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Black Flag was one of America's first hardcore punk bands. They emerged from Southern California to gain international prominence, touring enough to become a major attraction in virtually every city where a scene existed and undoubtedly inspiring others to get in the game. Via the band's SST label, Black Flag played an essential role in the development and popularization of American punk. Through countless revolving-door personnel changes — which spawned numerous spin-off bands along the way — Black Flag persevered until 1986, finally dissolving after locating and exploring the zone where punk and heavy metal intersect and overlap.
Guitarist and songwriter Greg Ginn founded Black Flag in 1976 along with vocalist Keith Morris. They were intially called Panic, adopting the Black Flag moniker a few years later. Ginn remained the only constant member in the band until their split in the summer of 1986. In 2003, Ginn resurrected the Black Flag for a couple shows to benefit cat rescue organizations. These shows featured contributions from some old members as well as new players and reactions were mixed. In January 2013, Ginn announced that he was relaunching the band with vocalist Ron Reyes (the second of 4 vocalists to pass through the group in its initial run) with the intention of extensive touring and recording new material. At the same time, Keith Morris and one-time bassist and SST Records co-founder Chuck Dukowski launched Flag, which also featured former members Bill Stevenson and Dez Cadena as well as Descendents/ALL guitarist Stephen Egerton, to perform the music of Black Flag.
Guitarist and songwriter Greg Ginn founded Black Flag in 1976 along with vocalist Keith Morris. They were intially called Panic, adopting the Black Flag moniker a few years later. Ginn remained the only constant member in the band until their split in the summer of 1986. In 2003, Ginn resurrected the Black Flag for a couple shows to benefit cat rescue organizations. These shows featured contributions from some old members as well as new players and reactions were mixed. In January 2013, Ginn announced that he was relaunching the band with vocalist Ron Reyes (the second of 4 vocalists to pass through the group in its initial run) with the intention of extensive touring and recording new material. At the same time, Keith Morris and one-time bassist and SST Records co-founder Chuck Dukowski launched Flag, which also featured former members Bill Stevenson and Dez Cadena as well as Descendents/ALL guitarist Stephen Egerton, to perform the music of Black Flag.
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magsrecords
18. September 2020offstage, and for a while no one knew what to do. Neither did the band.
Imagine: hundreds of edgy, uncertain punks ready to use any excuse to create
mass violence; the remaining members of BF sitting dumbfounded onstage: I was
about ready to grab the mike and tell everyone to "Go Home." Greg told me:
"no, we're going to play." They resumed playing. Some young kid jumped
onstage, grabbed the mike and started singing "Nervous Breakdown" All
hell broke loose. A couple of other kids jumped onstage and started fighting
over the mike. A guy named "Snikers" (ex-lead singer for the "Simpletones")
jumped up and began singing "Louie Louie" and then proceeded to perform a most
disgustingly drunken striptease during which cans, bottles, spit, sweat, and
bodies began flying with a vengeance. It was the finest rock & roll show I had
ever seen.
The ensuing Black Flag shows were just as inspiring. Considering the fact that
they had no vocalist, anything was bound to happen. "Guest" vocalists took the
stage and many of these people bragged up and down the west coast how they were
Black Flag's " new singer."
- Dave Tarling