What is Straight Edge? Thanks for asking!

The music you’re listening to comes from 1980s American hardcore punk band Minor Threat and it’s called Straight Edge. It might only last 46 seconds, but turned out to be hugely influential.

The song name was adopted by the Straight Edge movement, which is associated with abstinence from alcohol, drugs, animal products and promiscuous sex. Several decades later, this aggressive celebration of sobriety seems to be undergoing a revival.

In the Minor Threat song, lead vocalist Ian MacKaye shouts the words which would go on to become the Straight Edge movement’s motto: “I’ve got better things to do than sit around and smoke dope”. Without intending to, MacKaye was creating a subculture which would affect a whole generation.

Why would you want to give up all those guilty pleasures though? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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