By Any Means: A Brief History of Black Flag (Part 1: 1976-1980)
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- Опубліковано 27 січ 2019
- Part 1 of a 2 part essay going through the history of Black Flag along with my personal efforts to make a documentary film about the band.
PART 2: 1980-1986 COMING THIS SPRING
Complete credits will be included at the end of Part 2.
Credits for Part 1:
Produced, Edited, Written, and Narrated by
Aaron Michael Thomas
Video Footage from:
Target Video
Reality 86'd
My Career As a Jerk
The Slog Movie
The Decline of Western Civilization
We Jam Econo
X - The Unheard Music
Filmage
This is Good DVD
Black Flag Live DVD
Black Flag Live in Berlin DVD
Archive.org
Google Maps
NRK TV
Blairing Out with Eric Blair
MOCA
Henry Rollins - Talking From the Box
NBC's Tomorrow
Nardwuar.com
UA-cam:
u/Ixi'kweez
u/Freeny83
u/lastwebsite
u/danielscissorhands
Audio Clips from:
Nardwuar the Human Serviette Radio Show - CITR
Harmony in My Head - KCRW
Photos from:
Spray Paint the Walls by Stevie Chick
American Hardcore - Steven Blush
Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad
My Damage by Keith Morris
Get in the Van by Henry Rollins
Hardcore California: A History of Punk and New Wave by Peter Belsito and Bob Davis
Enter Naomi by Joe Carducci
Ham Radio Magazine
ThreeLetterWords.org
Pacific Coast Gallery
Dementlieu Punk Archive
Spotinator.com
Facebook - Chuck Dukowski
PleaseKillMe.com
The Village Voice
Music:
Black Flag - Rise Above
David Ackles - American Gothic
Television - Little Johnny Jewel
Black Flag - TV Party
Black Flag - Nervous Breakdown
Black Flag - I Don't Care
Black Flag - Revenge
Black Flag - Six Pack
Wow! I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has discovered the video and gave such wonderful feedback! This video nearly quadrupled in views over a weekend and I don't know how you all discovered it, but I'm so happy that you did. I just want to let you all know that I am actively working on Part 2 and will work to get it out as soon as possible, while also not rushing until I feel that it's as good as it can be. Part 1 I put out when I did because I wanted to hit a specific--albeit arbitrary--deadline which was the 40th anniversary of the original Moose Lodge gig. I have a full time job and I am a father of two young kids, so I don't get to spend as much time on this as I would like, but I am working on it whenever I can. Thank you all again and I can't wait to show you Part 2!
Cheers mate, good stuff
Great work, thanks for making this. Can't wait for part 2.
Class video my man, lookin forward till part 2.
Just came up when I was listenin till Punk Rock!
Awesome can't wait for the future parts Brother!
Good job man. It’s cool to see someone put the hard work and enthusiasm into a band like Black Flag. Those bland MTV/VH1 ‘Behind the Music’ shows about awful, generic hair metal bands annoy me so much. More Black Flag, Bad Brains, Husker Du, fIREHOSE.....!
I met Dez last January, he’s a really nice man! I asked him to sign my Black Flag album and he took one look at it, smiled said “Who the fuck are these guys?” We laughed and then he signed the album and I took a photo with him. Coolest musician I ever met!
That’s awesome. I saw Dez in person in 2015 when he was playing with the latest lineup of the Misfits. I met Greg in 2014 right after Black Flag (the latest lineup) finished their set and got a picture with him too. I wish I could upload it here. A real laid-back and cool guy.
Ron was barely in the band but I loved him. Like yes Henry is the icon but I do love his vocals and energy. It's very different than anyone else.
Black flag is the only band with 100 different vocalists and they're all good 😆
@Aspie-Anarchist I agree completely. I have always thought Ron was the best. I like Henry as well but Ron was the best to me.
Every time i hear the opening chords to "nervous breakdown" it sends a rush of dopamine throughout my body. For 20 years, nothing sets me free like this. My broken back, 34 year old body feels like im 14 again skateboarding.
Beast.
That whole EP is so amazing. "Fix Me" is one of my favorite punk songs of all time.
I broke my back.. spinal
Iron Mike
@@pinehawk9600 spinal
@@amthomas101hell yeah
Rise
█ █ █ █
Above!
BLACK
⬜️⬜️⬜️
FLAG
"Change scares anyone who's part of the existing structure."
Indeed
John Burton shut the fuck up. If this is the message you take from Black Flag, then you’re not paying attention.
John Burton that's nationalist talk
@@tombuchborn
Yeah and you're spouting genocidal globalist talk. So what's your fucking point?
@@danklordsupreme8864 what is genocidal about wanting to include everyone?
@John Burton nothing. But what makes you think it's getting destroyed? A couple of brown people came to your country?
I love Black Flag but one of the things that appealed to me was the raw sound. It sure didn't sound like they were practicing for 3+ hours every day.
When you listen to the 82 demos you get the sense though, for whatever reason they were super tight on those recordings
I am stoked that the very first thing you show is my painted 'four bars' backdrop. Yep, believe it or not I painted that fucking backdrop! This cut was recorded at Target Video in San Francisco, just after Henry had joined the band. My band's (Sick Pleasure/Code of Honor) guitarist, Mike Fox, had his little recording/rehearsal studio in back of Target, and he usually took care of the sound side of recordings made there. I had enjoyed making a backdrop for our Sick Pleasure videos, so I offered to make one for this session and Joe (Rees - Target) was into it. I remember I had laid it out on the floor, masked it up and was in the middle of filling in the bars when the band arrived. Rollins came right over and said "Wow, that's the biggest one I've ever seen!" Thanks Henry, I'll put that away, but what do you think of the backdrop?
Anyway, the way those shoots were done was that they would have a closed session in the afternoon and then open the doors for a live set on the same night. That way you could use the sound from the early shoot and cut the video from the live shoot into it. It worked pretty well. So ... fucking cool. Sal Paradise (ex- Sick Pleasure/Code of Honor etc. drummer)
Dude that’s sick
What price would you pay?
Ray pettibone
Wow! I missed this comment, but I'm glad I caught it now. Thank you so much for sharing! Also, beautifully done backdrop.
mad respect for you dude, that sounds about as awesome as it gets.
Was always fascinated by Ginn. Seems like a weird dude, but he could make a guitar screech, howl and disorientate like no other guitar player. Very underrated and influential player!
Sounds like the Josh Homme of the band..... analogous to how Homme did those men with Kyuss.
@@Commander1kellerJosh Homme has stated that Greg Ginn has been a big influence on his playing particularly the later era of Black Flag.
I just spent a half hour looking at some of the Pettibon fliers.
Wow.
He really had so much to do with the band image and identity.
Hey lev! Nice to see you in the wild!
Ray does not get the credit he deserves. He had so much to do with building an interest in the band and the iconic imagery.
Hahaha. Rumors era Fleetwood Mac covers. Man, I can see those promoters saying to each other "I thought you said...." "That's what he TOLD me."
I used similar lines to get shows many times 😂
The best part is? It seems that the audience turned out to love it. Lmao
I gagged!😂
saw black flag in 1984 for $4
Hahaha. Sheeeeet,, the "stuff" we were naive of,,,,( then ),,,,, haha
2 + 2 = 5
Damn...! You got to see them at their height! That year was when they were at their absolute tightest and feral! You lucky sonova bitch.....😁👍
saw them in the same year in some disco. punks smashed the glass doors and made a little riot. then they paid ticked and all went it. I was going to comment that there were hundreds of articles in fanzines and sheets and printed stuff about b f only way back in the days and not available on amazon now and on the internet.. wich is good in a way. I dont really like seeing fashion people with four bars t shirt and squares in the streets with trasher or ramones t shirt because its fashionable. give it back ! there was this middle eastern guy blasting this raggeton thing on the radio and he had a ramones t shirt.. as if..
Korg Kapperi that music may have been more wide-reaching than you give it credit for
This is an important historical document. Thank you for putting in the hours to make this!
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch it. I can't even count how much time I spent reading, writing, re-writing, recording, re-recording, not to mention the time I spent in my car just thinking about how I was going to structure it.
Thanks for Your contribution to Punk Rock History. I was 16 in 1980 living in Glendale Calif. and was able to see Black Flag many times when they played in and around Hollywood. This brought back many fun and fond memories. And yes You are correct, L.A.P.D. did attend EVERY venue that B.F. played. Never inside, always outside waiting for "US" to leave. I was way more afraid of getting stomped by them than thrashing in the Slam Pit.
Dam. Did anyone get killed ?
@@JaySoul711 Do You mean by the L.A.P.D.? No.
can't wait for part 2!
Came here to say exactly this.
wow why is the guy in your video styled like how we grew up why are actually HORDES of that generation styled like how we grew up l o l
One of my all time favorites. First heard them at my birthday party. “Who’s got the 10 and 1/2?” It changed my life.
Great live album👍
The box truck with the bars on the back was painted right in front of me at the venue in Enfield Connecticut where I had booked them twice
Enfield Connecticut? By any chance, was it the Enfield Roller Rink?
I guess I could add a few details to the earlier years ... I moved across the street from Gary McDaniels in San Pedro suburbia back in 1976. He was a few years older and was finishing up his time at UCSB. He was in a band with guitarist Ed Danky called Wurm, and my brother and I would usually be their roadies. I was heavy into Led Zeppelin-type rock but Gary turned us on to Iggy Pop which opened a whole new way of looking at music. It was an amusing time, because Gary and Ed would rent these commercial office spaces so they could use it as a living space and band practice area. This included the "penthouse" in Long Beach, and the old Mermaid Theater in San Pedro, and police interaction was a common occurrence. I graduated from High School in 1977 so when the band found an old bathhouse right on the strand in Hermosa Beach I moved in with them, knocking out a few bath stall walls to make a room. The "living spaces", if you could call them that, were upstairs, and downstairs there were three big rooms, two of which were used for band practice. Wurm used one of the rooms, and then Greg Ginn and Panic came to rent the other room. While I liked Gary's band, Panic had an edge, and it was hard not to notice Keith, who would bounce off the wall and furniture, and often urinate on either or both. The highlight of the time there for me was when they had a birthday party for Gary's wild girlfriend Tertia. By that time we had all become locals of the Hollywood punk scene, so the bands invited to play at the party included the Weirdos and the Germs. Bobby Pin, as Darby Crash was known at that time, was of course wasted, so the set was pretty trashed, as he continually pulled out his mike and attacked the crowd, including my sister, who he pulled around by the hair. Joan Jett even made an appearance, much to my surprise and pleasure. Later on Keith and I got in a dishwasher soap fight and that's about all I remember ... I moved out before the bands merged, so I never lived with Black Flag, but years later my college punk band opened for them, and they all stayed out my house that night. I still talk with Gary off and on to this day, but unfortunately Keith doesn't seem to remember me anymore. I'm going to see Black Flag in a few weeks, and I'll see if Greg remembers me, but I doubt it, he was the biggest stoner of them all.
that’s really tight, i wish i got to see them in their early years. also, what was your band?
The band was called The Users ... must have been 1983. We were the first of seven bands that played before Black Flag at the Vets Hall in San Luis Obispo CA (site of a famous Dead Kennedys police riot in 1985, but that's another story). The only reason we got to play was because we were friends of the promoter.
I am so happy that my very first girlfriend hipped me to this band way back in 1985 -- I wish I could have seen them live.
Thank you it's about time someone gave the proper credit to this legendary band
My introduction to punk music was the soundtrack from the Decline of Western Civilization and I've hooked ever since
I have never been happier for something to show up in my recommended feed. I cannot wait for part two!! Keep up the good work man!
I went to "The Church" in Hermosa when it was still a functioning Baptist church, in its waning days in the early 70s when it was struggling and on life support with about a dozen parishioners. Then it was shuttered and reopened as a hippie arts & crafts co-op. Eventually it closed and the next time I visited was around late 79-early '80 with a friend to see a bro of his, Ron Reyes, who was living in a high cupboard in the basement. Keith I knew from Platterpuss Records in Manhattan Beach, where he was the youngest of a group of prog rock fans into bands like early Genesis w/ Peter Gabriel. When I heard "Wasted" I had to laugh; Keith had come a long way from his Genesis days!
Lol that's awesome
This is brilliant,my favourite band finally given a respectful documentary. Well put together and can’t wait for part 2!
Greg pay your fellow band mates royalties!
and feed your kids
Why?
@@1981menso well fuck you too
This Nearly Produced Tears To My Eyes - Fantastic Work Here!
Thank you so much!
When Part 2 is ready, we'll be ready. Thank you very much for your effort!!
Thanks AMT. I was only periphierially aware of Black Flag growing up, and this helps flesh out the songs and stories that I heard in that era tremendously.
Fantastic job on this documentary. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to seeing part two. Thanks!
Chuck Dukowski was such as important member of that band. Henry always name checks him, and with good reason.
William Sullivan It's funny he took his name from LA writer Charles bukowski and just altered it slightly.
My favorite bassist
So good. Can't wait to see the second half, really deeply researched and succinct.
Fantastic first part. I was never a huge fan of 80s punk rock and hardcore, but this video has turned me on to it. Looking forward to part 2! Thanks for posting. Great job!!!
Just bought a copy of Wasted Again on a trip to Berlin...been aware of Black Flag for years ...love em !
LOL, I learned more about this band in 16 minutes than I did my whole life!
Seriously awesome job on this doc. The footage and pictures you found are amazing. It needed to be done for exactly the reason you stated. This band is criminally not acclaimed and so little is actually known about them. Looking forward to part 2.
I hope you enjoyed part 2 as well. I do believe that the band and SST did so much to pave the way for both independent and mainstream bands for the two decades that followed them. There's even more to their influence than what I could fit in a short doc.
@@amthomas101 Part 2 was great. Really enjoyed it. Very few bands can say that they were so influential that the B-Side of one album made new genres let alone their entire catalog.
This just appeared in my YT feed and it was short enough so I watched it. I'm blown away, mesmerized and can't wait to watch part 2!
#AaronMichaelThomas This is *AMAZING* ........ I love the way you kept everything raw without trying to pretty things up or collate through a retrospective lens. I absolutely can't wait to see part 2 man, thank you SO MUCH for your time & effort brother.
Dude this is rad! Really excited for part 2!
Absolutely outstanding. I'd pay for this. Keep up the good work and thank you for your dedication to telling Black Flag's story.
I just watched Part 1. You have done a great job covering this legendary band. Thank you from an old punk.
Righteous Vid! I saw them about 5 times between '78 and '84. I really like your approach to this. Thanks for doing it.
Nervous breakdown changed my life.
You've done a really a nice job of this. I'm sure part 2 will be worth the wait.
Great way to end the video with Rollins' introduction!
Looking forward to whatever you put together next.
I live not even a minute away from poliwog park. The story of Black Flag fucking that place up is passed around every time we go to the concerts in the park on Sundays during summer.
This is absolutely fascinating. Yes...PLEASE bring us Part 2!!
Definitely gonna need a part two,this was fantastic!
Oh man what an awesome job you have done here on what I feel is one if not the greatest band in history. I can't wait to see part 2. Well done my friend. Cheers to you.
Put together very well! Appreciate the work. Brings back memories!
Outstanding! Part 2! Part 2! Part 2! Never thought I'd see this. I juuuust missed them live, I was a year too young to drive to them :-(
I saw them back along time ago in a vfw hall in Louisville, Ky. Great show. $4 five bands around 100 or less there.
@@williamschutz4982 Jealous here. :-)
Great job with part 1! Looking forward to part 2.
Loved this. Thanks for making it happen! Looking forward to the next chapter!
17 minutes of awesome ! Thank you
Loved this! Disappointed to find Part 2 not here yet! Can’t wait to see it! 😊
Part 1 was fantastic - I sure hope that part 2 comes out soon!!
Brilliant documentary, Aaron. Please post part two
@Aaron Michael Thomas - Thanks for this. I had the pleasure of seeing Rollins Band in 1992 in little old Tasmania, Australia. This was at the uni bar in Hobart. I was aware then of where he came from and what he had already done for the music industry and being a part of Black Flag. Very interesting documentary. Thanks again.
Brilliant! I would buy a DVD copy of this if ever made!
Outstanding. I hope you get the chance to tell the whole story someday.
OUTSTOMPING!!
Great doc! Still the only one I could find on UA-cam! Thanks for your work!
Excellent video! Imagine my horror at finding out that part 2 wasn't up yet. Can't wait for it to be done
Aaron, I hope you get the credit you deserve. By following the Black Flag work ethic, you got it done. Huge props, sir. Liked, subscribed, and keep it coming.
Hearing Henry talk about his experience seeing them take off in the van made my heart hurt.
There's a video interview of him telling the full story about it on here somewhere. It's worth watching.
The part about him being empty and going to haagen daz sounds familiar🤣...😂....😅....😏....😐....😭
Jk folks, I'm doing fine😉
This is really great. Thank you for making and sharing this.
Thank you for this awesome video, Aaron. For part 2 as well.
Dez and Rollins best singers. They brought the party factor of the band up to a full scale riot band!
Wow, This was great. Outstanding job. Looking forward to Part 2
GREAT JOB!!!! I share that fabulous documentary of the legendary band, thanks!
One of my favorite bands of all time. Keep it up
yep can't wait for part 2 - they came to UK and i saw them at their first gig there - everything changed - amazing band
still the best gig i've ever seen
This is very enjoyable. Great job, friend.
Black flag was the first punk I listened to 1990 I think , born in 80 but it stuck with me for life
Awesome job! Looking forward to part 2!
Thanks for this! Looking forward to part 2 !
What a fantastic doco. Your full time job should be in film. There are now lots of cut and paste jobs about early punk/hardcore on UA-cam, but this is clearly the work of a talented individual. First time I have subscribed to anything or anyone. Can't wait to see what you do next.
xasperations Thank you so much! That means a lot to me!
xasperations seriously get on it
@@amthomas101 can you do a documentary on mad caddies (ska punk band)
At least call it American Punk or something, To me early punk was England 1977
Exceptional video and story to go along with it, as I was a huge Black Flag fan from 1982 on.... will watch part II tomorrow !!!
Great work man, thanks for doing this! Can't wait for part 2!
This is straight up THE ILLEST Black Flag Doc ever made... I grew up in O.C. and they are my favorite punk group of ALL TIME... Good job, and I look forward to part 2! Henry...
Props to Keith, Dez, Chuck, Chavo, Greg, Robo, Bill, Kira...
fantastic job. this is as close as we'll get to a definitive doc on the band. can't wait to see part two, and the hank era... you'll have a LOT to cover.
Yep. That's one of the things I'm wrestling with. What to put in and what to leave out.
This was great! For the follow ups make sure to include credits for the tapers! Taping and liberating bootlegs is an important part of archiving a bands history.
Although I've read a lot of the subject and did not learn anything new, this was entertaining and fun to watch. Thumbs up! Waiting for the part 2!
I look forward to part 2. Great vid
Well done! Keep on pumping and I look forward to part two!
Like your cutting of music in, really pulled me in and takes me back.
Can’t wait for the next part. Would love to see it as a feature.
Watched 2 first. Loved the way you brought it home, and the band sounded great! Part 3? Never a Henry fan, but you need to get Ginn for us. Good luck brother, you did a great job!
This is damn good, and edited really well. Can't wait for part 2!
Thank you so much! You're in luck, because it'll be done this week!
Fantastic job with this doc Aaron! Thanks for sharing it with the world.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent! Looking forward to part two.
Ever since I listened to Damaged in a Kroger parking lot in suburbia during High School, Black Flag has been engrained in me. So very happy n stoked to hear there beginnings unravel in this video series! You rule! 🤓🤘🏽💥
Damaged got me through high school!😁👍
Informative and enjoyable. Well done Aaron~
Rob/Boston
After watching all of the old footage, videos, hearing the stories from multiple sources. This concise documentary on the band seems to connect the dots. There was so much that I was curious about (especially the pre-Rollins years). To me, the Black Flag that influenced me (as well as many others) was their 1978-1981 existence with all members that were involved as well as the revolving door of lead singer. Primarily Keith, Dez, Henry, and to a lesser extent, chavo.
Superbly done....Thanks Aaron!
That was really good....plenty I didn’t know and pictures never seen. (Black Flag fan since 82)
Looking forward part 2 💪🏻
This is a really important work. Thank you.
incredible. Thanks so much for sharing !
I loved it. Thank you, man!
That was great. I knew most of it as a Black Flag nerd, but I didn't know that they were covered on NBC. Also, love the Dukowski trip: intellectual, intense, awesome.
fascinating documentary - love the ethos and spirit
Excellent work! Looking forward to Pt. 2.