In the midst of the drug-infested punk rock underground scene of Washington, D. in the early 1980's, a band called "Minor Threat" emerged. They would prove to be a great threat to the drug world. the lead singer, Ian MacKaye, would start a revolution that is still present to this day. The revolution would be coined "Straight Edge" by the song Minor Threat composed of the same name. The whole idea of straight edge would be to lead a clean lifestyle of no drugs, no drinking alcohol, and no sex without love.
In the 12 years since the expiration of Minor Threat, the ideas of straight edge are still going strong in today's punk scene and beyond. The key to the growing of the revolution is young men and women's disgust with society's ailments. Even though the original beliefs are still strong, the modern hard-core straight edge person is a vegetarian the abstains from caffeine and takes an interest in both political and environmental issues.
As straight edge was reaching its apex in the mid 1980's, it was also reaching a level of extreme hostility. The reason is was being fought against was because it seemed that a war was starting between the straight edge people and the people who violated the ideas of straight edge. Many people were fighting against straight edge because of its harsh intolerance to substance use and abuse.
the music of straight edge has been nearly the only way the word has been spread around over the years. There are several hundreds, if not thousands, of bands that call themselves "straight edge bands". As with "rock and roll", "punk" and "hard-core" music, straight edge has its own brand of music. Although mostly heard as merely incoherent screaming and profanity, it has a much deeper meaning. Merely incorporating the words straight edge into a song will attract a whole group of people, young and old alike. If the music doesn't stand up to the expectations, however, it will be met with extreme punishment from today's straight edge population.