I might be an adult, but I’m a minor at heart
June 29th, 2005 | Tags: entertainment, sports | 11 Comments
I grew up just outside of D.C. and spent several of my adolescent years listening to ear-perforating punk rock, so I have a soft spot for the following ridiculous story.
Nike Skateboarding has angered D.C. area independent record label Dischord Records, according to the Washington Post. Their crime? Advertising their “Major Threat” skateboarding tour with a parody of (or homage to) the cover art for legendary D.C. punk rock act Minor Threat’s 1981 self-titled album.
How bad is it? You be the judge:
Note especially the shoes and the Nike logo on the fellow’s knee. (The Nike poster also features other not-particularly-subtle allusions that D.C. counterculture trainspotters can identify for bonus points.)
Of course, the fact that Nike — a company that generally appears to punk-rock types as wearing a bullseye — replicated such an iconic image with their branding conspicuously inserted is offensive to some people. Personally, I have a difficult time sharing in the umbrage of iconoclasts whose own icons are being profaned, so I’ll simply point out the following issues raised by this story that I found amusing:
- Nike has a skateboarding division? How’s that working out?
- What percentage of the people in the target audience for this skateboarding tour were actually alive when Minor Threat were still actively recording?
- The spokesman for Dischord is named Alex Bourgeois — an unfortunate name indeed in the anarchosyndicalist world of the punk-rock business. (One wonders if M. Bourgeois has something to lose in addition to his chains.)
- Minor Threat bassist Brian Baker is actually wearing Nikes in this famous photo. With no photoshopping required, couldn’t Nike just have licensed that picture?
By the way: the bald fellow in the Minor Threat photos is Ian MacKaye, who is currently half of The Evens. (Click the link for my brief thoughts on their self-titled album.)
June 30th, 2005 at 07:58:13 PM (#)
Nike is one of those companies people love to hate. In terms of their skateboarding division, they have a very good product and a very good team.
They have also issued a public apology for the Minor Threat posters.
http://www.nike.com/nikeskateboarding/v2/letter/index.html
June 30th, 2005 at 08:19:35 PM (#)
I defer to rz’s superior skateboarding-related knowledge.
October 31st, 2005 at 11:46:51 AM (#)
Actually, the bald is fellow in the Minor Threat photo is Ian’s brother, Alec MacKaye
April 19th, 2007 at 07:56:29 PM (#)
Profaned isn’t even a word. Culture is though and this is just another example of cultural exploitation. If it’s enough just to issue a simple apology do you think they’ll let me use the nike swoosh on my advertising? Or will they sue me for every penny I’m worth? (not very many by the way)
April 19th, 2007 at 08:01:14 PM (#)
Mark, please see here; note its sense as a transitive verb.
April 27th, 2007 at 10:12:31 AM (#)
minor threat is the fucking shit u slobby ass gluttons!!!!
April 29th, 2007 at 03:41:02 PM (#)
fuckindeusch123, i would have to agree with you. Minor Threat was a band that began playing in basements and they have been underground. NIKE is a huge company (that uses sweatshops, but thats another topic) that used this iconic picture to promote their shoes. Why do they have a skateboarding tour? So skateboarders will buy their shoes. fuckin corporate scumbags. i hate nike and always will. EVEN WORSE: the three x’s, straight edge is on the poster. Im sure minor threat would hate to be used for corporate gains. in conclusion: fuck nike, minor threat rules.
im out.
- Aus A.D.D.
June 2nd, 2007 at 01:07:56 PM (#)
Whatever. Nike has so much more money than Minor Threat.
Nike is awesome and Minor Threat sucks balls.
July 8th, 2007 at 11:02:18 PM (#)
So money makes people better than other people? I think we have an ignorant fool on our hands.
July 16th, 2007 at 07:39:17 PM (#)
nike is an opponent of all that minor threat represented. ian mckaye for example started dischord records in a well known do it yourself fashion without any backing. they even did the cases to the vinyls that they released. they did everything themselves. when i first saw this i was completely angered. it disrespects and contradicts everything that the DIY community of punk represents. ian mckaye and minor threat actually had something going. and nike bites on it 20 years later.
people who dont know who minor threat was and of the history and what they stood for. it will mean nothing. but for those of us who didnt join mainstream corporate america and embraced the hard working ethics, it is a complete spit in the face. shame on nike .
January 11th, 2009 at 02:06:40 PM (#)
fuck!!!