Boon’s death stopped clock for Minutemen

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 | 8:55 a.m.

Of all the senseless, way- before-their-time deaths in rock 'n' roll history, few continue to hit me as hard as that of D. Boon, frontman for the Minutemen.

Obviously, Boon doesn't come close to matching Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain or many other tragic figures in terms of widespread name recognition.

But when the Southern California singer and guitarist perished in a car accident near Tucson on Dec. 22, 1985, at age 27, one of rock's brightest lights went out, and one of its most important band's was silenced forever.

And the Minutemen were only getting started. Though the trio's early material is well worth tracking down, its later work is indispensable for anyone who enjoys experimental, boundary-breaking punk rock.

Penultimate album "Double Nickels on the Dime," originally released in 1984, is the no-brainer for newcomers looking for a starting point. Over the course of 43 econo-sized tracks, the disc provides a whirlwind tour of the Minutemen experience, and what an experience it is.

Funk, country, hardcore punk and even folky acoustic elements smash up against one another yet mesh in strangely organic fashion. Think early Red Hot Chili Peppers, crossed with the DIY, lo-fi aesthetic of early Sebadoh.

The three Minutemen -- Boon, melodic bassist Mike Watt and agile drummer George Hurley -- contribute equal parts instrumentally. But it's Boon's speak-sing vocals and, more importantly, his politically charged lyrics, that truly stand out on "Double Nickels."

"Let's say I've got a number/That number's 50,000/That's 10 percent/Of 500,000/Oh here we are/In French Indochina," he deadpans in "Viet Nam," referring to the American casualty count in that conflict.

Lyrical twists abound. "If we heard mortar shells/We'd cuss more in our songs/And cut down the guitar solos," Boon announces in "Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing," just before he tears into -- what else? -- a guitar solo.

Mostly, "Double Nickels on the Dime" captures the sound of three self-trained musicians having a blast, playing boisterously fun music with a definite message.

It's just too bad D. Boon wasn't around to enjoy the party longer.

Artist: Minutemen.

Title: "Double Nickels on the Dime."

Year of release: 1984 (reissued 1990, SST Records).

Tracklisting: "D.'s Car Jam/Anxious Mo-Fo," "Theatre Is the Life of You," "Viet Nam," "Cohesion," "It's Expected I'm Gone," "#1 Hit Song," "Two Beads at the End," "Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth?" "Don't Look Now," "S--t from an Old Notebook," "Nature Without Man," "One Reporter's Opinion," "Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing," "Maybe Partying Will Help," "Toadies," "Retreat," "The Big Foist," "God Bows to Math," "Corona," "The Glory of Man," "Take 5, D." "My Heart and the Real World," "History Lesson -- Part II," "You Need the Glory," "Roar of the Masses Could be Farts," "West Germany," "The Politics of Time," "Themselves," "Please Don't Be Gentle With Me," "Nothing Indeed," "No Exchange," "There Ain't S--t on TV Tonight," "This Ain't No Picnic," "Spillage," "Untitled Song," "For Latin America," "Jesus and Tequila," "June 16th," "Storm in My House," "Martin's Story," "Dr. Wu," "The World According to Nouns," "Love Dance," "Three Car Jam."