| FLAG | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | California, USA |
| Genres | Hardcore Punk |
| Years active | 2013 - Present |
| Labels | VICE, Fat Possum Records |
| Associated acts | Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Descendents, Misfits, OFF! |
| Website | FLAG Official |
| Current members | Keith Morris Dez Cadena Stephen Egerton Chuck Dukowski Bill Stevenson |
FLAG are a live-only hardcore punk band, based out of California. Initially a one-off reunion in 2011[1] before becoming an official touring band in 2013, it is comprised of original and early members of the pioneering punk rock band Black Flag, alongside Stephen Egerton of Descendents. The tribute band was done in response to Black Flag's then revival in 2013, though FLAG was met with much more positive critical reception.
FLAG performs Black Flag songs spanning from the band's beginnings to My War.
History[]
On 18 December 2011 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, the lineup of Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Bill Stevenson and Descendents guitarist Stephen Egerton would get together to perform four Black Flag songs of the Morris era.[2][3][4]
On 25 January 2013, it was announced that guitarist Greg Ginn and vocalist Ron Reyes would reform Black Flag, joined by Gregory Moore on drums, and 'Dale Nixon' on bass (Dale Nixon is a pseudonym sometimes used by Ginn, most prominently as the bassist on My War). The band would tour as well as release a new album, their first since 1985's In My Head.[5] In March, it was announced that Screeching Weasel bassist Dave Klein had joined the band. On 2 May 2013, the band released a new song entitled "Down in the Dirt" through their website.[6] After releasing two more singles ("The Chase" and "Wallow in Despair"), What The... was released on 3 December, and was poorly received by critics and fans.
Around the same time, it was announced that the lineup that played at GV 30, Morris, Dukowski, Stevenson and Egerton, would tour performing Black Flag songs, under the name Flag.[7] It was later announced that the lineup would be joined by Dez Cadena.[8] Following a short tour of Europe and an appearance at Punk Rock Bowling, FLAG would
On 2 August 2013, SST Records and Greg Ginn brought a trademark infringement action in Los Angeles federal court against Morris, Dukowski, Stevenson, Cadena, and Egerton, with regard to their use of the name Black Flag and the Black Flag logo on the 2013 Flag tour. In the same action, SST and Ginn also sued Henry Rollins and Keith Morris to oppose and cancel the trademark applications filed in September 2012 by Rollins and Morris. SST and Ginn alleged that Rollins and Morris lied to the Patent and Trademark Office on their trademark applications regarding claimed use of the Black Flag name and logo by Rollins and Morris on records, T-shirts, and with regard to live performances.[9]
In October 2013, a federal judge denied the motion for a preliminary injunction, brought by Ginn and SST against Morris, Dukowski, Stevenson, Cadena, and Egerton. The court ruled that it was possible that the logo had fallen into "generic use", but did not rule specifically that it had done so. The court also ruled that Ginn and SST could not prevent the use of the band name "Flag", as it was likely that fans would know the difference between the two acts, because of widespread publicity. It should be noted that the positioning of "the bars" for FLAG is perfectly lined up, in contrast to the iconic layout of "the bars" for Black Flag.[10]
FLAG would tour sporadically when the members' schedules would allow it. Notably, FLAG would tour North America and Europe in 2016, followed by a return to Punk Rock Bowling in 2019.
Members[]
Current Members[]
- Keith Morris - Vocals (2011 - Present)
- Chuck Dukowski - Bass (2011 - Present)
- Bill Stevenson - Drums (2011 - Present)
- Stephen Egerton - Guitar (2011 - Present)
- Dez Cadena - Guitar (2013 - Present)
List of Known Tours[]
- Spring 2013 European Tour (2013)[11]
- Summer 2013 North American Tours (2013)[12]
- 2016 North American Tour (2016)[13]
- 2016 European Tour (2016)[14]