardcore punk band, The Teen Idles in 1979. The band was one of the first punk rock groups to break out of their regional scene to become famous nationally. The band disbanded in 1980.
  • // 1980
    MacKaye and Nelson decided to start another band. Along with new additions Lyle Preslar on the guitar and Brian Baker on the bass, they formed the new band, Minor Threat in 1980.
  • // 1980
    He and Nelson founded the independent record label Dischord Records in 1980. The label employs do-it-yourself ethic and produces all its albums by itself and sells them at discounted prices so that everyone can buy them.
  • // 1984
    The band released the album ‘Minor Threat’ in 1984. It had the song ‘Straight Edge’ which helped to kick off the straight edge movement which advocated that musicians keep away from a life of alcohol, smoking, and drugs.
  • // 1987
    He formed the post-hardcore band ‘Fugazi’ in 1987. He along with Guy Picciotto served as the guitarists and vocalists. The band was famous for its ‘Do-It-Yourself’ ethics and unconventional business practices.
  • // 1987 To 2003
    Fugazi was known to tour extensively; they played over 1000 concerts in all 50 U.S. states and in other countries too between 1987 and 2003.
  • // 1990
    The band’s album ‘Repeater’ was out in 1990. It featured complex guitar and rhythm section interplays and was included in the book, ‘1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die’.
  • // 1993
    In 1993, the album ‘In on the Kill Taker’ was released to both critical and commercial success. It is considered to be the band’s breakthrough album and displayed a diverse range of musical influences.
  • // 2001
    ‘The Argument’, released in 2001 was the last album by the band before they went on a hiatus. This album too like its predecessors was a critical and commercial success.
  • // 2008
    He was in a relationship with Amy Farina with whom he had a child in 2008.

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Ian MacKaye's FAQ

  • What is Ian MacKaye birthday?

    Ian MacKaye was born at 1962-04-16

  • Where is Ian MacKaye's birth place?

    Ian MacKaye was born in Washington, D.C.

  • What is Ian MacKaye nationalities?

    Ian MacKaye's nationalities is American

  • Who is Ian MacKaye spouses?

    Ian MacKaye's spouses is Amy Farina

  • Who is Ian MacKaye siblings?

    Ian MacKaye's siblings is Alec MacKaye

  • Who is Ian MacKaye childrens?

    Ian MacKaye's childrens is Carmine Francis Farina MacKaye

  • Which company or organization was founded by Ian MacKaye?

    Ian MacKaye was the founder/co-founder of Dischord Records

  • How tall is Ian MacKaye?

    Ian MacKaye's height is 175

  • Who is Ian MacKaye's father?

    Ian MacKaye's father is William R. MacKaye

  • Who is Ian MacKaye's mother?

    Ian MacKaye's mother is Mary Anne Garner MacKaye

  • What is Ian MacKaye's sun sign?

    Ian MacKaye is Aries