The ROTTEN Issue: Clear the Gap and the Revival of Straight Edge Culture
Words & Photos by Lucero Dunscombe
More and more X’s on hands, watches and on either side of names on local show flyers lead me to believe that Straight Edge is back! To understand this resurgence, I talked to my local straight edge friends, Santiago Fitzgibbon and Julian Cejas in the emocore band Clear The Gap about their thoughts on the straight edge hardcore punk rock culture as a whole, its proper definition, subgenres amongst the straight edge hardcore genre and its recent comeback amongst the hardcore community in Madison.
The term “Straight Edge” was coined in 1984, by Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat and Fugazi. It comes from their song “Straight Edge” on their first 7” EP self-titled Minor Threat. “Straight edge is a commitment to not intoxicating yourself with drugs and alcohol for the rest of your life. And there’s also more of a community aspect,” Santiago said. He stresses that being sober and being straight edge are different — sobriety is temporary and claiming edge is not. To claim edge or label yourself as straight edge is to vow that you will never take drugs, smoke or drink again.
Community is a lot of being straight edge — Santiago was influenced to claim edge shortly after he started going to shows at age 14. “At the time, Straight Edge was kind of just like a thing of the past almost.” Santiago said. After fully surrounding himself with the people and culture, “it really made me understand that you can be sober and have fun and have cool people around.” Santiago said.
A large part of Julian claiming edge came from Santiago’s older brother Jimmy showing him the National Geographic documentary “Inside Straight Edge” (2008). “I was already straight edge at that point, but that helped strengthen that resolve. Initially I’d see all my friends start getting into [alcohol], and I kind of thought it was a waste. So then I stopped,” Julian said.
So why is straight edge culture coming back? Did it ever die? “Well, I would say straight edge bands are forming because of straight edge people,” Santiago said. The culture’s devoted people are the reasons for its spread and presence in Madison. “[People in Madison] start to understand what straight edge actually means and what it’s about. Then they realize that being straight edge is for them, and then they claim edge,” Santiago said.
Those who start bands and claim edge have influenced others to do the same, giving straight edge culture a cyclical motion. People don’t rebel against their parents by doing drugs anymore. Since everybody does drugs, they rebel against everybody by claiming edge. A big part of punk rock culture is to rebel, and the straight edge community does that in a very unique way.
An optional but highly encouraged aspect of being straight edge is veganism or vegetarianism. Straight edge veganism was popularized by the band Earth Crisis during the early 90s. Earth Crisis and the vegan movement of the 90s is the movement that eventually popularized veganism outside of just the hardcore scene, and made veganism feel like less of a foreign concept. xHeartlandx is a prime and local example of a straight edge vegan band.
The fact that they claim edge and are vegan displays the many layers of commitment to their lives and crafts, it shows they are devoted to living a healthy life and making music.
xHeartlandx embodies the very uncommon subculture well, and offers a safe space for those who do fall into this very specific category.
They are not just sober, they are also animal rights activists.
A lot like straight edge as a whole, a big part of the straight edge vegan community is the way that members influence one another. According to Julian, the community influenced his decision to be a vegetarian. “It was definitely just being surrounded by people who shared that ideology,” said Julian. Veganism is an additional form of rebellion, removing another vice to show a commitment to the culture and a belief that avoiding meat and animal products is good for themselves and others.
“Like if you did research and saw how corrupt this sort of industry was, enough to kind of make you sick just by thinking about it, then you would sort of follow that belief. But a lot of the time people do know and they just don’t really bother. So it’s all about the mindset,” Julian said.
Let’s break down some more extreme subgenres of straight edge: hardline and militant straight edge. If you are hardline straight edge then you are against sex without the intention of conception. Hardline is also against abortion and homophobic. “I believe in abortion and that’s why I don’t like hardline. If you’re straight edge just for you, you shouldn’t force other people to do it. You shouldn’t force other people to not have an abortion. You shouldn’t force other people to not be gay or hate on them because they’re gay,” Julian said.
To be militantly straight edge is to be more outspoken about being straight edge, and to be less tolerant to drinking and drug use. Some militant straight edgers are violent towards drug and alcohol users. “I like it because I think it’s cool. Like, if you’re reading about it I think it’s interesting. But there’s no like militant straight edge people here in Madison. Like if you’re not straight edge, you can still come to straight edge shows and you’re not gonna get bullied. Nothing’s gonna happen. Like, you’re gonna be welcomed,” Santiago said.
The straight edge community in Madison is the biggest it has been in years. As long as there are straight edge people and bands making music, straight edge will never die. The community and their beliefs are a powerful example of how music can be much more than just music — it’s activism, and it can change people’s lives on a global level.
