About Government Issue

Government Issue (often just GI) were an American straight edge hardcore punk band originating from the Washington DC scene, formed in 1980 and signed to 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, as well as Mike Fellows of Rites of Spring and many others. The G.I.s, as they were known, 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 (aka: "Fruit Loops", he also had a band called Betty Blue in the mid 90's, around 96-98, not sure of the status of that group however) and guitarist Tom Lyle formed an experimental outfit called Glee Club and made two records. Tom Lyle made two solo records that were more straight-ahead hard rock in 1990 and 1992. Tom Lyle, as well as Bassist J. Robbins and drummer Peter Moffett, regrouped to record 2 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.