Memorial show for John Stabb of Government Issue in DC tonight

Photo: John Stabb Facebook page.

Boycott Cancer, a benefit show in tribute to Government Issue singer John “Stabb” Schroeder, takes place at the Black Cat in Washington D.C. tonight.

Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, J. Robbins and much buzzed-about local heroes Give are all scheduled to participate. 

Stabb died of stomach cancer at age 54. The surving members of Government Issue announced news of the singer’s passing on their Facebook page Saturday: 

“It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce that at 7:43 p.m 5/7/16 our comrade John Stabb Schroeder lost his hard fought battle with stomach cancer. Our hearts go out to his wife Mina. Rest in Power, brother, there will never be another.” 

Stabb was the only constant member of the hardcore punk legends, whose debut was among the first records to be released by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson’s Dischord Records, alongside Teen Idles, State Of Alert and Minor Threat, whose guitarist Brian Baker (now in Bad Religion) was once a member of G.I. as well. Over the years, Government Issue’s lineup also included Mike Fellows (Rites Of Spring), Steve Hangsen (Minor Threat), Peter Moffett (Wool) and Robbins, who got his start as G.I.’s bassist. Robbins of course went on to front Jawbox and Burning Airlines. 

After Government Issue’s initial split in 1989, Stabb was in Stain, Emma Peel, Weatherhead, Betty Blue, The Factory Incident and most recently, History Repeated. He was an important voice in the Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk In Washington D.C. documentary. Government Issue reunited or the occasional reunion shows. Stabb was diagnosed with malignant stomach cancer in late January 2016.

Stabb is survived by his wife, Mina Devadas. Information on contributing to the Boycott Cancer fund is available at JohnStabb.com