We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen + virtual Q&A with Michael Azerrad 18

From the archive

This film was last shown on 5 April 2024

Michael Azerrad’s ground-breaking book on the legendary American Indie Underground music scene of the 1980s and early 1990s takes its title from the opening line of Minutemen’s ‘History Lesson – Part II’. A self-reflexive exploration of their ethos and influences as a band, the opening line was the perfect statement of a band humanising themselves away from the expectations of typical “rock stars” and a heartfelt, direct love letter to punk rock.

Under this title, Azerrad’s book explored 13 bands from the scene that did become people’s live, including Black Flag, Minor Threat, The Replacements, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Mudhoney, and of course, Minutemen.

Through interviews and archival footage, We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen documents the history of the influential 1980s punk band. Surviving band members Mike Watt and George Hurley provide a first hand look into the band's world, from their start in San Pedro to the 1985 death of D. Boon, the band's co-founding member, who tragically died at age 27.

This screening will be followed by a special Q&A hosted by music and culture writer Daniel Dylan Wray in conversation with Michael Azerrad, author of ‘Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991' and ‘Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana’.