Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Minor Threat) Tells Tour Stories to Savages’ Jehnny Beth: Listen

Legendary punk musician Ian MacKaye had a conversation with Savages’ Jehnny Beth on her Beats 1 radio show “Start Making Sense.” The Fugazi/Minor Threat/Evens frontman and co-founder of Dischord Records told stories about his life—how he fell in love with music, the discipline and meditation of skateboarding, how Dischord is a response to the “odious” record industry, and how music intertwines with major political movements. Listen to the entire episode here.

Jehnny Beth told MacKaye that he influenced her to always start shows on time, to ask for a sound check, and to make sure not to “binge on beers.” MacKaye emphasized the importance of responsibility on tour. “So Fugazi, our mantra on tour, we always said the three most important things on any tour was ‘the gig, the gig, the gig,’” he said. He talked about how Fugazi would always leave the show immediately after they were done and drive two hours toward the next town. Both MacKaye and Jehnny Beth expressed their disdain for musicians who cancel shows over sore throats.

MacKaye also talked about his early obsession with the Woodstock film and Janis Joplin’s music. He also discussed how he associated music with important political moments like the Civil Rights Movement. He also told the story of the first ever concert he ever saw—the Cramps. “The room was full of freaks,” he said of the experience.

Previous episodes of “Start Making Sense” have featured conversations with members of LCD Soundsystem, the xx, Queens of the Stone Age, and Faith No More.

Read “13 Thoughts on the Fugazi Live Archives Completion.”

Watch Savages perform at the 2013 Pitchfork Music Festival:

via Evan Minsker