Long after early Dischord hardcore bands Minor Threat and Gray Matter broke up, three strings players from the latter and the percussionist from the former decided to get together. At first, in the spring of 1986, Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson tried pairing with Gray Matter alums Geoff Turner and Steve Niles in a band called Egg Hunt. When MacKaye went off to join Fugazi, Nelson, Turner, and Niles brought in another ex-Gray Matter member, Mark Haggerty. Fronted by Turner, the new group, 3, helped set the trend in the indie rock scene of looking inward. Nelson, also a graphic artist, later said he just liked the look of the number 3. ~ Ron DePasquale, All Music Guide