i used to be straight edge.

people always ask if i'm going to be straight edge forever. i guess i can't answer that. and i think thats okay. but i do know that i dont care about drinking a glass of wine at my wedding. so stop asking. IUTBSE is here for you to tell your story to anyone who wants to hear it.

if you want your story to be heard, send it , along with a picture of yourself, to iusedtobestraightedge@gmail.com

despite what it may seem, this site is not only for people who USED to be straight edge. its for anyone who has ever had something positive to say about the lifestyle.



-IUTBSE

Jul 1st, 2009 @ 8:36 pm

My name is Gerry Krakowski. I come from a small town called Pleasantville, in Westchester County NY, just outside of New York City.  I’m Vegan Straight Edge.The social scene in my high school was sharply divided into cliques. All of the jocks and the preppy kids drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and randomly hooked up with each other. They were also the ones starting trouble with me and my friends for as long as I can remember. I’ve always felt like I had a lot better things to do than get drunk. Instead of getting wasted at house parties, my friends and I went to punk and hardcore shows in New York City. We started local bands, learned the words to all of the local songs, and booked shows at any school, church, coffee house, stranger’s house, bowling alley or youth center that would let us. Most of us didn’t drink.Whenever there was an altercation between my group of friends and some of the other kids, we were the ones to get blamed. It felt like the whole town was against us. The Jocks would have a party full of underage drinkers and get away with it because the cops were too busy taking our skateboards away and getting town laws passed to keep us out of public places.For me Straight Edge started as a reaction to this whole situation. I wasn’t interested in drinking or drugs in the first place because I was already having fun without those things. I liked the idea of living my life without a crutch or a filter. I liked the idea of forcing myself to experience things fully, and ultimately be a stronger person because of it. I decided to label myself Straight Edge mostly because I wanted to demonstrate that I was committed to living my life sober, but also because I was frustrated with the social situation in my town and I was looking for a way to alienate everyone who wasn’t like me.I was 15 years old the first time I came to school X’ed up. It was my own personal “fuck you” to the other kids at school and the establishment that had taken their side. Back then I would refuse to associate with anyone who wasn’t Straight Edge (or who didn’t follow the basic tenants of Straight Edge). I would destroy people’s cigarette’s, smack beers out of peoples’ hands, tell people I was better than them because I was drug free, and basically any other arrogant Straight Edge thing short of physical violence. Today I’m nearly 23 years old, I’m Vegan (I went Vegetarian at 16 and Vegan at 18) I’ve never smoked a cigarette, never been drunk, and I’ve tried marijuana once (though this was before I became Straight Edge, and contributed a lot to my decision to claim). These days Straight Edge isn’t so much about outward hostility for me; it’s just the way I live my life. I hear that’s how it is for most Straight Edge people as they get older; the choice becomes less external and more internal (though I still X up at every show I go to and wish more people would).  Most of my early Straight Edge friends have fallen away from the movement; I’m one of the only people left from my original crew of 10 -15 kids. It was only when most of my friends had fallen away from Straight Edge that I started to actively seek out the larger Straight Edge community. I’ve never been in a band (though I still want to be), never started a zine or anything. I guess my function in the scene is to bring people together. I’m the guy who bugs the shit out of you to go to the show because some no name local Edge band is playing. I’m the guy who searches Facebook, Myspace, and any other conceivable place online that you might find a Straight Edge person, just to introduce myself, see if maybe you want to hang out and then proceed to introduce you to every other Straight Edge person I know. I’m at a place in my life now, where I recognize that this path only gets harder as you get older, but I also recognize that I wouldn’t want to live any other way. Friends fall away and new kids claim and break left and right, Straight Edge itself goes through trends, but ultimately it’s been good to me and I’ll never turn my back on it. I’m True ‘til Death.

My name is Gerry Krakowski. I come from a small town called Pleasantville, in Westchester County NY, just outside of New York City.  I’m Vegan Straight Edge.
The social scene in my high school was sharply divided into cliques. All of the jocks and the preppy kids drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and randomly hooked up with each other. They were also the ones starting trouble with me and my friends for as long as I can remember. 

I’ve always felt like I had a lot better things to do than get drunk. Instead of getting wasted at house parties, my friends and I went to punk and hardcore shows in New York City. We started local bands, learned the words to all of the local songs, and booked shows at any school, church, coffee house, stranger’s house, bowling alley or youth center that would let us. Most of us didn’t drink.

Whenever there was an altercation between my group of friends and some of the other kids, we were the ones to get blamed. It felt like the whole town was against us. The Jocks would have a party full of underage drinkers and get away with it because the cops were too busy taking our skateboards away and getting town laws passed to keep us out of public places.

For me Straight Edge started as a reaction to this whole situation. I wasn’t interested in drinking or drugs in the first place because I was already having fun without those things. I liked the idea of living my life without a crutch or a filter. I liked the idea of forcing myself to experience things fully, and ultimately be a stronger person because of it.
I decided to label myself Straight Edge mostly because I wanted to demonstrate that I was committed to living my life sober, but also because I was frustrated with the social situation in my town and I was looking for a way to alienate everyone who wasn’t like me.

I was 15 years old the first time I came to school X’ed up. It was my own personal “fuck you” to the other kids at school and the establishment that had taken their side. Back then I would refuse to associate with anyone who wasn’t Straight Edge (or who didn’t follow the basic tenants of Straight Edge). I would destroy people’s cigarette’s, smack beers out of peoples’ hands, tell people I was better than them because I was drug free, and basically any other arrogant Straight Edge thing short of physical violence. 
Today I’m nearly 23 years old, I’m Vegan (I went Vegetarian at 16 and Vegan at 18) I’ve never smoked a cigarette, never been drunk, and I’ve tried marijuana once (though this was before I became Straight Edge, and contributed a lot to my decision to claim). 

These days Straight Edge isn’t so much about outward hostility for me; it’s just the way I live my life. I hear that’s how it is for most Straight Edge people as they get older; the choice becomes less external and more internal (though I still X up at every show I go to and wish more people would).  

Most of my early Straight Edge friends have fallen away from the movement; I’m one of the only people left from my original crew of 10 -15 kids. It was only when most of my friends had fallen away from Straight Edge that I started to actively seek out the larger Straight Edge community. 

I’ve never been in a band (though I still want to be), never started a zine or anything. I guess my function in the scene is to bring people together. I’m the guy who bugs the shit out of you to go to the show because some no name local Edge band is playing. I’m the guy who searches Facebook, Myspace, and any other conceivable place online that you might find a Straight Edge person, just to introduce myself, see if maybe you want to hang out and then proceed to introduce you to every other Straight Edge person I know. 

I’m at a place in my life now, where I recognize that this path only gets harder as you get older, but I also recognize that I wouldn’t want to live any other way. Friends fall away and new kids claim and break left and right, Straight Edge itself goes through trends, but ultimately it’s been good to me and I’ll never turn my back on it. I’m True ‘til Death.

May 19th, 2009 @ 2:16 pm

Little Ricky . Tattooer I started hanging out at a local record store in Southeast MA when I was about 16-17. It had a small all ages venue in the back that would have shows every weekend. Right when i started going I couldnt get enough, being around other like-minded kids was a blast. The owner Russ and another older friend Rich would constantly give me new records and bands to check out. For about a year before I started going there I had been living a Drug Free lifestyle. My family had a history of Drug addiction, alcoholism, and domestic violence when i was a kid, and growing up around that, it opens your eyes. I knew even before I knew what straight edge was, that drugs and such was something I never wanted to be a part of. So my friends were giving me In My Eyes, Slapshot, SSD, 7 Seconds records, and I was loving it. Alot of the kids there were edge, and were so welcoming. at 17 I claimed edge, knowing it was a life choice for me. There has never been a doubt that straight edge isnt the way for me. 22, still so proud of the choice i’ve made.

Little Ricky . Tattooer

I started hanging out at a local record store in Southeast MA when I was about 16-17. It had a small all ages venue in the back that would have shows every weekend. Right when i started going I couldnt get enough, being around other like-minded kids was a blast. The owner Russ and another older friend Rich would constantly give me new records and bands to check out. For about a year before I started going there I had been living a Drug Free lifestyle. My family had a history of Drug addiction, alcoholism, and domestic violence when i was a kid, and growing up around that, it opens your eyes. I knew even before I knew what straight edge was, that drugs and such was something I never wanted to be a part of. So my friends were giving me In My Eyes, Slapshot, SSD, 7 Seconds records, and I was loving it. Alot of the kids there were edge, and were so welcoming. at 17 I claimed edge, knowing it was a life choice for me. 

There has never been a doubt that straight edge isnt the way for me. 22, still so proud of the choice i’ve made.

May 1st, 2009 @ 5:08 pm

Keith Sidorowicz . Energy I don’t know the majority of my extended family due to alcohol addiction. Either they never came around due to drowning in the flood of their addictions, or they would get so smashed at family gatherings that I would never be able to communicate with them on a normal basis. At the time I took it really hard because all my friends had such a tight connection with all their aunts, uncles, and cousins while the only member of my blood I could ever open up to about anything was my mother. I look back at it now and really indulge those moments as very hard learning expieriences that shaped me into the person that I’am today. My first exposure to straight edge was in 1996. I was in 7th grade and really starting to take advantage of my percussion abilities. My friend Mike played bass and wanted to start a band with me since he knew I listened to hip hop, some punk, and could play a decent amount of grooves. We also asked our friend Doug since he played guitar and used a Gibson SG. Finally we made move one day after school and had our first practice. We had one original song, but needed to play a cover to see how we gel’d together. Mike had snagged a handful of cassettes from his brothers collection. The first tape Mike played was a maxell mix which had Minor Threat, Snapcase, Youth Of Today, Silent Majority, and Side By Side. The first song he played was “In My Eyes”! I will never forget hearing those lyrics for the first time, and just feeling so fresh out of the box with excitement! I never thought a band could play music at the speed I was hearing. Not to mention being an aggressive band and singing about a lifestyle that consisted of no drinking, no drugs, and no permiscuous sex. I could not believe my ears as soon as Ian screamed “Did you fucking get it” followed by Jeffs all accented 16th note snare pattern into the fastest beat in existance! We must’ve covered “In My Eyes” 22 times at that practice. I remember being in so much pain since I had never tried to play drums at such bpm’s before. But it did not matter, I was about to start a new chapter in my life that day. So that was just the beginning. Straight edge has played an enormous factor in my life towards shaping me as a person. At the time I was new to straight edge, I was very quiet, unsure of myself, and at times depressed. I had a good support system of friends, but needed the support of myself. Straight edge opened up my personality and confidence by a long shot. Shortly after I was learning the basics of hardcore music through more mix tapes and beginner record purchases, my friends and I were finding our way to attending shows on the weekends. When we could not obtain a ride, we would lie to our parents about sleeping over one anothers houses on friday night, but in reality take the train to Long Island and NYC venues like Deja 1, Coney Island High , and Tramps. The more shows we attended, the more we learned. And one key luxury of the hardcore scene was its sense of community. I would start talking to more and more people each weekend, and started to come out of my shell personality wise! I realized that this was my place and had alot to relate to and share. By age 15, I started to persue vegetarianism fulltime. I was intrested and educated through literature, lyrics, and food that was expressed by people involved with straight edge that were presenting an idea that was peaceful, compassionate, and morally straight. I started picking up many books on my own, and really disciplined myself to maintain a healthy living. I was starting to nurture my flaws physically and mentally. 2 years later, I made the transition of going vegan and only became healthier in every department of my life. Straight edge has also given me a career in music. After high school, I had an awakening that I could use my gift of music to benefit others. I started playing with numerous bands over the years that really said some meaningful words that have been taken to heart by some lovely individuals. Not only in my hometown, but the entire world. Being on tour for 90% of the year is something I never take for granted. Each tour is as exciting as the first time I skipped around the entire country. And being on the road all year definatly introduces you to all types of people. I can easily hang out with somebody that is not straight edge, as long as they are not hurting themselves or anyone else. I hang out with alot of friends that have a social drink or will party on occassion, but respect the backround of the straight edge movement 110%. I think the world would be so boring if everyone was the same, so I would never dictate my beliefs on anybody at anytime. Straight edge is something that will always remain a big part of me, but it will never control me. You will never see me standing outside the Trader Joe’s Wine Store near Union Square super soaking customers with IBC root beer. I will never let straight edge become an addiction, because when that happens, then it is a negative form of abuse. To me it will always be about self improvement, peace, health, and accepting everyone. As Insted would say, “Live and let live!”

Keith Sidorowicz . Energy

I don’t know the majority of my extended family due to alcohol addiction. Either they never came around due to drowning in the flood of their addictions, or they would get so smashed at family gatherings that I would never be able to communicate with them on a normal basis. At the time I took it really hard because all my friends had such a tight connection with all their aunts, uncles, and cousins while the only member of my blood I could ever open up to about anything was my mother. I look back at it now and really indulge those moments as very hard learning expieriences that shaped me into the person that I’am today. My first exposure to straight edge was in 1996. I was in 7th grade and really starting to take advantage of my percussion abilities. My friend Mike played bass and wanted to start a band with me since he knew I listened to hip hop, some punk, and could play a decent amount of grooves. We also asked our friend Doug since he played guitar and used a Gibson SG. Finally we made move one day after school and had our first practice. We had one original song, but needed to play a cover to see how we gel’d together. Mike had snagged a handful of cassettes from his brothers collection. The first tape Mike played was a maxell mix which had Minor Threat, Snapcase, Youth Of Today, Silent Majority, and Side By Side. The first song he played was “In My Eyes”! I will never forget hearing those lyrics for the first time, and just feeling so fresh out of the box with excitement! I never thought a band could play music at the speed I was hearing. Not to mention being an aggressive band and singing about a lifestyle that consisted of no drinking, no drugs, and no permiscuous sex. I could not believe my ears as soon as Ian screamed “Did you fucking get it” followed by Jeffs all accented 16th note snare pattern into the fastest beat in existance! We must’ve covered “In My Eyes” 22 times at that practice. I remember being in so much pain since I had never tried to play drums at such bpm’s before. But it did not matter, I was about to start a new chapter in my life that day.

So that was just the beginning. Straight edge has played an enormous factor in my life towards shaping me as a person. At the time I was new to straight edge, I was very quiet, unsure of myself, and at times depressed. I had a good support system of friends, but needed the support of myself. Straight edge opened up my personality and confidence by a long shot. Shortly after I was learning the basics of hardcore music through more mix tapes and beginner record purchases, my friends and I were finding our way to attending shows on the weekends. When we could not obtain a ride, we would lie to our parents about sleeping over one anothers houses on friday night, but in reality take the train to Long Island and NYC venues like Deja 1, Coney Island High , and Tramps. The more shows we attended, the more we learned. And one key luxury of the hardcore scene was its sense of community. I would start talking to more and more people each weekend, and started to come out of my shell personality wise! I realized that this was my place and had alot to relate to and share. By age 15, I started to persue vegetarianism fulltime. I was intrested and educated through literature, lyrics, and food that was expressed by people involved with straight edge that were presenting an idea that was peaceful, compassionate, and morally straight. I started picking up many books on my own, and really disciplined myself to maintain a healthy living. I was starting to nurture my flaws physically and mentally. 2 years later, I made the transition of going vegan and only became healthier in every department of my life.

Straight edge has also given me a career in music. After high school, I had an awakening that I could use my gift of music to benefit others. I started playing with numerous bands over the years that really said some meaningful words that have been taken to heart by some lovely individuals. Not only in my hometown, but the entire world. Being on tour for 90% of the year is something I never take for granted. Each tour is as exciting as the first time I skipped around the entire country. And being on the road all year definatly introduces you to all types of people. I can easily hang out with somebody that is not straight edge, as long as they are not hurting themselves or anyone else. I hang out with alot of friends that have a social drink or will party on occassion, but respect the backround of the straight edge movement 110%. I think the world would be so boring if everyone was the same, so I would never dictate my beliefs on anybody at anytime. Straight edge is something that will always remain a big part of me, but it will never control me. You will never see me standing outside the Trader Joe’s Wine Store near Union Square super soaking customers with IBC root beer. I will never let straight edge become an addiction, because when that happens, then it is a negative form of abuse. To me it will always be about self improvement, peace, health, and accepting everyone. As Insted would say, “Live and let live!”

Apr 28th, 2009 @ 1:33 pm

Josh McDaniel . Litmus Test Zine I am Vegan Straight Edge. I was never much interested in alcohol or drugs when I was young, because both of my parents were heroin addicts, and a lot of my family has died from or is living with cancer. So coming from the kind of family I have, it was always more rebellious to abstain than to indulge. Other than puffing a few cigarettes and sipping a couple beers in middle school, I’ve never really tried any intoxicants. I’ve never done any illegal drugs, not even smoked weed. People called me Straight Edge long before I called myself that, mostly as a way to mock me. I was always too big of a nerd to be into drinking and drugs. By the time I was 15, one of my best friends was getting into Hardcore and Straight Edge. He exposed me to my first few Hardcore bands, first and foremost Floorpunch, then immediately followed by Minor Threat, Earth Crisis, and Judge. He and I claimed Edge together in late August of 2000.I’m embarrassed by how little I understood Straight Edge for the first few years that I was. I went to shows sparingly, and mostly listened to metal and gangsta rap, with only a few Hardcore bands that I listened to with any regularity. The older I got, the more interested I became, and the more involved I got. I eventually gave up eating meat, and shortly thereafter went Vegan. Most recently I’ve started publishing a zine highlighting the artistic/intellectual/political side of Straight Edge (myspace.com/litmustestzine).Nine years in and I’m more dedicated than ever. I believe in the power and sincerity of the Straight Edge movement. To this I am forever true.

Josh McDaniel . Litmus Test Zine



I am Vegan Straight Edge. 

I was never much interested in alcohol or drugs when I was young, because both of my parents were heroin addicts, and a lot of my family has died from or is living with cancer. So coming from the kind of family I have, it was always more rebellious to abstain than to indulge. Other than puffing a few cigarettes and sipping a couple beers in middle school, I’ve never really tried any intoxicants. I’ve never done any illegal drugs, not even smoked weed. People called me Straight Edge long before I called myself that, mostly as a way to mock me. I was always too big of a nerd to be into drinking and drugs. By the time I was 15, one of my best friends was getting into Hardcore and Straight Edge. He exposed me to my first few Hardcore bands, first and foremost Floorpunch, then immediately followed by Minor Threat, Earth Crisis, and Judge. He and I claimed Edge together in late August of 2000.

I’m embarrassed by how little I understood Straight Edge for the first few years that I was. I went to shows sparingly, and mostly listened to metal and gangsta rap, with only a few Hardcore bands that I listened to with any regularity. The older I got, the more interested I became, and the more involved I got. I eventually gave up eating meat, and shortly thereafter went Vegan. Most recently I’ve started publishing a zine highlighting the artistic/intellectual/political side of Straight Edge (myspace.com/litmustestzine).

Nine years in and I’m more dedicated than ever. I believe in the power and sincerity of the Straight Edge movement. To this I am forever true.

Apr 22nd, 2009 @ 9:30 am

David Jasper . Paper Heart Clothing Being a teenager in the suburbs of Berlin, Germany, going out means gettingwasted. When I was growing up I became the drummer for a ska punk band whichthrew me into a circle of playing shows in crowded basements and partyinghard. Vodka and pot were always present. Literally all of my friends backthen went by the rule „If you can still walk, you‘re not having enough fun!“Around my 19th birthday, I was a frequent drinker at parties and with thedudes in my band. However, I could watch myself become more and moredisgusted and turned off by the whole „Waste Yourself“ mentality of thepeople I hung out with. My parents had told me that whatever I felt I had totry I was allowed to, even though they would not be happy about it. Thatrule of „do what you feel is right for you“ got me thinking when I startedto see my friends pass out or be high literally every time we had bandrehearsals.In 2007, in the aftermath of a breakup scenario with my girlfriend, I feltso polluted inside from junkfood, TV, candy and alcohol (which I didn‘t evendrink alot anymore back then), I kind of looked in the mirror and took astep forward, quitting all those things altogether. It felt like the bestthing I had ever done for myself. Right around that time I also quit theband. Over all the partying, drinking and doing pot, the creativity haddisappeared completely.I don‘t recall a time where I had been more proud of myself or felt morerefreshed and able to do everything I wanted, than when I stood therewithout polluting myself in all these different ways. I took a look aroundand found the stuff that made me happy and redefined myself. I came acrossMat, who is now my best friend in the world. Together, we shared thedrugfree lifestyle and dreaming up crazy ideas and projects we wanted to do.Today, I feel more free than ever, I know that the friends I have are theones that support me in what I do. I don‘t drink, I don‘t smoke, I don‘t eatmeat. Instead, I do music, I do art, I kiss girls without having bad breathfrom alcohol or meat. I see life as it is without a blur and I am going forit.My dream of starting a clothing company has become reality with the birth ofPaper Heart Clothing in March 09 and the blog that goes along with it,documenting the progress of it all carries the title „Happy Is The New Sad“ which defines where I am at in my life since I turned straight edge.The website is www.iheartyou.de

David Jasper . Paper Heart Clothing



Being a teenager in the suburbs of Berlin, Germany, going out means getting
wasted. When I was growing up I became the drummer for a ska punk band which
threw me into a circle of playing shows in crowded basements and partying
hard. Vodka and pot were always present. Literally all of my friends back
then went by the rule „If you can still walk, you‘re not having enough fun!“
Around my 19th birthday, I was a frequent drinker at parties and with the
dudes in my band. However, I could watch myself become more and more
disgusted and turned off by the whole „Waste Yourself“ mentality of the
people I hung out with. My parents had told me that whatever I felt I had to
try I was allowed to, even though they would not be happy about it. That
rule of „do what you feel is right for you“ got me thinking when I started
to see my friends pass out or be high literally every time we had band
rehearsals.
In 2007, in the aftermath of a breakup scenario with my girlfriend, I felt
so polluted inside from junkfood, TV, candy and alcohol (which I didn‘t even
drink alot anymore back then), I kind of looked in the mirror and took a
step forward, quitting all those things altogether. It felt like the best
thing I had ever done for myself. Right around that time I also quit the
band. Over all the partying, drinking and doing pot, the creativity had
disappeared completely.

I don‘t recall a time where I had been more proud of myself or felt more
refreshed and able to do everything I wanted, than when I stood there
without polluting myself in all these different ways. I took a look around
and found the stuff that made me happy and redefined myself. I came across
Mat, who is now my best friend in the world. Together, we shared the
drugfree lifestyle and dreaming up crazy ideas and projects we wanted to do.

Today, I feel more free than ever, I know that the friends I have are the
ones that support me in what I do. I don‘t drink, I don‘t smoke, I don‘t eat
meat. Instead, I do music, I do art, I kiss girls without having bad breath
from alcohol or meat. I see life as it is without a blur and I am going for
it.

My dream of starting a clothing company has become reality with the birth of
Paper Heart Clothing in March 09 and the blog that goes along with it,
documenting the progress of it all carries the title „Happy Is The New Sad
“ which defines where I am at in my life since I turned straight edge.

The website is www.iheartyou.de

Apr 16th, 2009 @ 1:08 pm

Rich Gaccione . Dead But Dreaming Records My name is Rich Gaccione and i am proud to be straight edge and vegan. I am 30 years old and never thought the Straight Edge lifestyle would bring me the places it has.When i was 16 years old, i went to my first hardcore show. I grew up in Long Island new york, and at the time, there were bands and shows and communities thriving every weekend. So, when i went to my first show, Shift, Mouthpiece,VOD and Grid, at the Northport pipeline i immediately was hooked on this underground, free spirited style of music. People were accepting and made you feel involved. Through going to these shows i met a guy named Neil Rubenstein. He was the first person to really reach out to me and include me and teach me about the music and underground scene that was happening all around me. Neil was ( and still is) also Straight edge. Very straight edge. When i asked about what the deal was with the x’s and the vegetarian and vegan reading material that was always around at shows then, i was instantly like….”THATS ME!” See, growing up, my mother instilled on me the idea that smoking, drinking, drugs etc were BAD. Throughout junior and senior high school, i was just straight up against doing any of that. Then when i crossed paths with hardcore and Neil, it clicked….there were people out there like me and i could relate with them. Hang out, find out about music etc.As i grew up and joined bands and played in bands that were openly ” straight edge bands” the pride just grew more and more. Music has brought me around the world. Ive seen places i never thought i would because of the music scene and becoming straight edge.The thought of not being straight edge never crosses my mind.This is me. This is how i chose to lead my life, and i am proud to be straight edge.

Rich Gaccione . Dead But Dreaming Records

My name is Rich Gaccione and i am proud to be straight edge and vegan. I am 30 years old and never thought the Straight Edge lifestyle would bring me the places it has.

When i was 16 years old, i went to my first hardcore show. I grew up in Long Island new york, and at the time, there were bands and shows and communities thriving every weekend. So, when i went to my first show, Shift, Mouthpiece,VOD and Grid, at the Northport pipeline i immediately was hooked on this underground, free spirited style of music. People were accepting and made you feel involved. Through going to these shows i met a guy named Neil Rubenstein. He was the first person to really reach out to me and include me and teach me about the music and underground scene that was happening all around me. Neil was ( and still is) also Straight edge. Very straight edge. When i asked about what the deal was with the x’s and the vegetarian and vegan reading material that was always around at shows then, i was instantly like….”THATS ME!” See, growing up, my mother instilled on me the idea that smoking, drinking, drugs etc were BAD. Throughout junior and senior high school, i was just straight up against doing any of that. Then when i crossed paths with hardcore and Neil, it clicked….there were people out there like me and i could relate with them. Hang out, find out about music etc.
As i grew up and joined bands and played in bands that were openly ” straight edge bands” the pride just grew more and more. Music has brought me around the world. Ive seen places i never thought i would because of the music scene and becoming straight edge.

The thought of not being straight edge never crosses my mind.
This is me. This is how i chose to lead my life, and i am proud to be straight edge.

@ 12:51 pm

Heather MacKinnon . Ghost I am not straight edge, or have i ever been. One of my first memoriesregarding the topic was in high school. It was freshman year and thisboy with a black hoodie, glasses and chucks sat in front of me in mathclass. He had “XXX STRAIGHT EDGE” scribbled in his notebook. I laughedat it, but was completely ignorant. In the years to come after that iwould slowly learn about straight edge and its details, those arewhich were always fun topics in conversations. “But what if you havesex, that means you broke edge”, or “what if you kiss somebody who hasbeen drinking, does that make you straight edge still?” and otherridiculous observations. My high school years were mostly consumed bya close net of friends, my art, and discovering a scene of punk musicand shows. Sure, i experimented with drugs and alcohol but i alwaysfound other things in life to direct my attention. Additionally, manyof the people i surrounded myself with were also ones who gave noconcern to drugs or alcohol. I went through a point in life where ifollowed the straight edge lifestyle but never brought the title“straight edge” to my life. It wasnt until i started college that ilearned about this huge underground community of “straight edge”. Itwas my new group of straight edge friends that opened my eyes to this.They taught me that you can still have fun without drugs or alcohol,which was brand new to me. Straight edge tattoos, straight edgetshirts, even straight edge bands? I was more knowledgeable about thesubject now, yet still wasn’t drawn to it. I was so impressed at thedevotion that straight edge people held for what they believed in.Still to this day i swear off drugs for personal reasons, drink everyso often and have many straight edge friends (including my lovellyboyfriend). Ive always felt itwas a lifestyle i couldn’t fit in to, or maybe it just wasnt for me. Isupport my straight edge friends and tease them with a beer can intheir face from time to time, but quite honestly am significantlyproud of them. In my eyes I’ve always seen them as strong people forthe lifestyle they choose and stand by. And for that, my hats off tothem.

Heather MacKinnon . Ghost



I am not straight edge, or have i ever been. One of my first memories
regarding the topic was in high school. It was freshman year and this
boy with a black hoodie, glasses and chucks sat in front of me in math
class. He had “XXX STRAIGHT EDGE” scribbled in his notebook. I laughed
at it, but was completely ignorant. In the years to come after that i
would slowly learn about straight edge and its details, those are
which were always fun topics in conversations. “But what if you have
sex, that means you broke edge”, or “what if you kiss somebody who has
been drinking, does that make you straight edge still?” and other
ridiculous observations. My high school years were mostly consumed by
a close net of friends, my art, and discovering a scene of punk music
and shows. Sure, i experimented with drugs and alcohol but i always
found other things in life to direct my attention. Additionally, many
of the people i surrounded myself with were also ones who gave no
concern to drugs or alcohol. I went through a point in life where i
followed the straight edge lifestyle but never brought the title
“straight edge” to my life. It wasnt until i started college that i
learned about this huge underground community of “straight edge”. It
was my new group of straight edge friends that opened my eyes to this.
They taught me that you can still have fun without drugs or alcohol,
which was brand new to me. Straight edge tattoos, straight edge
tshirts, even straight edge bands? I was more knowledgeable about the
subject now, yet still wasn’t drawn to it. I was so impressed at the
devotion that straight edge people held for what they believed in.
Still to this day i swear off drugs for personal reasons, drink every
so often and have many straight edge friends (including my lovelly
boyfriend). Ive always felt it
was a lifestyle i couldn’t fit in to, or maybe it just wasnt for me. I
support my straight edge friends and tease them with a beer can in
their face from time to time, but quite honestly am significantly
proud of them. In my eyes I’ve always seen them as strong people for
the lifestyle they choose and stand by. And for that, my hats off to
them.

@ 12:45 pm

Sean Farris For me it all started roughly 15 or 16 years ago. Around that time I was first exposed to the likes of Bad Brains, Supertouch, Up Front, Token Entry, Warzone, Cockney Rejects, etc. I was 11 or 12 years old and at that point for me it was all about fun and something a little different than what I’d been exposed to prior. Having grown up primarily on Motown, early Sun Records, and a little Deep Purple here and there… I was always drawn to music with guts, with an edge, with soul. I suppose in that way, punk rock and hardcore weren’t a big jump. I was always lucky in that regardless of whether or not my parents enjoyed what I listened to, they always supported my right to do so. Now, I’m sure some of you are familiar with the highly politicized early-mid 90’s. It was the age of the “Hardline” movement and though I became familiar with (and even enjoyed) a few of the bands, it would be a couple years before I had the mindset to tackle such issues. As time wore on, truth be told… I had my ups and downs with it. Though I never had any interest in alcohol or drug culture, my attitude towards it hit peaks and valleys for a few years. I had my moments of intensity though at root, I stuck by the idea that a good person is a good person, edge or not. I believe the first time I claimed edge was my 18th birthday, and the last was my 24th. It wasn’t a matter of “growing out of it”… even now, I very rarely drink and I have still never smoked or touched any sort of drug (though truthfully, I’ve always been an advocate for the legalization of marijuana). I still respect straight edge, what it taught me, and the strength it gave me to get through some things that I’m quite confident I wouldn’t have survived otherwise. It was simply another step in life. Here I am, a decade and a half later… still listening to the bands that set me on a path to clarity (regardless of whether or not i adhere to the moniker I once did), still proud of the Minor Threat tattoo on my forearm, still loving and missing those that helped me on this path and were lost long before their time… and I wouldn’t change a thing. Life may have shifted in some form over the years, but the desire to live with an open heart and mind remains the same. In the words of the almighty (and not so edge) Bad Brains, “We’ve got that attitude!”

Sean Farris

For me it all started roughly 15 or 16 years ago. Around that time I was first exposed to the likes of Bad Brains, Supertouch, Up Front, Token Entry, Warzone, Cockney Rejects, etc. I was 11 or 12 years old and at that point for me it was all about fun and something a little different than what I’d been exposed to prior. Having grown up primarily on Motown, early Sun Records, and a little Deep Purple here and there… I was always drawn to music with guts, with an edge, with soul. I suppose in that way, punk rock and hardcore weren’t a big jump. I was always lucky in that regardless of whether or not my parents enjoyed what I listened to, they always supported my right to do so.

Now, I’m sure some of you are familiar with the highly politicized early-mid 90’s. It was the age of the “Hardline” movement and though I became familiar with (and even enjoyed) a few of the bands, it would be a couple years before I had the mindset to tackle such issues. As time wore on, truth be told… I had my ups and downs with it. Though I never had any interest in alcohol or drug culture, my attitude towards it hit peaks and valleys for a few years. I had my moments of intensity though at root, I stuck by the idea that a good person is a good person, edge or not. I believe the first time I claimed edge was my 18th birthday, and the last was my 24th. It wasn’t a matter of “growing out of it”… even now, I very rarely drink and I have still never smoked or touched any sort of drug (though truthfully, I’ve always been an advocate for the legalization of marijuana). I still respect straight edge, what it taught me, and the strength it gave me to get through some things that I’m quite confident I wouldn’t have survived otherwise. It was simply another step in life.

Here I am, a decade and a half later… still listening to the bands that set me on a path to clarity (regardless of whether or not i adhere to the moniker I once did), still proud of the Minor Threat tattoo on my forearm, still loving and missing those that helped me on this path and were lost long before their time… and I wouldn’t change a thing. Life may have shifted in some form over the years, but the desire to live with an open heart and mind remains the same. In the words of the almighty (and not so edge) Bad Brains, “We’ve got that attitude!”

Apr 8th, 2009 @ 8:32 pm

Marky Connolly . On Impact! So I first was introduced to the term straight edge from my brother when i was 5th grade or something when I didn’t understand why he was drawing all these x’s on his hands. I really didn’t think anything of it obviously because i was like 9 or 10 so all i cared about was spongebob and macaroni and cheese (not much of that has changed). Since the beginning of high school I went to parties and saw kids being absolute idiots, and i didn’t really understand what the point was. Some of my good friends getting alcohol poisoning and passing out on the regular was some reason an okay thing to do. Before I really got into straight edge I knew that drinking, getting sick, and being an idiot was definitely nothing I wanted to be a part of.I was always into bands like saves the day and new found glory and other assorted pop punk, but it wasn’t until spring of my sophmore year that I started getting into hardcore. My brother used to play bane, this is hell, and have heart records in my house and I just wouldn’t get it and wrote it off. But one day I took an cd from shauns room called the things we carry by have heart and and stupid as this may sound I never connected with an album so quickly ever. That album is front to back preaching straight edge and I loved every second. I became really angry after a terrible, terrible situation with a terrible girl and hardcore help me feed that anger, and it ruled. From there I continued to listen to bands such as bane, champion, verse, etc. and in the process of learning about straight edge I developed a strong love for hardcore.So now I’m 18 and a senior in high school and have been straight edge for about 2 years and I think it’s the best decision I’ve made yet. It’s a great feeling to know that kids have the same ideas and make the same decisions you do and dig the same music you do, it truly does feel like you’re a part of something. I get into enough trouble on my own as it is I don’t need to worry about getting caught drinking at some kids house or something stupid, and it is just nothing that intrests me at all.Toomey will probably make fun of me for this

Marky Connolly . On Impact!

So I first was introduced to the term straight edge from my brother when i was 5th grade or something when I didn’t understand why he was drawing all these x’s on his hands. I really didn’t think anything of it obviously because i was like 9 or 10 so all i cared about was spongebob and macaroni and cheese (not much of that has changed). 
Since the beginning of high school I went to parties and saw kids being absolute idiots, and i didn’t really understand what the point was. Some of my good friends getting alcohol poisoning and passing out on the regular was some reason an okay thing to do. Before I really got into straight edge I knew that drinking, getting sick, and being an idiot was definitely nothing I wanted to be a part of.
I was always into bands like saves the day and new found glory and other assorted pop punk, but it wasn’t until spring of my sophmore year that I started getting into hardcore. My brother used to play bane, this is hell, and have heart records in my house and I just wouldn’t get it and wrote it off. But one day I took an cd from shauns room called the things we carry by have heart and and stupid as this may sound I never connected with an album so quickly ever. That album is front to back preaching straight edge and I loved every second. I became really angry after a terrible, terrible situation with a terrible girl and hardcore help me feed that anger, and it ruled. From there I continued to listen to bands such as bane, champion, verse, etc. and in the process of learning about straight edge I developed a strong love for hardcore.
So now I’m 18 and a senior in high school and have been straight edge for about 2 years and I think it’s the best decision I’ve made yet. It’s a great feeling to know that kids have the same ideas and make the same decisions you do and dig the same music you do, it truly does feel like you’re a part of something. I get into enough trouble on my own as it is I don’t need to worry about getting caught drinking at some kids house or something stupid, and it is just nothing that intrests me at all.
Toomey will probably make fun of me for this

@ 7:49 pm

Brandon Davis . Lions Lions  I am 23 years old.I am Straight Egde. I have always been “substance free” but i think i actually claimed straight edge around the  age of 16. Ive seen a lot of friends go through a lot of drug/alcohol related problems and i never really wanted to follow in their foot steps so making the choice to be straight edge was a good way for me to stay focused on living a good life for myself.

Brandon Davis . Lions Lions 

I am 23 years old.
I am Straight Egde.
 I have always been “substance free” but i think i actually claimed straight edge around the  age of 16. Ive seen a lot of friends go through a lot of drug/alcohol related problems and i never really wanted to follow in their foot steps so making the choice to be straight edge was a good way for me to stay focused on living a good life for myself.

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