Interview probably done the day of their show with The Exploited, The Insane, and Honey Bane at the Rainbow Theatre, London, Saturday 12th December 1981. Broadcast January 1982 (along with a Exploited interview) on Radio One's "Rock On" show. Ian MacKaye participates on the intro to "Rise Above".
At the time of this recording Black Flag and crew(including Ian after the first break up of Minor Threat as roadie) were all staying together in a cramped bedsit in Sheperd's Bush with two American girls from Oxnard who knew the band, and had even seen the Teen Idles at their one and only L.A. gig, and just happened to be staying over in London at the same time totally by coincidence! Black Flag had meant to be touring along with the Exploited but most of these dates got cancelled as Wattie had broken his leg.. plus most Exploited fans had little interest in American HC- hence the chaotic nature of Black Flag's 1st UK tour in 1981. The same night as the Exploited/Black Flag show, the JAM were also playing just down the road...Punks, Skinheads and Mods didn't get along too well at this time
Thanks so much for posting this. This interview was pivotal for me . I was early teens at the time. I had it on a long lost tape. I was getting tired of my friends' cartoon punk images and some of the boring (to me) British groups This was the antidote. I had never heard anything so angry. I could not stop playing Rise Above which cuts off here. I'm sure they played the full song as I just kept rewinding and playing Ginn's guitar solo, over and over again - it was so brutally twisted. An obsession with US hardcore was born. 'Damaged' still sounds fresh to my ancient ears (53 now). That's progress...
As a Brit, I am actually a little embarrassed about the level of questioning in this interview. Kudos to Black Flag. They responded with intelligence and insight and, no doubt; exasperation. The bottom line. Black Flag are the real deal. Punk is not a t-shirt or a look or even a sound. Punk is a state of mind and they expressed that beautifully in this interview.
Hear hear! I think the interviewer was disappointed that the band were actually erudite and able to frame their answers with heed to the fact that they’re artists making music first and foremost. I’m a Brit too and there’s this irritating thing in our journalism (although I think it’s not as bad as it used to be) where every popular band would get asked questions designed to try and knock them down or otherwise bait them. It still happens now in football journalism and in some tabloids but music wise it’s a little better now
thats great you heard this aswell, this was my recording of it as i had got a amstrad hi fi for christmas 1981.. yeah they did played most of rise above but richard skinner does interrupt before it finishes and said something like ''i love subtlety in music''
I think the general view back then was LA was all sunny and happy, and London was cold and depressing. Of course all the UK bands from the 1980s all live in LA, and very few of them live in London today.
Interviewer was ignorant specifically in his characterization of punk as an English phenomenon. Nonsense, but widespread nonsense that even today many seems to buy.
Now that's just ridiculous. Do you honestly not like Rise Above, My War Slip it In, Loose Nut, and Drinking & Dtiving? Those are all great songs. Every black flag release is very unique and in my opinion every album is amazing in it's own way. I encourage you to revisit that music and listen to it just for the music, dont let who performs it sway your opinion. Make it about the music.
They were great with Hank too. My War and Slip It In are phenomenal. Besides, Greg is the real asshole, it's why no one wants to be around him and the Black Flag he toured with in 13 were shit compared to FlagIIII.
![Black Flag - Live @ Radio Tokyo Studios, Los Angeles, CA, 7/11/84 [FM BROADCAST]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ngY5LZ3zgVE/mqdefault.jpg)
![Black Flag - Live @ Radio Tokyo Studios, Los Angeles, CA, 7/11/84 [FM BROADCAST]](/img/tr.png)
Interview probably done the day of their show with The Exploited, The Insane, and Honey Bane at the Rainbow Theatre, London, Saturday 12th December 1981. Broadcast January 1982 (along with a Exploited interview) on Radio One's "Rock On" show. Ian MacKaye participates on the intro to "Rise Above".
At the time of this recording Black Flag and crew(including Ian after the first break up of Minor Threat as roadie) were all staying together in a cramped bedsit in Sheperd's Bush with two American girls from Oxnard who knew the band, and had even seen the Teen Idles at their one and only L.A. gig, and just happened to be staying over in London at the same time totally by coincidence!
Black Flag had meant to be touring along with the Exploited but most of these dates got cancelled as Wattie had broken his leg.. plus most Exploited fans had little interest in American HC- hence the chaotic nature of Black Flag's 1st UK tour in 1981.
The same night as the Exploited/Black Flag show, the JAM were also playing just down the road...Punks, Skinheads and Mods didn't get along too well at this time
@@mb-bi3nm haha wow cheers for the insight. i'm a fan of all of those bands. that's hilarious that the Jam were playing the same night so close.
Thanks so much for posting this. This interview was pivotal for me .
I was early teens at the time. I had it on a long lost tape.
I was getting tired of my friends' cartoon punk images and some of the boring (to me) British groups
This was the antidote.
I had never heard anything so angry. I could not stop playing Rise Above which cuts off here. I'm sure they played the full song as I just kept rewinding and playing Ginn's guitar solo, over and over again - it was so brutally twisted.
An obsession with US hardcore was born.
'Damaged' still sounds fresh to my ancient ears (53 now). That's progress...
damaged got boring to my not aincent ears (15 now) as soon as i heard nervous breakdown or jealous again. not sure which
Robo wouldn't come back from this tour
As a Brit, I am actually a little embarrassed about the level of questioning in this interview.
Kudos to Black Flag. They responded with intelligence and insight and, no doubt; exasperation.
The bottom line. Black Flag are the real deal. Punk is not a t-shirt or a look or even a sound. Punk is a state of mind and they expressed that beautifully in this interview.
Hear hear! I think the interviewer was disappointed that the band were actually erudite and able to frame their answers with heed to the fact that they’re artists making music first and foremost. I’m a Brit too and there’s this irritating thing in our journalism (although I think it’s not as bad as it used to be) where every popular band would get asked questions designed to try and knock them down or otherwise bait them. It still happens now in football journalism and in some tabloids but music wise it’s a little better now
thats great you heard this aswell, this was my recording of it as i had got a amstrad hi fi for christmas 1981.. yeah they did played most of rise above but richard skinner does interrupt before it finishes and said something like ''i love subtlety in music''
Interviewer was ignorant. LA had plenty of poverty and strife back then. That would've been like thinking London was all posh.
I think the general view back then was LA was all sunny and happy, and London was cold and depressing. Of course all the UK bands from the 1980s all live in LA, and very few of them live in London today.
Interviewer was ignorant specifically in his characterization of punk as an English phenomenon. Nonsense, but widespread nonsense that even today many seems to buy.
Most that aint from cali think its sweet. That's why they come down here and get murdered or robbed.
Gentlemen. I mean honestly! Seem like a couple of honest lads just talking about doing what they love.
Jackson Fritts it’s true
I was in the Two on the Town + Black Flag at the Starwood segment 8:30
Back when Southern California was a legit and cool place to live, with a real scene to match.
is it really that dead? Im going there soon as a travel nurse and was hoping there were at least some scraps of this energy left over
The last time anyone ever said “Henry, you haven’t said much”
Awesome
The eighties.
They were truly great...b4 hr..
He shouldve NVR been allowed to speak on behalf of the band.....😈
Now that's just ridiculous. Do you honestly not like Rise Above, My War Slip it In, Loose Nut, and Drinking & Dtiving? Those are all great songs. Every black flag release is very unique and in my opinion every album is amazing in it's own way. I encourage you to revisit that music and listen to it just for the music, dont let who performs it sway your opinion. Make it about the music.
They were great with Hank too. My War and Slip It In are phenomenal.
Besides, Greg is the real asshole, it's why no one wants to be around him and the Black Flag he toured with in 13 were shit compared to FlagIIII.
@@iancrawford6930 completely agree. I need my black flag tattoo asap
They peaked with damaged
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