Government Issue

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Government Issue at the Wilson Center, Washington, DC 1981

Government Issue (often just G.I., and frequently spelled in all-lower-case) was an American hardcore punk band originating from the Washington, D.C. scene, formed in 1980 and were on Dischord Records. Many early songs were straightforward hardcore, clocking in at under the one minute mark, but they later progressed into a more melodic song-focused outfit (citing The Damned as key to gaining this catchy sound) and often with lyrics critical of the short-sighted behavior of the scene they aided in creating.

The original lineup of the band was Brian Gay on bass, John Stabb on vocals, John Barry on guitar, and Marc Alberstadt on drums. Given the long-running nature of the band, many participants in the DC hardcore scene went through G.I.'s membership over the band's lifespan. At various times, Government Issue featured Brian Baker of Minor Threat and Bad Religion, as well as Mike Fellows of Rites of Spring, and many others.

G.I. became one of the longest-running bands in the DC hardcore scene. After numerous line-up changes, the band broke up in 1989. Vocalist John Stabb was the only member to stay the whole time. He later went on to form Betty Blue in the mid 90's then formed the DC quintet The Factory Incident in 2000, now also defunct. His current band is called Sleeper Agent, with Stabb on vocals, Derrick Baranowsky on guitar, Sean Koepenick on bass, and Jonathan Roth on drums.

Later G.I. members guitarist Tom Lyle, bassist J. Robbins and drummer Peter Moffett, regrouped to record two previously-unrecorded G.I. songs. This was released as the Rollkicker Laydown EP. Lyle formed an experimental outfit called Glee Club which released two albums in the 1980s. Lyle also recorded two hard rock solo records in 1990 and 1992 respectively. Robbins went on to form Jawbox. He and Moffett also later started Burning Airlines.

Stabb has remarked that "...there is much to be said about watching g.i. [sic] when you're not barely legal."

On July 17, 2007 Stabb was attacked a block from his home, by a group of five teenagers; a series of benefit concerts for Stabb were held including August 10, 2007 at the Velvet Lounge, organized by Marc Ganancias, to help deal with the medical bills.

On September 23, 2007, during the second benefit show organized by Ganancias, the band took the stage again, as "Government Re-Issue", with Stabb at the fore, Lyle on Guitar, Brian Baker on bass, and William Knapp on drums at the Rock n' Roll Hotel in Washington, DC. According to Stabb, the band practiced together for the first time during the sound check on the afternoon of September 23, and managed to re-learn about fifteen songs.

[edit] Discography

"The Punk Remains The Same"

2009 CDEP/"7 dcJam

[edit] External links

• Gov't Issue Interviewed by WPRB DJ Eddie Mosh the night before their last show. (1989)
• Interview from Punk Planet 58 (2003)
• Interview on Radio CPR, Washington, DC (2006)

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