Classic ’80s DC punk / hardcore band Government Issue, which featured John “Stabb” Schroeder on vocals and, for most of the time, Tom Lyle on guitar along with a rotating list of members including Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion) and Mike Fellows (Rites of Spring, Silver Jews, Miighty Flashlight), have just released a stockpile of live recordings of their shows.

The recordings date far back as 1981 and spantheir career as a band and while a handful of these recordings have surfaced over the years,the vast majority weren’t even known to exist outside of a select few people.  

Now, close to thirty years later, Government Issue are releasing  the first volume of their new Live Bootleg Series, featuring 27 live sets recorded between 1981 and 1985.  

The release showcases live performances from across the U.S., and documents a band as they matured and morphed, adapting to the ever-changing musical landscape of the early ’80s.  

All 27 shows are available digitally via iTunes / Amazon, as well as directly from the band via Bandcamp.  When purchased directly, many of the sets will also include bonus material such as photographs from the shows and the fliers for each.  

Government Issue have also announced plans to reunite for a performance alongside Dag Nasty, Scream, Youth Brigade, Black Market Baby, and Kingface as part of a two-night, sold out event on December 28th and 29th at The Black Cat in DC, celebrating the release of a new documentary entitled Salad Days: The Birth of Punk Rock in the Nation’s Capital.

All of the releases are available here.