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In 1985, after D Boon's tragic death at age 27 signalled the end of <a href="spotify:artist:0z6zRFzl5njXWLVAisXQBz">the Minutemen</a>, bassist <a href="spotify:artist:1MGR2y3msa1wBK06SSUNaf">Mike Watt</a> and drummer George Hurley threw in their lot with then-22-year-old former Ohio State University student, guitar player, and <a href="spotify:artist:0z6zRFzl5njXWLVAisXQBz">Minutemen</a> fanatic Ed Crawford to form fIREHOSE. Taking their group name from a line in <a href="spotify:artist:74ASZWbe4lXaubB36ztrGX">Bob Dylan</a>'s "Subterranean Homesick Blues," fIREHOSE continued in <a href="spotify:artist:0z6zRFzl5njXWLVAisXQBz">the Minutemen</a> tradition of breathtaking musicianship combined with caustic lyrical fusillades inspired by the writing of the Beat Generation and the erect-middle-finger indignation of the Blank Generation. However, with Crawford's decidedly folkie bent insinuating itself into the mix, fIREHOSE's songs began to expand into more traditional verse-chorus-verse songwriting symmetry. And although fIREHOSE never equaled <a href="spotify:artist:0z6zRFzl5njXWLVAisXQBz">the Minutemen</a>'s output in terms of sheer audacity and emotional depth, Crawford, <a href="spotify:artist:1MGR2y3msa1wBK06SSUNaf">Watt</a>, and Hurley recorded rock that was muscular, dense, and daring, along with being tremendously heartfelt. They never patronized audiences or comported themselves as "rock stars"; they were instead the quintessential post-punk "peoples' band." Although they achieved wider notoriety than did <a href="spotify:artist:0z6zRFzl5njXWLVAisXQBz">the Minutemen</a> (eventually recording for a major label), fIREHOSE called it quits in early 1994 after a desultory, dispirited final LP (Mr. Machinery Operator). Still, nearly all of their recorded work stands as some of the best late-'80s/early-'90s indie rock. ~ John Dougan, Rovi
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