Black Flag
 

If there's already a thread I'm sure the merging will be swift and professional...

There's alot to talk about with Black Flag, not least the fact that they were far from a conventional punk band, after 'Damaged' at least.
Before getting into them I read tons of average reviews of 'My War', 'Slip It In' and so forth - but all these albums turned out to be provocative brilliance, alternating between explosive rage and a sucking mire of noise... Greg Ginn was a true original.

It's apparent from interviews that Rollins hates England and the English, which is disappointing (being limey scum myself) but I still admire his all-consuming passion and the total disgust he had for the hardcore flock. We'll pretend the last 20 years of solo releases never happened...

my war


slip it in


family man

Amazing. H.R really doesn't care about his little short-shorts falling off does he?
they are my late-night music of choice at the moment. 'Rat's Eyes' makes even more sense at erm...2.40 in the morning.

They were the gateway to 80s hardcore for me so I guess they'll always hold sentimental value. My War and Black Flag are favorite -and as you guessed it I prefer the Rollins years. I think Damaged is the most accessible and My War is their best. I was really surprised to see how many here liked them in that recent poll thingy.

Everyone I know says Black Flag was better with Keith Morris....I like Henry.

I don't think Rollins is half as underrated as people make him out to be. I've found it to be a pretty even split .

Greg Ginn is one of my favorite guitarist. Henry is underrated.

T.V. party tonight!

Alright!

I so knew someone would say that.

well....I couldn't resist.

I would done the exact same thing.

Jealous cowards try to control!

if it wasn't for Black Flag, I'd still be some sorta crazy punk rock elitist. Greeg Ginn is the best ever man!!!

seriously Rollins era 'Flag is so much better than the others. I LOVE BLACK FLAG!

No..your suppose to say Rise Above!
Understand the game?

:finger: stop being such a thread nazi.

much like Black Flag, I disregard the game becuz it is ultimately NOT NECESSARY.

do you understand?

MODERN MAN
MODERN MAN.

It was a joke.

Black Flag are serious, get the fu.ck out of this thread before Henry Rollins kicks the **** outta you.

Alright....nazi.

you just don't get it buddy

I'm not your buddy...I just want to talk about one of the greatest hardcore bands. K?

can't we be buddies?

i mean that's really what hardcore was all about...unity n that. you know?

so what's your favourite black flag album?

I'm sorry I was under the impression that you hated me? Don't you? Anyhow, Damaged then Nervous Breakdown EP

Nah I don't hate you.

Damaged is brilliant, an undeniable masterpiece. The problem I've got with it is fairly simple and fairly superficial. I think I've listened to that album 100 times...it was THE album of my early teenage years. The lyrical topics struck a real chord with me, and the generally angry and biting nature of the album was inspiration. I love Damaged, but I know every single note of that album, therefore I no longer find it interesting.

My personal favourite Black Flag release NOW, is Who's Got the 10 1/2. It captured the raw, furious and energetic sound of later 'Flag, giving a much more personal and intimate take on their work. Great stuff.

Quick question do you know what kind of gutiar Greg played? Glad you don't hate me...Wayfarer does. :)

I am not a guitarist, so I can't help out there as I dont know what Ginn plays. All i know is that I love those goddamn solos he plays. It's crazy, like free jazz meets sludgy noise. Well not quite, but he certainly had a unique style, which distinguished Black Flag from other more conventional hardcore bands. Greg is the man, although his solo stuff sucks ass.

True dat, but IDK about the solo stuff never heard it and after that comment don't want to.

you are best to avoid Greg's solo stuff.

he did work with a collective called "Gone" which was pretty interesting...like later Saccharine Trust style jazz-improv-punk. If you're a big Black Flag fan it's worth checking out Gone, especially if you're into "The Process Of Weeding Out" ep...but just DO NOT listen to Gregs solo stuff as it is numbingly bad.

^Totally agree with you
Love that one

Black Flag are great
They used to be my favorite band
And I've always loved Henry Rollins

^ yes!

If I was female, I would definitely want to marry Henry Rollins.

The guy is just fantastic.

I know, I just love his voice, and.........
Well pretty much everything about him actually
So much better of a frontman

Yeah

I always get a little irked by the purist hardcore fans who dislike Rollins, and the "metal" era of the band. If Keith Morris had still been vocalist at the time, then Damaged would not have been half as good as it is. Rollins brought a whole lot of charisma, direction and consistency to the band. He's the man.

here's a rather funny video of some douchebag (but nice enough) kid interviewing the band, which basicaly becomes Rollins ranting about him.

YouTube - Early Henry Rollins / Black Flag Interview!!!

edit: i will also say that Kira is VERY cute in this video.

Yes my hardcore friends always give him sh1t. The first time I saw Henry Rollins was on TV and I thought he was a football player because of his build. Kira is kind of hot, but then again any girl that plays an instrument is.

Could you meet his standards?

How old is Henry? He has an awesome fashion sense, considering he's anti fashion plain clothes no logos.

Henry Rollins is 47. I've always found it hard to compare the different eras because of the varying outputs and how long each vocalist was in the band but I think overall Keith Morris is my favorite. But as far as Rollins goes My War>Damaged.

Ron (chavo pederasta) Reyes and his rat tail......made me sooo hot

radio interview 1984, Kira Roessler speaks... Bill Stevenson sounds like he's taken one too many bottles to the head

actually, I haven't. I'm certain that it is the ONLY Black Flag release I've not heard. I even have bootlegs of some of their shows, and still haven't got that for some reason. I kept meaning to get it for an age, but I kind of stopped listening to Black Flag and similar music so never did. I'll need to get that sometime.

It is perhaps unfair to compare. I like Keith Morris's work with Black Flag, but the guy would never have been able to carry the band in the same manner as Rollins did later on. Even though Ginn was undoubtedly the main player in the band, Rollins was the most notorious and was the face. And was brilliant at that. Morris was a loser, and I was never into the Circle Jerks much either. He did have his time with Black Flag though, and some of their best work was with Keith on vocals.

Side 2 of My War has some of my favourite Black Flag songs.

haha indeed, he sounds like there's a screw loose there.

In My Head (1986) is a masterpiece. It's such a shame they broke up, they were on a roll