When their former band, The Teen Idles, broke up, Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson decided to form a new hardcore punk band with Ian on vocals.
In 1980, they started playing with Lyle Preslar, who sang for the Extorts and wanted to switch to guitar. Lyle introduced them to Brian Baker, who started playing bass in November and the band played its first show a month later.
The band played regularly but broke up at the end of the summer of 1981 when Lyle left D.C. to go to college. Six months later Lyle dropped out and Minor Threat reformed in April 1982.
That fall, Steve Hansgen joined to play bass while Brian moved to second guitar and the band recorded and toured as a five piece until June 1983.
Minor Threat played a few more shows that summer as a four piece with the departure of Hansgen, but they were not getting along. They were unable to agree on the direction of the music and ended up spending more time arguing than playing in the practice space.
Faced with this dilemma, the members decided that it would be better for all involved to shut it down.
Minor Threat played its final show on 23 September 1983, at the Lansburgh Cultural Center in Washington D.C. and ended their final set with Last Song, which was the original title of their song Salad Days.
Band members:
Ian MacKaye - vocals
Lyle Preslar - guitar
Brian Baker - guitar
Steve Hansgen - bass
Jeff Nelson - drums.
"Complete Discography" by Minor Threat is a compilation album, released in 1989 on Dischord Records.
Tracks:
1-8 - 7" Filler, released in 1981
9-10 LP Flex Your Head,released in 1982
11-14 7" In My Eyes, released in 1981
15-23 12" Out Of Step, released in 1983
24-26 7" Salad Days, released in 1985.
Tracklisting:
1. Filler
2. I Don't Wanna Hear It
3. Seeing Red
4. Straight Edge
5. Small Man, Big Mouth
6. Screaming At A Wall
7. Bottled Violence
8. Minor Threat
9. Stand Up
10. 12XU
11. In My Eyes
12. Out Of Step (With The World)
13. Guilty Of Being White
14. Steppin' Stone
15. Betray
16. It Follows
17. Think Again
18. Look Back And Laugh
19. Sob Story
20. No Reason
21. Little Friend
22. Out Of Step
23. Cashing In
24. Stumped
25. Good Guys (Don't Wear White)
26. Salad Days
VBR ~255K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
"First Demo Tape" by Minor Threat are previously unreleased demo versions of songs which have been previously released. The format is a 7", a cassette or a CD, released in 2003 on Dischord Records.
Tracklisting:
1. Minor Threat
2. Stand Up
3. Seeing Red
4. Bottled Violence
5. Small Man, Big Mouth
6. Straight Edge
7. Guilty Of Being White
8. I Don't Want To Hear It
VBR ~237K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
"Concert at The 9:30 Club, Washington D.C." with Circle Jerks. Early and late shows recorded live on 11 June 1981.
Tracklisting early show Minor Threat:
1. Guilty Of Being White
2. I Don't Wanna Hear It
3. Seeing Red
4. Stand Up
5. Filler
6. Bottled Violence
7. Straight Edge
8. 12XU
9. Small Man Big Mouth
10. Screaming At A Wall
11. Minor Threat
12. Stepping Stone
VBR ~255K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
Tracklisting early show Circle Jerks:
1. Deny Everything/What's Your Problem
2. Letter Bomb
3. Back Against The Wall
4. Red Tape
5. Wild In The Streets
6. I Just Want Some Skank/Beverly Hills
7. Operation
8. Leave Me Alone
9. Paid Vacation
10. Behind The Door
11. Wasted/World Up My Ass
12. Don't Care/Live Fast Die Young (Fades Out)
VBR ~207K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
Tracklisting late show Minor Threat:
1. Stand Up
2. Guilty Of Being White
3. Small Man Big Mouth
4. 12XU
5. I Don't Wanna Hear It
6. Filler
7. Seeing Red
8. Screaming At A Wall
9. Bottled Violence
10. Straight Edge
11. Minor Threat
12. Steppin' Stone
13. Louie Louie
VBR ~206K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
Tracklisting late show Circle Jerks:
1. World Up My Ass
2. Letter Bomb
3. Back Against The Wall
4. Red Tape/Wild In The Street
5. I Just Want Some Skank/Beverly Hills
6. Operation
7. Leave Me Alone
8. Paid Vacation
9. Wasted
10. Deny Everything/What's Your Problem
11. Don't Care/Live Fast Die Young
12. Behind The Door
VBR ~211K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
