Jeff Nelson (born 1962 in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

) is an American musician, graphic designer, and record-label owner. He is best known as the drummer for the

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

hardcore punk band

Minor Threat Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C., by vocalist Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson. MacKaye and Nelson had played in several other bands together, and recruited bassist Brian Baker and guita ...

Biography

Nelson met

Ian MacKaye Ian Thomas Garner MacKaye (; born April 16, 1962) is an American musician. Active since 1979, he is best known as the co-founder and owner of Dischord Records, a Washington, D.C.–based independent record label, and the frontman of hardcore pu ...

in high school and the two saw their first punk rock show,

The Cramps The Cramps were an American rock band formed in 1976 and active until 2009. Their lineup rotated frequently during their existence, with the husband-and-wife duo of singer Lux Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy the only ever-present members. T ...

, together. Soon after, they formed their first band, The Slinkees. After playing one show, a lineup change caused them to rename the band

The Teen Idles The Teen Idles were an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in September 1979. Consisting of teenagers Nathan Strejcek, Geordie Grindle, Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson (musician), Jeff Nelson, they recorded two demo sessions and ...

. He also co-founded the independent record label

Dischord Records Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.–based independent record label specializing in punk rock. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release '' Minor Disturbance'' by their band the Teen Id ...

along with MacKaye in 1980, whose first record was the Teen Idles. They continue to run Dischord together. The duo also comprised the projects Skewbald/Grand Union and

Egg Hunt An egg hunt is a treasure hunt played at Easter during which children look for hidden decorated eggs or Easter eggs. Real hard-boiled eggs, which are typically dyed or painted, artificial eggs made of plastic filled with chocolate or candies, ...

; both bands recorded only one single. Nelson also runs the record label Adult Swim Records (distributed by Dischord) and Pedestrian Press, as well as being a political activist. Nelson collects

Jeep Wagoneer The Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer is a sport utility vehicle (SUV) nameplate of Jeep vehicles, with several models marketed for the 1963 through 1993 model years and again since the 2022 model year. Various versions of the Wagoneer/Grand Wag ...

s and resides in

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is located at the western end of Lake Erie along the Maumee River. Toledo is the List of cities in Ohio, fourth-most populous city in Ohio and List of United Sta ...

. He spearheaded an effort in 2008 to successfully save Toledo's Scott High School from demolition.

Discography

Minor Threat

Original material

* ''

'' (EP, 1981) * '' In My Eyes'' (EP, 1981) * '' Out of Step'' (studio album, 1983) * '' Salad Days'' (EP, 1985)

Compilation albums

* ''

'' (1984) * '' Complete Discography'' (1989) * '' First Demo Tape'' (2003)

Compilation appearances

* ''

Flex Your Head ''Flex Your Head'' is a sampler album featuring early hardcore punk bands from the Washington, D.C., area.Curd, Zach"''Flex Your Head'': AllMusic Review by Zach Curd" ''AllMusic''. Retrieved April 20, 2016. It was originally released in January ...

'' (1982) – "Stand Up", "12XU" * ''Dischord 1981: The Year in Seven Inches'' (1995) contains the first two EPs * '' 20 Years of Dischord'' (2002) – "Screaming at a Wall", "Straight Edge" (live), "Understand", "Asshole Dub"

References

Bibliography

* *

External links

Dischord Records

Adult Swim Records
1962 births Living people Drummers from Washington, D.C. American punk rock drummers American male drummers Woodrow Wilson High School (Washington, D.C.) alumni Minor Threat members 20th-century American drummers Skewbald/Grand Union members 20th-century American male musicians {{US-drummer-stub