Why Fugazi is the Greatest Band of All Time 

LETS GO HE DIDNT GO BACK TO HIBERNATION

Speaking of indefinite hiatus...

absolutely love Fugazi! I hope this becomes a series. please do one with Unwound

We miss you

Since there hasn’t been any updates or communication, I’m going to assume this channel is dead now. Total shame. This was a great channel.

I was so lucky to see Fugazi a half dozen times, including the January, 1991 anti-war show in front of the White House. At one show at Bogarts in Cincinnati we were all sitting on the floor of the venue before the start and someone comes and sits down with us, it's Guy and he asks us all our names and about the scene and says he is so glad we came. Fugazi.

we miss you bro

My cousin gave me a tape at Christmas in 89. It had 13 songs on one side and Doolittle by the Pixies on the other. I was 16, it changed my life forever.

Fugazi is an amazing example of how to do actual activism. Instead of being insufferable on twitter over minor social conflicts, you go out and raise money and help for people in need.

I once guested on a friend’s radio show and put on Waiting Room. In the silent moment after the intro he looked at me mildly panicked thinking I’d somehow fucked up. Then the drums kicked in and all was well. He wasn’t a patient boy

I saw Fugazi in 2001 in a suburb of Vancouver. They played for more than three hours. At the end, the audience was exhausted but the band kept rolling. Halfway through the show Ian said that after staying at a motel that night they were going to drive 16 hours straight to get back home to Washington DC. That’s an insane work ethic. Ian did an interview with Nuardwuar that day beside some old archery targets that’s still on RU-vid.

One thing I also heavily respect about the band and their ethos is that they would never do an interview with a magazine that advertised tobacco and alcohol. Fugazi is astounding to me because of their incredibly strong ethical code that they respected at all times, as well as having one of the greatest musical discographies ever curated

Yo, can we get a 2023 AOTY list? I really like your suggestions

Fugazi is what every band should aspire to be like. A band who followed their principles and stayed true to their word until the end. Their genre blending and dynamics is what made them stood out in their time and their music remains as relevant as ever. I have nothing but the highest respect for Ian, Guy, Joe, and Brendan. My favorite record of theirs at the moment is Steady Diet of Nothing. One of the few (if not the only) bands to have a flawless discography

Joe is a buddy of mine. While I've never directly asked him if Fugazi will ever reform, based on our conversations, I can almost say with certainty that it will never happen. It seems like each of the members are focused on doing other things that are far more interesting to them than playing with Fugazi again. Joe is really interested in jazz, soul, and dub (which, of course, is evident in his playing with Fugazi, but he's able to bring that out even more with the project(s) that he is currently doing). Ian is still the busy bee he's always been, but his focus has shifted towards the label and smaller, more low-key projects like the Evens and Coriky. I know less about what Brendan is doing (apart from the Messthetics with Joe and Anthony), and who knows what Guy is up to these days... That's also not to mention that their personal lives have just moved on from where they were when Fugazi was active. All in all, I don't think any of them are necessarily against the idea of forming the band again; they'd just rather be doing what they're doing now. As a huge fan of Fugazi, it's disappointing, sure, but it was really a product of the members' interests and situation at the time. Also, if you haven't checked out Joe and Brendan's new project with Anthony Pirog, the Messthetics, definitely do that! They are releasing some truly incredible prog-jazz-punk, I think. The track "Better Wings" is mind-blowing.

Joe Lally is a legendary bass player, the best example is reclamation. The song starts with two droning guitars until Joe Lally’s bassline grounds the whole song, that dynamic is insane.

End Hits is a mindblowing record. Forever a favourite album of mine. It's got everything special about their sound turned up to eleven. Their energy, creativity, catchiness. They're every music nerd's favourite band.

I’ve always just called them “THE Band ever” because I just think they’re quintessentially the ideal for what a punk band, a rock band, or a hardcore band should be. As well as Ian and Guy being renaissance men in early hardcore/revolution summer scenes.

In On the Kill Taker and End Hits are both certified classics

Turnover is THE greatest album opener of all time. That track just grabs you by the neck and demands your atention. The verses are demolishing, the chorus is a flying kick to the temple, and that coda is just the savage and mindshattering icing on the cake. By the time the track finishes, you are immediatly in love with this band. You wonder how could you have lived all this time without listening to them.

Finally! A deep cuts video about my favorite band!

I saw Fugazi play in D.C. at a rally for a janitors union in 92 or 93. The show was on a stage near the Washington monument and they absolutely blew me away! I was visiting D.C. from Chicago and was handed a flyer for the rally on my way to the Smithsonian, the rally started in one hour! Skipped the museum to see them!

Ian Mackaye's music, whether in Minor Threat or Fugazi has always gotten me to question the society we live in and the systems that operate within it. Compounded by the lyricism that Guy Picciotto brings to the table, Fugazi is the perfect synthesis of Rites of Spring and Minor Threat. And it's great to see the level of experimentation the band has employed in their music. Repeater is still a no-skip album for me.

It has been 400 years 😢

And another thing! I wrote about the band in my dissertation, so sent them an email asking a few questions. A couple of weeks later I get a thoughtful and generous response from Guy himself. I can’t think of any other major band that has that kind of personal relationship with its fans.

Their live sound was absolutely huge, but your ears would never be ringing afterwards. They would spontaneously play any song from their catalog in a sort of non-verbally communicated, improvised set list. Absolutely mesmerizing and electrifying every time

Great to have you back and talking about a great subject!!

Not a day goes by where I don’t miss my king

Both Ian and Guy are now making the podcast circuit and I AM LIVING for it. They are explaining lyrics and sharing some behind the stuff that I don't know how we would ever learn otherwise. Highly recommend listening to any of their interviews in the last few years.

At nearly 48 years old I remember seeing Fugazi all the way through the 90s. Along with the Jesus Lizard and Clutch. Many times over. To this day, I still say all three are the best live music I’ve ever seen. No argument. I feel lucky to have been to all those shows.

Come back man😢I’m only on my music nerd era like 8 months ago and your videos has helped me to discover all these different records and artists!

He returns

I think it was 1989 and I knew there was better music than what was on the radio but I was 13 years old and didn't know where to look so I got 15 dollars from my paper rout and went to the record store and I found this band that had a sticker that said don't pay more than $7 for this tape. It was steady diet of nothing. And I still had enough to buy another tape by the pixies called caribou. This moment changed my life for the better in so many ways, I attribute this as the moment I started thinking. The moment I started down a path that would define who I am and they were the catalyst. Thanks for this. Seen them live for 8 dollars and would pay a thousand to see them again but I know if I could see them I wouldn't have to . They are definitely the best band of all time. But the gun club is close behind.

Glad to see another deep cuts video, I hope this is a more regular occurrence! Your videos are my favorite on this whole website, each is precious and I love every one we get :)

"And I actually will be because I've already written it" okay king we believe you 😭

Discovered them thanks to Spotify recommendations, heard Waiting Room and decided to give 13 Songs a try and listened to it while coming home from work one night. That got me absolutely hooked and I spent the whole summer listening to fugazi nonstop! I listened to all of their albums and, to this day, it's the only full discography I've listened to

AGREE ON EVERY LEVEL. Look it up. Every single live set you see on youtube, not only they give their all, sound so good and consistent. Not one bad show and yet they even admitted there were some bad shows. No gimmicks, no backing tracks, no backup session players/singers. Just an amazing band.

I was taken to a Fugazi gig in Adelaide Sth Aust by a true fan and me not really knowing any of their material, I would have to say one of the most memorable and thrilling live experiences I have ever had. They played under house lights, no effects, just pure unadulterated musical noise and energy - amazing and counting myself very lucky.

Solid band to cover. Super influential. I dig how knowledgeable you are about recent music history.

Please make more of this! Love hearing about new dimensions to artists I was aware of, yet not completely in the know about. You're probably the most respectable music youtuber out there!

You really know how to grab my attention

Fugazi is the most underrated alternative rock band on the planet. Love Fugazi. And repeater is their best album for sure.

They've been my favorite band since age 15, since 1992. I was lucky enough to get to see them play live 7 times. Great video!

getting a new deep cuts video so soon after the last one is such a treat! you're my favorite voice in contemporary music curation

The band that got me into music. My brother let me hear Waiting Room when I was 13. I was immediately hooked. While all of their albums are stellar, I think my favorite is End Hits. I’m 45 now, and Fugazi is still in my playlists.

Two additions to why Fugazi was so incredible and unique in their live performances from every other band. One: white, continuous lighting. They didn’t rely on theatrics to have an engaging show, they were it. The band came at you like a freight train and never hid in the shadows. It equalized the relationship between artist and audience. Two: volume. The band was so loud you could feel every instrument running through your body. The first time I experienced “Shut the Door” live, Joe’s bass thumped through my chest so much that I half expected to look down and see the sound waves pulsing my clothing to the rhythm. They were a force live and would often play back-to-back nights at the same venue or even three shows in a row and they’d all sell out!

A new friend in my first week of college introduced me to Fugazi, and we went to a live show in Toronto in '93. Been a fan for life ever since.

Great to have you back and especially with a Fugazi video!

You finally convinced me to give these guys a listen after many respected strong recommendations over the years. I listened to Repeater and am halfway through The Argument - great stuff. I see Radiohead and Fugazi commonalities and given how much of a Radiohead fan I am I hope I will grow to love the Fugazi discography like I grew to love RH's.

Oliver is like that dad milk joke

I don’t think I get hyped for an upload from any other channel more than yours man, the content is always top notch!

Excellent video as always, and so glad to hear you'll be back! Fugazi is a band I've listened to sporadically, but thanks to your passion I'll be checking them out more thoroughly!

13:52 me when I lie...

13 Songs, and I never heard them before. Nobody I knew was listening to them yet, I knew Ian had done Minor Threat, and an EP cassette was something I could afford, being 15 years old. I still hold it up as one of the greatest releases I've ever heard.

Awesome to see more videos from you, missed you making vids! I'm gonna listen to them cause they sound right up my alley

Good to see you back on RU-vid! I have a very similar story with Fugazi. Found them in '06 or '07 and I was obsessed over a 240p video of a 2000 live show they had done in Helsinki, my home city. Sadly I was also 10 at the time, but man what a show it must have been.

John Frusciante had a project Ataxia back in 2004, and Joe Lally played bass on that one. That's how I found about Fugazi, and the rest is history.

My friends mom is a huge fugazi fan, to the point of where theres a fugazi themed guitar in their house! I decided to give their songs a listen and check out their documentary and just, wow, incredible...

Thank you for this video!! I was not aware of Fugazi but it's definitely awesome!!

Just found your channel! Excellent insight! Fugazi’s one of the absolute best ❤

I am a Metalhead through and through. However, Fugazi is and has been one of my top 3 bands since 1991. They were excellent live too. Minor Threat got me into Hardcore. Fugazi cemented my interest in all things punk and Alternative/Post hardcore. They have been a large part of my identity since 1991. When I saw them live some guy lost his shoe. Someone threw it at the stage and Ian stopped the show to be sure that the kid got his shoe back. I laughed at the time but then I thought "what a great guy, that kid may have been broke as hell and really needed that shoe" Well. he got it back. Then, and only then did the band play on, right where they left off.

I learned about Fugazi through my father. He was and still is a huge fan of the first few records and saw them live a bunch of times. A funny story about the band he told me, goes as follows: My dad was standing near the stage while Fugazi did their soundcheck. Ian came up to him and told him these words: 'You might wanna stand back a bit, I tend to spit a lot during a show.' Loved the video!

keep em comin man! love your content

I just recently started listening to a lot of Fugazi and related bands. This video could not have come at a better time. So glad to see that you're back!

Fugazi are my favourite band of all time. No other group have pushed the boundaries of punk more than they have.

I first heard Waiting Room in 1989 and it hit me like hearing The Clash for the first time,my friend had recorded a mix tape for me and I became a lifelong fan from there. There is no band comparable. I met Ian when they toured Red Medicine in the UK and enjoyed a great conversation about music...they then played and destroyed the audience completely. Each time I saw them it was an epiphany.

Excellent vid , was fortunate enough to have seen them live .

It's good to see you back deep cuts! But I'm glad you paced yourself and did what was right for you. We love you now, if you go away, and if you come back. This channel has kept me company for years.

"there's no such thing as the greatest band of all time, that's a ridiculous sentiment, right?" Cardiacs. Great video, as always. I love Fugazi. While they're not my personal favorite band (as I've subtly alluded above), they're what I consider the "punkest" punk band - you did a better job at explaining why than I ever could. I found out about them via Billy Talent, who also got me into At The Drive-In. Suggestion is one of my favorite songs of all time.

My friends and I were really into DC hardcore/post-hardcore - we were aware of their formation as a “supergroup” of sorts, so as soon as the first EP came out, we were all over it. I was able to see them shortly after I graduated high school in the summer of 1989, in Cleveland. Incredible show. Nowadays I’m old/confident enough to just approach a band member after a show and say, “Hey, that was great; I’m a big admirer of your work, “ etc., but at the time, I was so dumbstruck, that all I could do after the show was walk up to Ian as he sat on the stage toweling himself off, pull out a sweaty pack of Doublemint from my pocket, and, say, “Uhm, do you want some gum?” (He said no.) 😅 Twelve years later, while living in Baltimore, I went to see The White Stripes at a small club just as they were just starting to blow up. Guy Piccioto and Ian Svenonious were in attendance, I remember just turning around and seeing them hanging out together, losing my mind at how much collective greatness was in that room at the same time. As an aside, I have to add an addendum to your recommendation of “Our Band Could Be Your Life.” Absolutely necessary read, the stories told in it are incredible, but I would like to forewarn people about just how corny a writer Azzerrad is. I literally threw that book across the room when I got to the line about “Greg Ginn’s guitar ripping through the track like a serial killer in a slasher flick” 🤢

Been watching since 2017 keep it up!

I drove for 5 hours from the central North Island of New Zealand to Auckland City for a Fugazi show at the Powerstation in the mid-late 90s….after the gig drove all the way back as on an Army training course at the time…Repeater gets a lot of repeat plays at my place…love this band

A monument. I've seen them two times in Italy. Song were excellent, but improvisation between them was even better. Tickets so cheap you could not believe. They really deserve all the respect. I felt them as if they were a kind of older brothers to follow. Bought Red medicine in '95, then got copied cassettes of previous albums. You really couldn't say which is the better. Their music was strange and familiar at the same time. Energy and introspection together. Such a balance is definitely a rare thing to find anywhere.

OLIVER, HURRY UP! 2023 IS ENDING, WHERE’S TOP 20 BEST RECORDS OF 2023?!?!

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS MAN PLEASE KEEP DOING THIS STUFF

Yoooo you are epic! Glad to see your wits back around

For any fans looking to get into more pre-Fugazi material, after Rites of Spring disbanded, Guy and Brendan formed One Last Wish, which has one archival release named 1986. It's on Spotify and it's absolutely fantastic imo - taking RoS's sound into more intricate and melodic territories Highly recommend it

I loved Minor Threat, so when Fugazi emerged out of the ashes of that band, of course I was interested. My first exposure to them was in some dumpy NYC club that no longer exists. I still have the Margin Walker EP I bought at that show.

Talk about good timing. I was just thinking yesterday about how i need to listen to more Fugazi!

Really good segment! You've reflected a lot of my thoughts about Fugazi, Oliver. I couldn't have said it better, and now I don't have to! Going to share this video with my music pals.

Henry Rollins saying essentially "Who cares if you make a good album? You get take two. Live is when we get to see if you can really do it or not." Has always struck a deep chord with me and been a major factor in the music that I enjoy.

I can confirm they are the greatest live band you could ever wish to have seen. Saw them at Rock City in Nottingham UK on October 23, 2002. Guy had lost his shoes and came on stage barefoot.

Thank you for featuring Fugazi in your video! I love them and love people who love/like/mention them. Xoxo

Glad to see you post again

My mom was a fan of Fugazi in their prime and when I was just getting into more punk music she told me to listen to them I have been insufferable ever since. My dad was also a fan and he gave me a vintage End Hits poster and a Repeater cassette.

Where is bro

Fugazi has been my favorite band for decades. Great video!

Amazing band you did such a good job covering them since there’s so much outside of the great great music that makes them so good

Not a band but the album Virgins by Tim Hecker, greatest album of all time for me, reaches something psychedelic and divine like no other album. Kind of painful and passionate, so many ways to describe it.

Thank you. Fugazi deserves all this praise and more. I think I've seen them more than any other band -- and always for 5 bucks -- which I greatly appreciated when I was in school. There is no better live band in the history of the universe. Every album felt like it was exactly what I needed to hear when it came out. And every live show left me orgasmically blown away, somehow both energized and exhausted. Complete Perfection.

so glad to see you back.

Great video, great to see you back mate

The Argument is my personal favorite Fugazi record and one of my favorite albums of all time, it seems like the most evolved and refined version of their "art punk" sound that they were honing since Red Medicine, if they never release another album than I'm ok with that because i see The Argument as the perfect conclusion

I'll tell you what though, Waiting Room is one of the best opening songs ever (actually it's the opening track of their whole discography innit)

I opened up my rarely visited RU-vid app and you posted a video. This is definitely divine intervention

I’ve never listened to fugazi, but holy shit i need to now. great video, im super interested

Fuck yeah. Out of the blue at the end of a shit week (girlfriend left me 4 days ago, a week after I bought a house in her city - although I just got myself a dog so I guess it's 50/50) and BAM Oliver x Fugazi. I will report back upon watching. 20 years and 2 months without Fugazi, what an absolute shame.

Suggestions for genre guides: - Big Band - Dixieland Jazz - Delta Blues - Blues Rock - Nü Metal - Power Metal

Saw them live in the very early 90s. Didn't know the band, didn't understand their influence... came in blind without expectations. That show, the sound, and the clear message that shone through stuck with me forever. It influenced me then, and remains a cherished memory.

Best live show I've ever seen! I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to see Fugazi at least 10 times! Every performance was absolutely amazing.