Bernie Federko

Movement where the followers personally commit themselves following a lifestyle aiming at preserving a clear thinking. Often shortened in sXe , comes from the song Straight Edge of 1981 of the group hardcore Minor Threat.

History of the movement

Origin of name and the symbols

The use of name Straight Edge would be related to an analogy/word game between this “right” lifestyle - straight - and “favors” - edge - as in the expression - got the edge - “to have the advantage” expressed in the refrain - “ I' ve got the straight edge ” - song éponyme.

The letter X , become the symbol of the straight-edge, car its origin in the cross marked at the time on the back of the hand of less than 21 years at the time of the concerts, which prohibited to them to order alcoholic drinks with the bar.

Principles founders of Straight Edge

This movement resulting from the medium Punk is initially a Philosophie of life based on three principles (and often associated with the three X ): no the alcohol, not of Drug nor of sexual promiscuity. This foundation in fact is inspired by another song of Minor Threat; Out off Step of which the refrain “ Don' T smoke, Don' T drink, Don' T fuck, At least I edge fucking think ” is translated “does not smoke, wood not, does not kiss. At least I can think”. It expresses the refusal of the Nihilisme, of the self-destroying and negative tendencies of punk, as well as a need for more positive values, the claiming social aspect of punk being always present. The sexual promiscuity is interpreted in a way different according to the followers from the Straight Edge : the majority have sexual relations only if they have feelings towards their partner, some preach the abstinence before the marriage.

One will associate with it soon an image to take the form of a fashion in the young people. This new connected attitude, often transitory, will cause dissatisfaction at most just. The individuals giving up the lifestyle Straight Edge will thus often be perceived from their pars as being sold. Supplied with the texts of several groups, personal engagement then becomes almost a social engagement.

Ian Mackaye, the singer of Minor Threat refuses the label of founder of the straight edge that one joined to him and he always affirmed that Minor Threat had not been a straight-edge group. It advances on the contrary that the movement straight-edge was born from a misunderstanding which became extensive, holding within the meaning of the words of the song: he still said it at the time of a recent interview with Scenepointblank: “ I think that the idea of the straight edge, of the song that I wrote, and of the interpretation which was made by it, was deformed by certain people. They modified, with their fundamentalism, the true message, which in my spirit, was that one should allow people to live their lives as they want it. Generally, I think that the majority of the people who are identified with that are right good people, who tried to do something of good of their lives, and which it is a shame that they must suffer the kind from mark that others stuck to this attitude. But for what about it became a movement, or another thing because it is not really a movement for me, I never conceived it. ”

Rebirths of the movement

The first wave made up of groups like Dys, SSD, Negative FX or 7 Seconds being rather quickly blown, towards the 1984-88 one second vagueness of groups Straight Edge, named “Youth crew”, takes over; it is taken along by groups as Youth off Today which will join the Végétarisme with the initial ideals Straight Edge .

During the third period which began towards the end of the year 1990, of the thousands of groups will be born and the movement will gain quickly in popularity. Labels of discs of which Victory Records, Equal Vision Records and tens of others largely contributed to make known the movement with groups Hardcore like Earth Crisis, Ten Yard Fight, Snapcase, Bane and Good Clean Fun (mean part of most known)

Other exits groups of various musical styles will be also identified with the ideals Straight Edge which from now on will not be systematically any more associated with the movements Punk or Hardcore.

The movement Straight Edge is always spread in the whole world, mainly in America of north and Europe.

Toughening of a fringe of the movement

Musicalement, the movement is different little from the scene hardcore. Its ideal was to perpetuate the punk ideal on positive bases. But under the influence of a radical fringe, primarily American, he knew a drift, called hardline (literally: line lasts). The inventors of the hardline are the group Vegan Reich, whose members converted thereafter with Islam and are called from now on Vegan Jihad. No the sexual promiscuity was transformed into step of sex before the Mariage, hostility with the Homosexualité, etc the refusal of drugs deviated in a deep intolerance and sectarianism giving very an bad image of the scene straight edge. The respect of the life was transformed into support for the hostile campaigns with the Avortement. This wave constitutes today nothing any more but one negligible quantity of individuals.

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