Untouchables (D.C. band)
Encyclopedia
The Untouchables were one of the bands that laid the groundwork for the legendary DC hardcore punk
scene of the early eighties / late seventies. The band existed from October 1979 until January 1981.
The Untouchables spawned a wide range of DC
musical talents. Alec MacKaye
, younger brother of Minor Threat
/Fugazi member and Dischord Records
founder Ian MacKaye
, went on to sing with The Faith, Ignition and The Warmers
. Janney went on to play with The Faith, Rites of Spring
, One Last Wish
, Skewbald
and Happy Go Licky
. Bert Queiroz later played in DC Youth Brigade, Double-O, Second Wind, Meatmen, Rain and Manifesto. Richard Moore also played in the Meatmen, Double-O and Second Wind. Together Richard Moore and Bert Queiroz started their own independent record label: R&B Records.
The Untouchables only released a demo tape which later appeared on Dischord Records
' Flex Your Head
compilation and 20 Years of Dischord. Their most famous song was "Nic Fit", which would be covered by Sonic Youth
on their 1992 album Dirty. The song was also featured on the soundtrack to the film American Hardcore (film)
.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
scene of the early eighties / late seventies. The band existed from October 1979 until January 1981.
The Untouchables spawned a wide range of DC
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
musical talents. Alec MacKaye
Alec MacKaye
Alec MacKaye is an American singer and musician best known as a member of the Washington, DC Hardcore bands Untouchables, The Faith, and Ignition. In the mid-1990s Alec joined the band The Warmers as a vocalist and guitarist. Their album 14 Songs was released in 1996 by Dischord Records. The...
, younger brother of Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
/Fugazi member and Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
founder Ian MacKaye
Ian MacKaye
Ian Thomas Garner MacKaye is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, label owner, and producer. Active since 1979, MacKaye is best known for being the frontman of the influential hardcore punk bands Minor Threat and The Teen Idles, the post-hardcore bands Embrace and Fugazi, as well...
, went on to sing with The Faith, Ignition and The Warmers
The Warmers
The Warmers were a post-hardcore band based in Washington, D.C. that recorded and performed from July 1994 through December 1997. A trio act that featured Alec MacKaye , Juan Luis Carrera , and Amy Farina , The Warmers released two recordings through the D.C. based record label Dischord Records...
. Janney went on to play with The Faith, Rites of Spring
Rites of Spring
Rites of Spring was an American post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C. in the mid-1980s, known for their energetic live performances. A part of the D.C. hardcore punk scene, Rites of Spring increased the frenetic violence and visceral passion of hardcore while simultaneously experimenting with...
, One Last Wish
One Last Wish
One Last Wish was a short-lived post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C. It was formed in May 1986 by members of Rites of Spring, and split up in January 1987....
, Skewbald
Skewbald
Skewbald is a color pattern of horses. A skewbald horse has a coat made up of white patches on a non-black base coat, such as chestnut, bay, or any color besides black coat. Skewbald horses which are bay and white are sometimes called tricoloured...
and Happy Go Licky
Happy Go Licky
Happy Go Licky was a short-lived reunion of Washington D.C. hardcore punk group Rites of Spring. The band formed in spring of 1987 and broke up after their final show at D.C.'s 9:30 Club on New Year's Day in 1988. The last song they performed at that show was the Rites of Spring song, Drink Deep...
. Bert Queiroz later played in DC Youth Brigade, Double-O, Second Wind, Meatmen, Rain and Manifesto. Richard Moore also played in the Meatmen, Double-O and Second Wind. Together Richard Moore and Bert Queiroz started their own independent record label: R&B Records.
The Untouchables only released a demo tape which later appeared on Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
' Flex Your Head
Flex Your Head
Flex Your Head is a punk rock compilation album. It was originally released in January 1982, and was re-released on CD in August 1995. A remastered CD version was released in 2002...
compilation and 20 Years of Dischord. Their most famous song was "Nic Fit", which would be covered by Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
on their 1992 album Dirty. The song was also featured on the soundtrack to the film American Hardcore (film)
American Hardcore (film)
American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
.
Members
- Alec MacKayeAlec MacKayeAlec MacKaye is an American singer and musician best known as a member of the Washington, DC Hardcore bands Untouchables, The Faith, and Ignition. In the mid-1990s Alec joined the band The Warmers as a vocalist and guitarist. Their album 14 Songs was released in 1996 by Dischord Records. The...
- vocals - Eddie Janney - guitar
- Bert Queiroz - bass
- Rich MooreRich MooreRich Moore is an American animation director and a business partner in Rough Draft Studios, Inc., where he serves as Sr. Vice President of creative affairs. He is one of a handful of artists who in the early 90s redefined prime time television animation with his work on The Simpsons...
- drums
Discography
- Flex Your HeadFlex Your HeadFlex Your Head is a punk rock compilation album. It was originally released in January 1982, and was re-released on CD in August 1995. A remastered CD version was released in 2002...
-"Rat Patrol","Nic Fit","I Hate You" - 20 Years of Dischord-"(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone", "Nic Fit"
- American Hardcore (film)American Hardcore (film)American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
-"Nic Fit"