In late 1980, the Teen Idles were coming to the end of their run. They decided to record and self-release some of their material, figuring no one else would do it. They knew they'd need a name for the label, and Ian came up with "Dischord". Months later, Dischord No. 1 was released: The Teen Idles' `Minor Disturbance EP". Eight songs on a 7" record.
Following on from this, Dischord put out the S.O.A "No Policy" EP and more singles followed from Minor Threat, Government Issue, and Youth Brigade. By 1982 Dischord had put out its first full length, the Flex Your Head compilation album and the label's operations had been moved across the river to Arlington, Virginia into an old green house they shared with three others, which was subsequently dubbed Dischord House.
Over the next 18 years, Dischord released records by Faith, Void, Scream, Marginal Man, Rites of Spring, Soulside, Shudder to Think, Three, Jawbox, One Last Wish, Lungfish, Nation of Ulysses, Holy Rollers, Fidelity Jones, Ignition, The High Back Chairs, Severin, The Make Up and Fugazi amongst many others.
The
sudden and intense interest in underground and independent music in the
early 1990s led to offers from the majors to buy the entire label, but
selling it was never even a consideration. We understood the value of
self-determination, and because the label was so well established we weren't
faced with the same circumstances as many other labels at that time.Like
many small labels, Dischord was and still is a lot of work, but twenty
years down the road it keeps going strong. Music over marketing, content
over profit, ethic over strategy.
Dischord keeps their prices low, the ads are informational and hype-free.
They are looking for listeners, not consumers. They run fairly in the
face of what's known as the "music industry". They are not trying
to out do, there is no competition. Dischord has struck a worldwide cultural
impact with the tastefulness, style and recognition that is unique and
envied by labels all over and with an integrity that labels of all sizes
will strategize to acquire in basements and boardrooms for years to come.
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