Origins and Cultural Context The straight-edge philosophy traces back to songs and bands in the hardcore punk milieu, most famously Minor Threat’s 1981 track “Straight Edge,” whose lyrics articulated a reaction against substance-fueled nihilism. Over ensuing decades, straight edge diversified: some adherents adopted a quiet, personal sobriety; others formed militant subgroups or fused the ethic with religious convictions (notably Christian straight edge scenes). By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the internet accelerated this diversification by enabling global networking among adherents, promoters, bands, and activists.