Straightedge and Music

If you have ever been to a local show, especially one in the midst of the punk scene in your local community, you may have seen or heard about it before. Maybe some of the people at the show wore X's on their hands, spoke of sticking to their values, or even mentioned the term before: straightedge.If you hadn't picked up the meaning of this apparent theme at punk shows, straightedge is a pledge to keep alcohol and drugs out of one's life. For some, the pledge extends as far as also refraining from promiscuous sex, prescription drugs, caffeine, or the consumption of meat. It is most commonly seen in practice in music-related things; there are straightedge bands, venues that refuse to serve alcohol on their premises, and in some scenes, whole "crews" of fellow listeners of punk rock who gather together because of their being straightedge. What tie does it have to music though, and specifically punk?Looking into the history of straightedge culture and punk, we can see that straightedge, if anything, was a response to the emergence of punk in the late 70's and early 80's. In the early days of what was known as "hardcore punk," what motivated such a raw and angry movement was, in short, simple disdain for the current state of things. The Reagan era and the height of the Cold War are often referenced in terms of political ties with hardcore punk. The musicians were working class citizens; the venues were old warehouses, abandoned factories, houses, or any place where people could gather and collectively express their distaste for society. And it was a violent movement; the crowds often moshed, the attitudes behind the music were apathetic and reckless, and there was heavy alcohol and drug use among many of the participants.Naturally, there were some among the crowd who saw this and enjoyed the music, but despised what was being associated with it. One of those people was none other than Ian MacKaye, the vocalist for a band called Minor Threat. It is a general belief that Ian and this group actually coined the term for the movement, as one of the group's songs is titled "Straight Edge". Other bands followed suit, spreading a message of straying away from substances and leading clean, honest, and true lives throughout the punk society. Some straightedge groups of the time included S. S. Decontrol, State of Alert (S.O.A.), and Negative FX, to name just a few.Throughout its existence, straightedge culture has been a hot topic. Starting out as a simple rejection to reckless lifestyle, for some, being straightedge became a rank, a sense of superiority to those who did not choose to remain sober. For many who are familiar with the particular counterculture, the term "hate edge" comes to mind, which is normally applied to the notion that some individuals and groups exercise their abstinence in a militant fashion. The majority of those who "claim edge", however, are not doing so for individual status. Contrary to some thought about being straightedge, most do so for personal reasons, maybe either to overcome addiction or to keep clean one's own life. On the topic, I came in contact with a good friend of mine, Mitch Baker, who I grew up with and spent many-a-time with at various shows back in our hometown of Springfield, Illinois.What does it mean to you to be straightedge?"It's just like every other counterculture. There is a culture behind drinking and doing drugs. A lot of people drink, a lot of people smoke, and straightedge is sort of a response to that. It's not necessarily about being against anything, it's about doing it for yourself. It's about making a positive difference in your own life."For you personally, how does music come into play when it comes to being straightedge?"Music was just the way straightedge was introduced to me. It's not necessarily that you have to listen to straightedge music to be straightedge, or vice versa. People involved in the punk community tend to have a lot of working class values, and beinn straightedge has close ties with working class positivism. Obviously, Kevin Bradford (the owner of Black Sheep Cafe) has had a huge influence on me personally as well, him and going to so many shows."Even beyond its origins, straightedge still lives on. In fact, in most punk scenes in America today, even the smaller ones like here in central Illinois, there are a few who still identify with the movement.Venues like Error Records in Champaign and the Black Sheep Cafe in Springfield pledge to be alcohol and drug free, safe spaces where people of all ages can come hear local acts of all sorts. Of course, the focus is not necessarily on straightedge when it comes to the music; like the old days of punk rock, the DIY, or do-it-yourself, mentality behind the music remains most important.