The band experienced many changes in membership during its nine-year existence, with singer John Stabb as the only consistent member in an ever-fluctuating lineup that at various times included notable musicians Brian Baker, Mike Fellows, Steve Hansgen, J. Robbins, and Peter Moffett.

Though this has caused the band to be sometimes overlooked in relation to other Washington, D.C. hardcore acts, their stylistic diversity made them influential to later punk rock groups.

[1][2] As the members of The Stab drifted apart, Stabb and drummer Marc Alberstadt recruited guitarist John Barry and bassist Brian Gay, changing the band's name to Government Issue.

[1][4] Baker later recalled that "Ian [MacKaye] and Jeff [Nelson] were gonna start something with Eddie [Janney] and John Falls, so I joined the DC band I liked the best who needed somebody — Government Issue.

"[5] Lyle took over the guitar position and Mitch Parker joined on bass for Government Issue's 1983 debut LP Boycott Stabb, which was produced by Ian MacKaye.

[1][4] Government Issue saw Stabb moving in a more melodic direction, away from traditional hardcore and taking influence from The Damned's gothic rock sound.

[1][7] Hansgen and Saley subsequently left and were replaced by J. Robbins and Peter Moffett, respectively, and Government Issue moved to Giant Records for 1987's You, an album which chronicled Stabb's relationship with an underage girl.

After looking at the situation objectively, having done monster tours of the US and Europe, and after a terrible van accident in England where Pete shattered his ankle, we felt we were beating our heads against the wall.

[11] To help him and then-wife Mika Ackerman pay for his medical bills and lost wages, a benefit concert was held on September 23, 2007 which featured a reunited lineup of Stabb, Tom Lyle, and Brian Baker, joined by drummer William Knapp, performing as "Government Re-Issue".

[12] A portion of the proceeds from the 2007 Riot Fest concert were donated to Stabb to pay for his medical bills, as well as to J. Robbins, whose son had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy.

McPhereson[16] On April 11, 2014, Government Issue reunited for the final time with the original Legless Bull lineup of Stabb, John Barry, Brian Gay along with drummer Karl Hill for the Damaged City Festival in Washington, DC.

"[18] The band continued in 2015, playing the Bad Ass Weekend festival in Houston that February and a five-date tour of the Southeastern United States in October and November, including a performance at The Fest.

[6] Steve Huey of Allmusic notes that the band "carried the torch for traditional hardcore punk on their early records, but evolved into something more adventurous by adding bits of metal, new wave pop, and psychedelia".

[1] By 1986's Government Issue Stabb was moving in a more melodic direction influenced by the gothic rock of The Damned, and by 1988's Crash the group was at its most musically diverse.

And while changes like these could seem like sellout moves for a group that once wrote a song called "Rock 'N' Roll Bullshit", they were a vital next step in the evolution of [insert whatever eclectic punk CD you're listening to today].