Instrument: Ten Years With the Band Fugazi (1999)

Synopsis of Instrument: Ten Years With the Band Fugazi

Fugazi was arguably the most important and influential underground rock band of the 1990s. While their fierce indie punk ideals dictated that they deliberately stay under the mass media radar (the group declined to do interviews with the mainstream press and requested that critics buy their albums rather than sending out free copies), the band's powerful music (muscular but inventive hard rock that showed the influence of the space of dub reggae and the propulsive energy of hardcore) and uncompromising lyrical stance (songs that clearly if undogmatically dealt with racism, sexism, economic injustice, and a wealth of other political and social concerns) made many converts. Without the benefit of commercial radio play, MTV exposure, or coverage in most major music magazines, Fugazi managed to sell over 200,000 copies each of such albums as Red Medicine, Steady Diet of Nothing, and Repeater. In addition, the band, which once described its approach as "revolution through example," was among the most strongly principled in rock; Fugazi released its recordings through its own label, refusing many blank-check offers from major labels, and would play only all-ages venues with a ticket price of five dollars, while the group's concerts in their hometown of Washington, DC, were either benefits for community action groups or free shows usually affiliated with political causes. Filmmaker and photographer Jem Cohen was friendly with band members Ian McKaye and Guy Picciotto before they formed Fugazi, and early on began documenting the group's performances on film and video. Instrument was compiled from ten years' worth of footage of Fugazi on and off stage, performing at venues both large and small, working in the studio, discussing their work (one revealing interview comes from a public access television show done by high school students), and sometimes displaying their oft-ignored sense of humor. Directed by Jem Cohen in collaboration with the members of Fugazi, Instrument was his first feature film. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Director(s):

Jem Cohen

Producer(s):

Jem Cohen

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