In the 1980s, the Reagan Administration was reinstating the Selective Service, hippies were turning into yuppies, and the punk scene rose as a reaction to what they saw as a conformist, soulless government. While punk is often associated with London, New York, and LA, there was a substantial scene in DC that had anchors in downtown and elsewhere. The original 9:30 Club and other spaces were the venues where bands like Minor Threat and Bad Brains got started before going on to world renown. On this tour, you'll discover what made the DC punk culture distinct from others, the major contributors to the scene, and its lasting impact on the local music scene today.

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Tour begins outside of the F and 7th Street Exit of Gallery Place Metro Station (red, green, and yellow lines) and ends at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW DC. This tour includes stops at iconic punk landmarks and a chance to learn about pivotal figures and their influence on punk rock.

This walking tour visits the former locations of four clubs that supported the punk scene includeding:

• d.c. Space
• Lansburgh Theater
• Oscar's Eye
• 9:30 Club

The tour ends at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, which houses the DC Punk Archive.

The DC underground punk scene was truly unique. From its ethos of anti-corporatization to its belief in grass-roots action, DC punk made a true contribution to alternative music in the 1980s.

On this tour, guests will learn about the personalities who marked the scene, from Ian MacKaya and HR of Bad Brains to Henry Rollings and a very young Dave Grohl, who drummed for the DC band Scream.

This tour is for punk fans and music history lovers in general!