Lyle Preslar | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Hardcore punk |
| Occupations | Guitarist, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
Lyle Preslar is an American musician best known for being the guitar player and songwriter for the hardcore punk band Minor Threat.
Before that, he was the vocalist for The Extorts, who later became State of Alert after he quit.[2] Despite not performing on any State of Alert recordings, Preslar received co-writing credit for the songs "Draw Blank" from the No Policy EP and "I Hate the Kids" from the Dischord Records compilation Flex Your Head.
Preslar was a member of Minor Threat during their entire 1980-83 lifespan. His guitar playing was praised by Minor Threat bandmate Ian Mackaye, who stated "Lyle Preslar, the guitar player, I mean he's one of the most unsung guitar players. He's playing full, six-string-position barre chords at that speed—that's just insane. His accuracy and his rhythms are so incredible."[3][4]
After Minor Threat dissolved, he played guitar in the first incarnation of Samhain circa 1983, and with The Meatmen 1983-88.[5][6] Preslar was briefly involved with an early version of Big Black in 1981, but soon departed due to personality clashes with Steve Albini.[7]
After retiring from performing, he ran Caroline Records, signing Ben Folds, the Chemical Brothers, and Fatboy Slim; he was later a marketing executive for Elektra Records and Sire Records.[6][8] In 2007, he graduated from Rutgers School of Law–Newark.[8] He is admitted to practice law in the state of New York.
He is married to Sandy Alouete, an executive at VH1, and they have a child named Romy.[8]
Preslar also won the Grammy Law Initiative Writing Prize in 2007 with an article about the RIAA vs. XM Satellite Radio.[8]