Ian Mackaye Testifies Against All Ages Ban 

I have such immense respect for Ian's integrity throughout his career

and this man used to be a singer in a hardcore punk band. respect.

Ian Mackaye... the best US politician you never had.

NYC is a prime example of how age limits destroy music scenes. There are only a handful of venues in NY that allow minors to play or attend shows and as a result our once thriving music scene is now dismal at best. Power to youth.

He is absolutely right, and it's sad to go to a show and see them turn away kids. When I was a teenager there was nothing that mattered to me more than the music I loved and I would have been devastated if the government stepped in and separated me from such an important part of my life. Ian is a musician of such passion and integrity, it's really an inspiration to listen to really tap into the core of how important music is for young people, and everyone.

Ian is the fucking man

I got into punk rock at 16 and was so glad "Soma" was an all ages venue. I had great times there.

I'm preparing to give a statement at a PTA meeting in my school about them getting rid of the music education program in the elementary school, and Ian standing up for what's right in this video totally has me ready to speak my mind in a way I never have before.

I'm currently doing a presentation at university on the influence of Ian MacKaye on both the hardcore scene and after, and have to say the more I find out about him the more I admire the man. He is truly an inspiration for anyone who loves music.

Ian fought the law, and fucking won!

Whenever I'm feeling bored or less passionate about life, I come back and watch this.

This is real punk.

i love his view! most people see teenagers as reckless, stupid, irresponsible, and ian really brings it out and gets his point across well. that teenagers want to see great bands live! maybe he should've looked up "insane," in a thesaurus (joke), but everyone and anyone, it doesn't matter what music scene or the drugs you use, you must respect him for being an activist, for standing true to what he believes, and for still fucking rocking out, and doing it so well.

I was in The Hague, NL two nights ago coz my friend was jamming in a jazz band, and suddenly a woman with three kids (probably all under ten) came in after they'd been standing outside watching the musicians. I was a bit unsure but then I realized I never really see kids at shows... but they were in absolute awe of the band and it was wonderful to see the admiration and wonder in their eyes. I hope they keep that forever.

Ian's solidarity with teens is impressive. He has so much understanding and so much passion. Mackaye for president.

Ian sounds like me trying to convince my mom to take parental controls off my phone

All age show is I got into punk and almost 30 years later I still go to shows and I see all age kids there with stars in their eyes and you can feel that they love this sound or any type of other music old music is for the new generation all generations young and old punk rock forever!!!!

So glad this didn't happen.

Thank You Ian. I am so tired of being written off for being a young person. I'm sorry that I havn't been alive long enough to see as much of the world as someone else and I'm sorry that I was not around the fight in world war 2 like my grandparents or whatever other conflict I was not alive to see. I live in this world too

This dude is fantastic. His music is some of the best punk has to offer and we all know the genre has millions upon millions of bands, but without him punk wouldn’t be what it is. But also he is well spoken and actually cares about the fans or people he meets! No way you can hate the guy

Yep I attended an all ages Fugazi show in Derry Northern Ireland many years ago

im from the uk so laws are different but im 16, iv been involved in mosh pits since i was12/13, yeah iv got hurt but iv had a fucking great time. music is for all, pits are for all. claiming you have to be 18 to get into a pit is moronic

I think I just shed a tear. This was very moving.

If you put your mouse along the red line from front to back, it looks like he is a conductor for an orchestra hahahaha I'm gonna do this from now on to youtube vids!

Watching from New Orleans. Awesome. I had no idea he talks to Rollins every Sunday.

Right on Ian,way to school them man,you are truly a living legend,It's a shame how the all ages music scene has been destroyed throughout America,after all that's how lots of us came up through the scenes,and got into all this interesting music,I remember growing up in Denver,Colorado and in the surrounding areas in my teens we had at least ten all ages venues but now with have at most only two,a real shame especially considering that most of the people who get into indie music are below 18!!!

It wasn't the gun's fault, it was the person who fired it.

"you may not know my band fugazi" boards response " fu-what" ians response "you may not know my band minor threat" "oh you were with minor threat, Hell Yeah"

That was fucking awesome. holy shit.

ive never seen so much confidence in my life. probably the wisest person alive.

Well spoken. I don't understand how anyone could disagree.

i think a great alternative to this would be more shows being done at the VFW halls that scatter every city in the country. you can rent out the halls for relatively cheap, and with proceeds from the show, it becomes easy to pay that small bill. if you have friends in other bands (which many of us who are in bands do), you can get a full roster. best part is you determine what kind of show it can be; all age or set a limit. it goes along well with the DIY mentality of not relying on big venues.

Righteous, Ian. I mean, if they take away the ability to go to shows from kids, what the heck are they supposed to do? This is how mindless violence and youth end up meeting: because they're bored and have nothing else going on. Making a gig and seeing your favorite band can be great way of staying out of trouble. Keep up the good fight. Does anyone know what happened with the proposal?

Music is a form of communication that predates language, the most smart thing I've ever heard

Places like fucking Virginia Beach have almost no minors let into shows; Ian is right here.

Enjoyed meeting Ian a couple times. Such a cerebral and creative guy. I’m definitely interested in knowing did he indeed win here? Was the ban implemented or enforced?

Truth to power- very well said!

insaaane! It's insaaane! *punches the table*

lol wish it was there still. jonesing for a chuckle. and if your comment ended up on top it must have been a gem.

Mackaye is fucking well spoken. It's good to know he has had this much influence so far.

The living legend pwns the politicians! Long live Ian MacKaye!

do you know if he ended up winning the vote or not? Tbanks. I love Ian too. What a stand up guy. We are so lucky, as a generation, to have him around.

They don't like violence

Thanks Ian, without your all age shows at my town I would not have seen you more then ten times and numbers of others ,Rollins the first your friend

You go Ian, you tell 'em, man...

Without the "all age" You do not get another music scene which means no growth

Ian is now offically my hero

preach on brother ian

wow, that's nuts. i guess my town (and surrounding towns as well) are lucky, because we don't have to provide for any of that. yeah, in that case, more garage and basement shows.

The very definition of integrity

thank u Ian Mackaye

Too bad. Thanks for letting (me) know.

In college I had to recite a speech from someone famous for my public speaking class. I chose this speech

Great speech

Ian is very right here. i grew up with minor threat and fugazi. i think they were a key influence in my life.

"We can't have demonstration" Uh huh. Stop me from clapping for: 1. A remarkable musician., 2. An amazing human being, and 3. Someone who pretty much shut down your idea of a ban for 21 and under in 4 minutes flat.

MacKaye nailed his argument. I wish he was still making music. Maybe it is me, but there is a void. Fugazi was hardcore, too. None of that tough guy crap that is pervasive in hardcore today.

well spoken.

here comes the argument

ian and henry rollins are so inspirational

mic drop.enough said ian mackaye.

Music saved my life growing up. I wouldn't be here if Public Storage, or the Glasshouse had age restrictions.

i love this man.

@yojimbo81 I agree; up in Boston we have about zero all ages underground venues. The closest reputable one is four hours away in central MA, while most bands I look forward to are busy in places like The Middle East. I hear it's a great venue, but I won't know until I'm legal. All you folks who do have access to live music should NOT be taking it for granted.

i cant touch this man he is so in touch with politics what a role model

Thanks Ian. :)

great stuff

if everybody would think like Ian , the world would be a wonderfull place , now all we can do is dream ...

Indeed it is.

This makes me proud to be a part of the DMV area :)

because the 2nd amendment is one of the biggest freedoms that Americans still have.

"we can't have a demonstration" dude is salty!

ian, you are my hero. even more so now.

I think his response about it being "legendary" is more referencing the all ages culture in DC in general, then specifically referencing Dischord bands, Fugazi or his own personal influence.

This guy has a lot of integrity

This is scary, I wish we never have these laws here.

I think he called the concept of a scene that played only all ages shows was legendary, not just fugazi itself

As I turn 30, I don't want kids at shows anymore, haha.

I came up the late 80's I thought we had it bad,but we talked about in the past how much stricter it was.When I said that we don't treat kids as people I mean it.It almost seems with the Drugging,the behavior modification,the zero tolerance that they are trying to kill their identities.Mold everyone to the same,get them ready to work in a cubical.I'm not gonna say for any kid to get themselves in trouble but please try to hold onto your own ideas, individuality,creativity,READ 1984 or somethin

I second that motion!

Ian has always stood for his fans, when was the last time this councilman was at anything considered music worthy? An all ages ban should be considered discriminatory and unconstitutional, unless a show clearly had an adult theme. To take the opprotunity away from teenagers, who make up the largest percentage of consumers of music related merchandise is just like slapping customers in the face who come into you place of business.

there are certainly more pressing issues, but at least he's saying something to help a cause (however comparatively small)

A great man.

What were the results of the hearing? Was a ban put in place?

I like that he referred to his own legacy as legendary haha pretty self aware

I agree that everyone should be allowed to watch concerts, but not if moshing is common or if it’s got lots of drinking and drugs. Or at places like bars and nightclubs

AMEN Ian!! This guy rules... his band rules...

Mr. Graham doesn't know what to say after that

What does he mean at the end "we cant have demonstration"? Is he referring to the clapping or is that what he is insuating was Ian's plea to them?

if you take a passing glance at the vast majority of "rock stars" of the 80s and 90s (forget about prior to that) you would be hard pressed to find a handful who was not a colossal prolapsed rectum in some way. then there's ian, who -and i hate myself for writing this, because it seems like so much smoke, but it's honestly how i feel- seems like the only one who's a decent responsible intelligent human being. i look forward to meeting him one day.

the guy i was replying to spelled mackaye wrong he typed macakye which is why i asked him who that was

amazing. Ian MacKaye is amazing.

Ian should sing a part of "in my eyes" to these people. 'DON'T YOU FUCKING GET IT?"

I love how they bring in artists, hoping their "stupidity" will only help prove their point, but here comes Ian and turns their argument to shit!

I wish Ian were in my town when we had to fight the all ages ban here haha.

i may not agree with everything ian says but this gave me goosebumps

They are Human Beings not just PERSONS or some kind of legal fiction that can be redefined at will by someone attempting to impose restrictive communication possibilities on the basis of fear, prejudice or anger of any legislatives body, they are SOVERIGN. His argument stands for any person of any age, if you ban age groups then it becomes easier to justify other groups you can ban as well, a slippery slope indeed.

OWNED!!!

Its not about the age, it's about the heart

wow, what an awesome guy.