Good Old D. Boon (RIP)

The date probably means nothing to you, but today marks the 20th anniversary of the death of D. Boon. Every rock critic in America has been soiling themselves lately trying to find a way to commemorate the passing of John Lennon, and almost every one of of those scribes will let the death of the Minutemen lead singer go unnoticed. Shame. 1985 was a tough year for me, made even tougher by the Arizona auto accident that ended Boon's life. I had few heroes in my teenage years, and Dennes Dale Boon was most certainly one of them.

More than any other hardcore band, the Minutemen epitomized the free-thinking independent ideals that formed the core of punk/alternative music in my formative years. Wildly eclectic and politically revolutionary, the Minutemen never stayed in one place too long; they moved from punk to free jazz to funk to folk at a blinding speed. Like their peers Black Flag, Hüsker Dü, R.E.M., and Sonic Youth, the Minutemen built a large, dedicated cult following thanks to their intelligence, unshakable conviction and relentless touring.

Boon's death rocked my world then, and it's hard to believe that it has been 20 years since he died. Do yourself a favor and track down a copy of the seminal "Double Nickels on the Dime" album on SST Records. It'll change your life. I know it changed mine.

D. Boon