Keep Your Eyes Open: An article about a book about Fugazi

by Simon T Diplock

A new bible for Fugazi supporters

"For the fans, this book will be priceless, a work of art"

Twenty years to the day since Fugazi played their first official show, Glen E Friedman’s ‘Keep Your Eyes Open’ will hit bookshelves around the world. And while there have been band biographies, unauthorized guides and photo books before, this thing, much like the band it focuses on, is incredibly special.

‘Keep Your Eyes Open’ isn’t a bluffer’s A-to-Z, a coffee table paper-weight or a mere photo book. This is a hardback treasure presenting an unparalleled photographic account of Fugazi’s members in almost 200 images captured between the band’s 1986 beginnings and their last U.S. concert in 2002. This is a wonderfully-presented, smartly-packaged and occasionally truly powerful book. This thing is the new bible for Fugazi fans.

Of course those same fans would argue that their heroes have been due such an honour for years. Not only because as a band, Brendan Canty, Joe Lally, Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto have operated independently of the music industry since they first began writing, performing and recording. Nrr because they’ve avoided unfair marketing practices in favor of a DIY ethos that has inspired countless artists and independent labels over the years. Because, in never selling a CD for more than $10 and never once selling their name, Fugazi’s unwavering respect for its audience is one of the band’s most indelible marks on modern music. Perhaps it’s that respect that has stopped a book like this being produced before.

‘Keep Your Eyes Open’ is more than a simple collection of pictures of an influential band. It tells the story of Glen E Friedman shooting photos, and catching moments, with some of his friends. So instead of cold, hard pages, Friedman presents work ranging from calm, sleepy backstage shots to images of Picciotto writhing about on innumerable stage floors. Instead of fact files and recycled quotes, Friedman accompanies live stage shots, famous photos used in record sleeves and portraits taken from a myriad of American locations with his own anecdotes. That takes a level of care, interest, and immersion that will have Fugazi fans poring over every inch.

And photographers, take note too. There are high-detail black and white portraits that have been copied a hundred times over, but equally there are full-colour live-action snaps that capture the band’s blood-red animal action so well, the sweat-soaked men seem like they might just up and jump off the page. Sure, Friedman was working with great subjects, the man himself saying “attitude always works well on film”, but his habit of using natural light and the energy of the moment has produced pages of shots that makes the work of most young pretenders seem overly-flashy, dry and flat.

The book isn’t all quality though. An opening essay by Washington D.C scene-legend Ian Svenonius is best ignored. Sure the one-time Nation Of Ulysses frontman scribes some beautiful lines like, "Even though there were four of them, the group seemed to form a larger organism. The two guitars were this creature's arms, the drums were the legs and the bass was the pelvic thrust.”, he coughs up far more unintelligible wordiness. Take this short section: “While Fugazi was the punk's favorite, for their perverse disavowal of rock 'n' roll's corporate malfeasance, they had turned punk on its head by also refuting the nihilistic death trip aesthetic and empty posing that had often typified that scene”. The dude is basically saying, "Fugazi were incredible, they changed lives", but if a picture speaks a thousand words then there really is no need for such verbosity here.

Besides that blip the overall feeling is of a band absolutely comfortable with being photographed. On stage, off stage, in the eye of the whirlwind or playing to twenty people, Friedman has an image of Fugazi here from almost every aspect and angle of their career. However, as Ian MacKaye explains, “While most photographers were taking photos of Fugazi, Glen was making photos with us”.

For Fugazi fans this book will be priceless, a work of art. For those who have yet to hear a note that the band have played, this could be an enlightening and inspiring read. Even those who have never understood the band- their music, their politics or their point of view - will be forced to admit the DC outfit have worked long and hard enough to warrant a project like this. Whatever your starting point, ‘Keep Your Eyes Open’ is a thorough, rich, rousing and timely tome.
Jen Perkin said on November 2nd 2007 [report abuse]

Ooooh, so excited about this. My early christmas present to myself?

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