Government Issue

In D.C.’s storied punk scene, Government Issue never quite received as much attention as its peers during its run throughout the ’80s. The band itself may be to blame, as G.I. frontman John Stabb frequently mocked the punk scene’s self-seriousness. When the punk scene zigged with “Revolution Summer” in 1985, Stabb and company zagged with “Degradation Winter.” Although G.I. began as more or less a straightforward hardcore band, by the time it issued 1986’s self-titled album, it was moving in a more melodic direction, which reached its apex on 1987’s You and 1988’s Crash.Those last two found a tunefulness that other post-hardcore bands would emulate in the following decade, long after G.I. had called it quits. A lot of that has to do with J. Robbins—later of Jawbox and Burning Airlines—joining the band’s final lineup with drummer Pete Moffett.

Updated 12/01/2010