04 IAN MACKAYE & GUY PICCIOTTO
As DIY as they come, Fugazi’s twinguitar attack was a sound of its own
The Fugazi guitarists inspired one of most dedicated fanbases in the world. Many punks talked the DIY talk, but these two lived their principles. When Atlantic Records’ Ahmet Ertegun offered them a blank cheque to sign the band, they told him where to go, instead reaching arena status on their own terms and keeping ticket prices to a target $5. This complete lack of pretension translates to their guitar playing, which has the kind of tightness and anger that only comes from playing 1000 toilet-circuit gigs. Every upcoming punk band draws on the Fugazi sound and ethos.