Dag Nasty was a Washington D.C. punk band formed in 1985 by guitarist Brian Baker of Minor Threat, drummer Colin Sears and bassist Roger Marbury, both of Bloody Mannequin Orchestra, and vocalist Shawn Brown (later of Swiz and Jesuseater^[3]). Their style of less aggressive, melodic hardcore was influential to emocore, as well as post-hardcore.^[4]

Shawn Brown was the first vocalist with whom the band recorded (until recently) unreleased versions of most of the material that later made up their first release Can I Say, which featured former roadie and new singer Dave Smalley of DYS.^[3][4] Dave left the band to attend grad school at New York University before a summer tour with the Descendents. A new singer, Peter Cortner, was found after the band placed an ad in a local paper and the tour was kept.^[4] After touring half the US opening for the Descendents, the band went home and recorded new material that wasn't released until years later. After a few more local shows, the band broke up in the fall of 1986. Brian went to L.A. to start a new band with Doug Carrion and half of Doggie Style called Doggie Rock. After releasing one album under the Doggie Style name, Doggie Rock broke up and Brian reformed Dag Nasty in early 1987 with Peter, Colin and Doug replacing Roger Marbury, who declined to rejoin. Months later, the band recorded and released Wig Out at Denko's, including rerecorded versions of the late 86' tape and new material.

1988 saw the release of their album Field Day on Giant Records which was distributed by Dutch East India. It was an ambitious album, often generating sharply polarised appraisals from fans: many hated it and many loved it. Field Day attempted to blend pop melodies with hardcore and metal riffs even further than previously attempted on Wig Out. The result was, at times, uneven but helped to usher in a new style of hardcore with more controlled playing, guitar effects, acoustic elements and slower tempos – effectively planting the seeds for "emo". The band split up shortly after touring for Field Day ended.

In 1992, Dag Nasty reformed with Smalley on vocals and released the album Four on the Floor. In 1991, Selfless Records had released 85-86, a collection of early, pre-Can I Say recordings.

In 2002 the band got back together, again with Smalley on the mic, returning the band to a hardcore sound. The result of this reunion was the album Minority of One. To this day they still release records, though Dag Nasty remains more of a side project for its members than a full-time active band. Cortner, who has not been involved with the band directly for years, completed his education as a lawyer, practiced law and recently became a schoolteacher. While strictly as a personal hobby now, Cortner has continued to make music under the names GPFA and, more recently, in a collaboration with Philadelphia area musicians entitled The Gerunds. Sears went on to play in The Marshes and later after moving to Portland, Oregon for Handgun Bravado and The Valley Floor. He also works as a city planner for the Portland Development Commission. The other members of the band have remained involved in music.

Baker joined Bad Religion after Brett Gurewitz left to focus on his own record label (Epitaph Records) and continued to play in the band when Gurewitz rejoined.

In 2009 Brian Baker said he wanted to make a new Dag Nasty record with Peter Cortner. "We want to do another record with Peter singing at some point and that will be the next one we do. I've spoken with Colin and Roger and they want to do it with Peter next time. Maybe a year from now, who knows? Whenever people are available. The one thing about Peter is that he's a really good lyricist. That's always been his strong point"^[5]

Members[link]

Vocals

• Shawn Brown (August 1985-February 1986)
• Dave Smalley (February 1986-June 1986/1991/2002)
• Peter Cortner (July 1986-July 1988)

Guitar

• Brian Baker

Bass

• Roger Marbury (August 1985-March 1987/1991/2002)
• Doug Carrion (March 1987-July 1988)

Drums

• Colin Sears (August 1985-June 1987/1991/2002)
• Scott Garrett (August 1987-July 1988)
• London May ("Wig Out at Denko's" tour, summer 1987)

Discography[link]

• Can I Say LP (Dischord Records, 1986)
• Wig Out at Denko's LP (Dischord Records, 1987)
• All Ages Show 7" (Giant Records, 1987)
• Field Day LP (Giant Records, 1988)
• Trouble Is 12" (Giant Records, 1988)
• Can I Say/Wig Out at Denko's CD (Dischord Records, 1991)
• 85-86 LP/7" Box Set/CD (Selfless Records, 1991)
• Four on the Floor LP/CD (Epitaph Records, 1992)
• Minority of One LP/CD (Revelation Records, 2002)
• Dag with Shawn LP/CD (Dischord Records, 2010)

• Can I Say and Wig Out at Denko's were remastered and separately re-released by Dischord in 2002.

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Official Dag Nasty Website
• Peter Cortner (Dag Nasty vocalist) Interview at CrackerHammer
• [1]

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

"Can I Get a Witness" is a 1963 hit song by Marvin Gaye on the Tamla (Motown) label. Written and produced by Motown songwriting and producing team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song was built among gospel-styled music and heralded Gaye's beginnings in the church with a rhythm and blues/rock and roll setting. The song featured Gaye on piano, playing a boogie pattern, The Funk Brothers, and members of The Supremes in the background accompanying Gaye. The song became a hit in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and British musicians Lulu, Dusty Springfield, The Rolling Stones, Sam Brown and Steampacket (which featured a very young Rod Stewart) recorded cover versions of the song. Gaye's version peaked at #22 on the Hot 100 chart and its title soon became a catchphrase. Lee Michaels' 1971 version reached #39 on the Hot 100; both his and Gaye's versions peaked during Christmas week.

In popular culture[link]

• Gaye's recording is featured in the 1999 biographical film The Hurricane.

Personnel[link]

• Lead vocals by Marvin Gaye
• Background vocals by The Supremes: Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers