Revolution Summer (music)

Revolution Summer was a phrase coined by an employee of Dischord Records in an effort to revive and innovate the hardcore punk scene of Washington, D.C. during the summer of 1985. The bands associated with the effort are retrospectively credited with the development of the punk subgenres post-hardcore and emo.

Background and creation
From the late-1970s through the early-1980s, Washington, DC had a thriving hardcore punk community. The short-lived scene is one of the most influential in the United States. Bad Brains were an early influence on the speed of hardcore punk and Straight edge came to fruition in the wake of Minor Threat. By 1984, the scene was awash in violence; racist skinheads came to hardcore punk concerts in DC to fight. Shows devolved into vandalism.

Amy Pickering of Fire Party worked at Dischord Records, and on her first day of work there, she tore down a sign that said "No Skirts Allowed". Oman Emmet named Pickering as "the mother of the revolution" for her role in what became known as "Revolution Summer" in 1985, and he credited Pickering with "setting a season into motion." "Revolution Summer" had been a phrase Pickering used in notes she sent out to people in the D.C. punk scene to reflect "a climax, the end of something" and to re-inspire punks in D.C.

The tight-knit community around Dischord Records, who helped create the scene, decided to leave it and create a new alternative music scene in the city. This scene was to be more aware of the sexism of the traditional punk scene, embraced animal rights and vegetarianism, and was in opposition to moshing and violence at concerts.

Revolution Summer Bands
Besides Fire Party and Beefeater, other Dischord bands associated with Revolution Summer include Rites of Spring, Embrace, Dag Nasty, Kingface, and Lunchmeat/Soulside. Members of bands from the Revolution Summer went on to form part of Fugazi.