Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band that formed in Washington DC in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. While Minor Threat was short-lived, it had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene in the United States. Minor Threat's song "Straight Edge" was the basis for the straight edge movement, and the band often professed their own "straight edge" ideals. Critics have called Minor Threat's music "iconic," and have noted that their "groundbreaking" music "has held up better than [that of] most of their contemporaries."

Along with the fellow Washington DC hardcore band Bad Brains, Minor Threat set the standard for many hardcore punk bands in the 1980s and 1990s. They produced short, often astonishingly fast songs, eventually with high production quality, which at the time was lacking in most punk and alternative rock. All of Minor Threat's records were released on the band's own Dischord Records label.

Minor Threat was a short-lived but very influential hardcore punk band from Washington DC, often credited with starting the straight edge movement. Critics have called them and their work “iconic,” and have noted that their “groundbreaking” music “has held up better than [that of] most of their contemporaries.” They and fellow Washington DC residents Bad Brains set the standard for many hardcore punk bands in the 1980s and 1990s. They produced short, often astonishingly fast songs, e