A
photo-filled oral history of the DC-area music studio that brought us
some of the most iconic recordings by Bad Brains, Bikini Kill,
Fugazi, and so many more
In
the late 1970s, Don Zientara--a conscientious objector to the Vietnam
War--founded Inner Ear Studio in the basement of his home in
Arlington, VA, using the electronics training he received from the
army. Inner Ear remained in Don's basement until its 1990 relocation
to a larger space on South Oakland Street. Along the way, Inner Ear
became best known for recording iconic DC punk musicians including
Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Bikini Kill, Rites of Spring, Mary Timony,
and Fugazi.
Composed
by photographer Antonia Tricarico, The
Inner Ear of Don Zientara
is an oral history of not just Inner Ear's recordings, but the role
that Don played in creating one of the most welcoming and nurturing
recording studios the world over. Alongside 250 photographs, this
volume includes testimonials from members of Fugazi, Scream, Fire
Party, Shudder to Think, Jawbox, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and
Dismemberment Plan, as well as musicians like Kathleen Hanna and
Henry Rollins, among other notables.
In
addition to DC punk bands, Don also recorded many other styles and
genres, including Celtic folk tunes, harp music, Russian balalaika
groups, political advertisers, and choral singers. The studio was
also featured on Dave Grohl's Sonic Highways television mini-series.
The
Inner Ear of Don Zientara
pays tribute to this iconic studio, celebrating the man at the heart
of this remarkable space.