Widely considered as one of the pioneers of hardcore punk, Black Flag traces its origins to Hermosa Beach, CA in 1976. The band was founded by its guitarist and songwriter Greg Ginn, who was its only mainstay from 1976 to 1986, and when the band reunited in 2003 and in 2013.
One of the icons of nonconformance in the early 1980s, Black Flag created an imprint in the industry even as it disbanded in 1986. From the rise and fall of it all, take a look at one of the most prolific punk rock bands in history.
From the Murky Waters of the Underground Music Scene
Ginn had difficulty getting the band to rehearse for several hours in a day. He and co-founder/ frontman Keith Morris reportedly had difficulties finding a bass guitarist, which forced them to rehearse without one, eventually leading to Ginn's distinctive guitar sound.
The band later had Ginn's brother, Raymond Pettibon, and Chuck Dukowski and had a quarter, having their first performance in December 1977 under the name Panic. They later changed it to Black Flag, to avoid confusion with another band.
Pettibon suggested the name and designed the band's logo. Black Flag spray-painted its logo all over Los Angeles, attracting the attention of both fans and the authority. Since the punk rock scene was not as widely-followed as other genres, the opportunity to play was scarce, even in Southern California. The band got around it by DIY-ing their promotion and gigs - they played anywhere from picnics to schools.
The band started gaining a fanbase, thanks to Ginn's discipline and Dukowski's charisma and energy. In fact, Dukowski remained as the tour manager for the band, even as he stopped performing with them. By 1980, the band was going through a couple of member changes, with a fan from LA, Dez Cadena, finally joining the band. It marked the band's growing commercial success and attention from the LA Police.
The Start of the Rollins Era and Banning Black Flag
Unfortunately, although Cadena was still eager to perform with the band, his voice was strained mainly because he had no prior experience or training. From the other side of the country, a twenty-year-old Henry Rollins was singing for the band State of Alert. S.O.A. met Black Flag when they were on the east coast for a performance. Rollins was later invited and accepted as the new vocalist of Black Flag. Rollins joined Black Flag by being a roadie at first, studying the band's songs in between checks and encores.
Henry Rollins would become the band's longest-lasting, and most recognizable, vocalist. He would appear on stage wearing only shorts and get confrontational with members of the audience, going so far as to engage in a physical altercation. It was also during Rollins' tenure that the band started on their first full-length album, "Damaged," which was released in December 1981.
Black Flag, together with the Minutemen, toured the UK in the winter of 1981 to 1982, they even opened for a Richard Hell concert. However, upon the band's return to the US, UK customs held their Colombian drummer Robo because of Visa problems, leading the band to continue without him.
The band also started experimenting with other sounds aside from punk rock. In 1983, Dukowski retired from performing but stayed as tour manager. While they were able to produce new songs, they had to without bass. Also, they were caught in an ongoing legal dispute leaving the band unable to use the name "Black Flag." They released "Everything Went Black," their compilation record recorded to each of their names instead of to the band.
A Bassist to Match Ginn and Full Spead Ahead
When Unicorn Records, their label, declared bankruptcy, the band was free from injunction and can use the name and the label again. They released their landmark album "My War," influencing punk and grunge music in the following years. Black Flag also found its new bassist with Kira Roessler, bringing the Black Flag ship full speed ahead.
In 1984, the band released three albums and mostly stayed on the road for tours. It was also around this time that Black Flag established an iconic setlist that incorporated their earlier singles like "Six Pack" with songs from the latest "My War" album.
Unfortunately, Roessler's supposed erratic behavior and her college studies led to her being booted from the band. Infighting, rising tensions, and fatigue from the constant touring led to the band's foundations to slowly crumble. In June 1986 in Detroit, the band made its last performance.
The band, however, would later reunite in 2003 and release the studio album "What The..." Black Flag would later take another break and get back together again in 2013.
