Government Issue

This article is about the band Government Issue. For the term, see GI (term).

Government Issue (often just GI) was an American hardcore punk band originating from the Washington, D.C. scene, formed in 1980 and were on Dischord Records. Many early songs were straightforward hardcore, clocking in at under the one minute mark, but they later progressed into a more melodic song-focused outfit (citing The Damned as key to gaining this catchy sound) and often with lyrics critical of the short-sighted behavior of the scene they aided in creating.

Given the long running nature of the band, many participants in the DC hardcore scene had gone through G.I.'s membership. Government Issue featured Brian Baker of Minor Threat and Bad Religion, as well as Mike Fellows of Rites of Spring and many others.

The G.I.s became one of the longest-running bands in the DC hardcore scene. After numerous line-up changes, the band broke up in 1989. Vocalist John Stabb was the only member to stay the whole time. He later went on to form Betty Blue in the mid 90's. Guitarist Tom Lyle formed an experimental outfit called Glee Club which released two albums. Lyle also recorded two hard rock solo records in 1990 and 1992 respectively.

Tom Lyle, as well as bassist J. Robbins and drummer Peter Moffett, regrouped to record tro unrecorded GI songs. This was released as the Rollkicker Laydown EP.

Bassist Jay Robbins went on to form Jawbox. Robbins later formed Burning Airlines with GI drummer Peter Moffett.

Stabb formed the DC quintet The Factory Incident in 2000.

Stabb has remarked that "...there is much to be said about watching g.i. when you're not barely legal."

On July 17, 2007 John Stabb was attacked a block from his home, by a group of five teenagers; he was beaten so badly that he will be having surgery. There was a benefit concert for Stabb August 10, 2007 at the Velvet Lounge, organized by Marc Ganancias, to help his family deal with the medical bills.

On September 23, 2007, during the second benefit show organized by Ganancias, "Government Re-Issue" took the stage again with Stabb at the fore, Tom Lyle on Guitar, Brian Baker on bass, and William Knapp on drums at the Rock n' Roll Hotel in Washington, DC. According to John Stabb, the band practiced together for the first time during the sound check on the afternoon of September 23, and managed to re-learn about fifteen songs.

Discography

Title	Release date	Notes	Label
Legless Bull ep	1981	EP	Dischord Records
Boycott Stabb	1983	Album	Positive
Joyride	1984	Album	Fountain of Youth
The Fun Just Never Ends	1985	Album	Fountain of Youth
Government Issue	1986	Album	Positive
You	1987	Album	Rockville
Crash	1988	Album	Positive

External links

• [1] Gov't Issue Interviewed by WPRB DJ Eddie Mosh the night before their last show. (1989)]
• Interview from Punk Planet 58 (2003)
• John Stabb interview on Dissonance Radio (2006)