Saturday Live

Minutemen, San Pedro's DIY punk heroes, live at The Metro in Chicago in 1985. No fuss, no frills, no backdrop or guitar changes, just D. Boon, Mike Watt and George Hurley playing their songs. This being Minutemen they rattle through their short songs in quick time, thirty five songs including many from their then recently release double album opus Double Nickels On The Dime plus covers of songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Blue Oyster Cult, The Who and Richard Hell. It's scratchy, grainy, trebly, life affirming stuff. 

Also in 1985 they played Acoustic Blow- Out on public access TV. This is one of my favourite Minutemen live appearances, the three men sitting in a circle playing their songs for each other, slowed down and relaxed. Watt opens proceedings speaking directly to the camera, 'I never gave a damn about the meterman, until I was the man who had to read the meters, man' and then they're into Corona, Themselves, I Felt Like A Gringo, more covers, History Lesson Pt. II and Little Man With A Gun In His Hand. In many ways, a perfect band. 

Sadly D.Boon died in December 1985, not long after Acoustic Blow- Out was filmed, falling out of the back doors of the van in Tucson as it swerved on a bend. Mike Watt, even today when asked what kind of bass player he is, replies, 'D. Boon's bass player. I'm D. Boon's bass player'.