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Next to Bad Brains and a handful of others, I’d venture to say that Black Flag was one of the quintessential hardcore bands of all time. Their classic output was not only important to the genre they helped create, but as they evolved, Black Flag also influenced much of the metal landscape today. Ask Scott Kelly, Buzzo, Brian Patton or many many others; they’ll tell you that side 2 of My War was crucial.
Besides a few false alarms and flare ups, Black Flag has mostly stayed inactive since their split in 1986. Ron Reyes, the replacement for Keith Morris and who was eventually replaced by Dez Cadena and Henry Rollins, found Jesus. Robo, who joined the Misfits in the early 80s, reclaimed his chair with the latter Danzig-less version. Greg Ginn took up jammy one-man projects and dabbled in mostly uninteresting jazz. Chuck Dukowski stayed semi-active and recently split with the short-lived Black Face, a Eugene Robinson (Oxbow) fronted band that visited Dukowski’s output with Black Flag. But the Hermosa Beach legends stayed true, and the inactivity further fueled that legend. Black Flag came to signify what was right with staying punk: sticking to your guns and artistic integrity. That changed this morning.
Black Flag have announced that they will reunite with vocalist Ron Reyes for an appearance at Hevy Fest in the UK, roping in the previously elusive Greg Ginn [Update: Robo and Chuck Dukowski were originally reported as part of the band, but that has proven to be untrue]. The show will be the first official Black Flag show in many years, and the first outside of the US in more than three decades. Meanwhile, another band, called FLAG, will feature Black Flag members Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, and Bill Stevenson, along with Stephen Egerton. That band will ALSO tour. What a tangled web.
If I was to look at the ink of metalheads across the world, I’d venture to say that Black Flag would probably be the number one band tattoo. I wonder if that will continue after today, and especially after Hevy Fest.
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- Fred Pessaro
Black Flag – Revenge
Black Flag Jealous Again – Greg Ginn at Ron Reyes 50th B-Day July 24, 2010
nuts. i guess it’s time to put the cheese grater to my “bars” tattoo.
And then across your face for getting a band’s logo tattooed on yourself.
You could always have it replaced with an Eddie.
Chavo Pederast…..I guess Ron forgave but I’m sure he has not forgotten that they credited his vocals under that moniker on the Jealous Again ep. If they hit the states the question is to go or not to go????? I witnessed Henry and Keith cover Black Flag and it was good. I don’t know? Let’s hear what Gregg Ginn and Mike Vallely churn out in their new band.
I was trying to be uncynical, and then I looked at the Hevy Fest website and read “Greg Ginn’s iconic band fronted by Ron Reyes.”
Does anyone on earth who would ever go to see Black Flag need to be told they’re iconic?
Was it really “Greg Ginn’s” band?
Isn’t that kind of like saying “Tony Iommi’s iconic band fronted by that guy who sang between Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die?”
Black Flag should need no introduction or explanation. They practically shouldn’t even print the name, just the bars.
Most consistent member, founded the band, wrote a fuckload of the songs, and is an incredibly influential guitarist. Sure, I’d say it’s his band. He can legitimately claim more ownership than anyone else.
Why does everyone forget that they were basically awful? They produced some of the most god awful music ever put to tape. They should be lauded for basically creating an underground music scene from constant touring/Petitbon’s artwork/releasing other people’s music on SST. But their music? Jesus H. Christ. People will just eat this shit up too. WTF.
Yeah…no.
There was an invisible oranges article a while back, partly about jazz I think, where a dude was interviewed and compared Ginn’s guitar style to one of the more out-there jazz guys, Mingus or Coleman. I thought that was pretty spot on.
Anyways, where’s Kira?
“Basically awful?” You are so wrong. Look at how wrong you are.
Hope they enjoy the cash.
Bummer.
Why not have a third lineup tour? Rollins, Dez, Kira, and Chuck Biscuits… Sheesh.
To be fair, I blurted a little while on break. That made the roots of my cynical revulsion unclear.
I’m not so revolted by Ginn stamping the band like a trademark that he owns (which he probably does, and IF anyone is going to own it, it should probably be him).
I am revolted by the tone of the advertising jingle “Greg Ginn’s iconic band fronted by Ron Reyes.”
It sounds like it should be followed with a statement like “and if you come see Black Flag, TODAY ONLY, we’ll also include this self sharpening cheese grater! How much do you think you’d have to pay retail for this bargain?”
I am revolted in much the same way I was when I picked up a CD once that had some music performed by the Jesus Lizard and read on the back cover “The Jesus Lizard appear courtesy of Capitol Records.”
Was that the Longue Ax Defense comp? You know, I don’t begrudge bands for wanting to earn money /pay their bills, but the Jesus Lizard really lost the plot after signing to a major. The only worse examples I can think of from that era are the Butthole Surfers and Girls Against Boys.
Anyway, I’m pretty sure that, regardless of whether or not a reunion is in keeping with the hardcore ethos that Black Flag helped create, this particular reunion won’t be very good. They just almost never are.
” and the first outside of the US in more than three decades.”
Check your facts: Black Flag did a European tour in (I believe ‘late’) 1983 and I saw them in May 1984 in the Netherlands during their 1984 tour.
It’s close to 30 years, but not there yet.
I’m not even opposed to bands wanting to make some money or whatever,
I just experience a pretty strong reaction to seeing someone like Black Flag or the Jesus Lizard, who are both really deeply about freedom in some sense, state in formal legal language that they aren’t. They may just be playing along to get into the system, and I’m ok with that, and I understand.
I’m just saying when I’m not expecting it and I see it, it’s kind of a slap in the face.
I don’t remember what comp it was. I just read that statement and it’s been ringing in my brain for 15 years as wrong.
“The Jesus Lizard appear courtesy of the Jesus Lizard” is how that should have read.
And the heavy fest flyer should have just had the bars, and no text, IMHO.
All greek to me fellas. WTF are you talking about?