Dag Nasty may not have been the first melodic hardcore band but they're certainly one of the most important. Formed in 1985 by Minor Threat guitarist Brian Baker, the band combined hardcore's energy and aggression with pop-punk hooks. Despite a shifting lineup, they recorded three classic albums before breaking up in 1988. (Baker would eventually join Bad Religion, while singer Dave Smalley would form Down By Law.) Though they're largely unknown outside of the hardcore scene, you can hear Dag Nasty's influence on dozens of bands; Lifetime and blink-182 cite them as a key inspiration.