S.O.A - No Policy EP (1981)

State Of Alert

When The Extorts broke up, their singer, Lyle Preslar, started playing guitar with Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson in what would become Minor Threat, and the other three Extorts joined up with Henry Garfield (Rollins) to form State of Alert (SOA).

The two bands debuted together in Washington, DC at a house party opening for The Untouchables, Black Market Baby, and the Bad Brains in December of 1980.

SOA brought a new level of aggression to the music, and it reflected well the mood of many of the kids in the young DC punk scene. In the early part of 1981, the bands and kids were being kicked out of clubs, and the attempts to play shows in other spaces were often ended by a visit from the police.

SOA and Minor Threat had a bit of a rivalry going, not only because there were ex-bandmates, but because Henry and Ian had been best friends for years. When The Teen Idles' record came out it was decided that any money that came back in would be used to put out another DC band's record.

SOA was not interested in waiting, however, so Henry put up his own money to put out the 10-song "No Policy" 7". In June of 1981, SOA played their last show, opening for Black Flag in Philadelphia at a show that ended in a riot. A few days later Henry got on a bus to meet up with Black Flag again, but this time it was to join the band.

Bass - Wendel Blow
Drums - Simon Jacobsen
Guitar - Michael Hampton
Vocals - Henry Garfield

Engineer - Don Zientara
Producer - Skip Groff

A1		Lost In Space
A2		Draw Blank
A3		Girl Problems
A4		Blackout
A5		Gate Crashers
B1		Warzone
B2		Riot
B3		Gang Fight
B4		Public Defender
B5		Gonna Have To Fight

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