Minnesota Hardcore

Synopsis

A fast-paced, musical docu-series that examines the punk scene in the Twin Cities from 1980 to 1985. The Minnesota scene was a close-knit community of artists and fans that encouraged culture and spawned huge talents like Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Rifle Sport and more. Minnesota Hardcore is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

First Air Date: 2020-10-30

Last Air Date: 2020-12-18

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 7

Networks: PBS

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Shannon Selberg as Narrator
Chris Osgood as Self (The Suicide Commandos)
Lori Barbero as Self (Babes in Toyland)
Gérard Boissy as Self (Rifle Sport)
Bob Rue as Self (Red Meat)
Greg Norton as Self (Hüsker Dü)
Terry Katzman as Self (Reflex Records)
Dale T. Nelson as Self (Otto's Chemical Lounge)
John Kass as Self (Manager for Willful Neglect / Neglected Records)
David Moe as Self (Church Picnic / Johnny Quest)

Seasons

Season 1 (2020)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Backstory (2020-10-30)

Minnesota Hardcore charts the beginning of punk in the Twin Cities. Local bands The Suicide Commandos, Suburbs, Curtiss A, Replacements, and Husker Du all spring from this scene. Soon hardcore arrives in Minneapolis with Black Flag playing Jay’s Longhorn bar. Then the 7th Street Entry became the base of Hardcore with a D.O.A. show. Interviews with Greg Norton, Steve McClellan, and Tom Hazelmyer.
Ep. 2: The Fastest Band in the World (2020-11-06)

Hüsker Dü began when Greg Norton met Grant Hart at a record store in West St. Paul. Bob Mould comes to a Ramones show and the power trio is born. The band creates a label, Reflex records, and soon bond with Dead Kennedys front man, Jello Biafra. The Huskers put out the first Minnesota hardcore vinyl, Land Speed Record. The Replacements are their major rivals, comments Tommy Stinson.
Ep. 3: Local Bands (2020-11-14)

This episode shows the hardcore scene sprouting from the excitement of the earlier punk culture. The Blu Hippos, Todlachen, Rifle Sport, Loud Fast Rules (which later became Soul Asylum) and Red Meat were some of the early bands that helped form the Minnesota hardcore scene.
Ep. 4: Goofy's Upper Deck (2020-11-20)

A look at legendary Minneapolis punk rock dive Goofy’s Upper Deck. Hardcore bands that played the club between 1983 and 1984 include Black Flag, The Minutemen, JFA, Big Boys, and Discharge, who had a fierce battle with Hüsker Dü. Saint Paul band Willful Neglect and Minneapolis band Final Conflict both called themselves the house band. The manager, Fred Gartner, describes the final riot.
Ep. 5: The Culture of Hardcore (2020-12-04)

The people behind the hardcore scene in Minneapolis. Lori Barbero of Babes in Toyland fame lived in a punk rock party house and put on a Minor Threat show with Ian Mackaye. Your Flesh fanzine is profiled along with sound man and record store guy Terry Katzman. Garage Productions and Michelle Strauss describe putting on shows in VFW halls with Corrosion of Conformity and Government Issue.
Ep. 6: The Limits of Hardcore (2020-12-11)

As hardcore, thrash, and slam dancing becomes routine, the Minnesota punk rock scene splinters off into different musical genres. DKV are art students bent on making uncomfortable noise, while Otto’s Chemical Lounge with Tom Hazlemyer and Dale T. Nelson are inspired by 1960s psychedelia like Blue Cheer and Jimi Hendrix. Dave Pirner and Danny Murphy of Soul Asylum comment on R.E.M.
Ep. 7: The 2nd Wave (2020-12-18)

By 1985, the Twin Cities had a new generation of hardcore kids. Hanging out at the Uptown Minneapolis McDonalds, these Minnesota kids were known as McPunks, and their bands were Outcry and Iron Fist. Spurring The Replacements, these bands wanted to play with The Exploited. Later bands like Misery, Quincy Punx and Kitten Forever who have continued the tradition of hardcore in the Twin Cities.