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FLAG once again proves that not all punk band reunions are created equal

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There was something in the air at Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas last weekend.

Indeed, not what you might have imagined – it wasn’t the echo of distorted guitars, vomiting punk rockers, or Nazi confrontations. However, all those elements were certainly present in abundance.

This year’s 25th anniversary event featured much excitement around the band FLAG, who were the center of attention both at the annual bowling tournament and music festival.

The group known as FLAG consists of four ex-members from Black Flag: Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Dez Cadena, and Bill Stevenson, along with Stephen Egerton, who is a long-term collaborator of Bill’s in the Descendents.

Six long years had passed since the last FLAG performance, which coincidentally happened at Punk Rock Bowling too. However, this event transcended a simple reunion concert; it seemed as though we were witnessing history being forged anew.

The event kicked off on Saturday with a panel discussion moderated by Fat Mike from NOFX at the Punk Rock Museum. Surrounded by photos capturing their younger days, taken by the late Naomi Petersen, all five members engaged in a Q&A session led by Fat Mike, who described FLAG as “the finest Black Flag iteration I’ve ever witnessed.

Mike Fat requested that each performer share their preferred album or tune, effectively turning it into a kind of poll about the group’s stage presence, both on and off the platform. The lineup of the band has seen frequent changes, with musicians coming and going. For example, Henry Rollins, one of the band’s most recognized vocalists, was actually Black Flag’s fourth singer.

Typically, when someone says, ‘Henry is my favorite, but I used to love Ron [Reyes],’ as Cadena explained, it means they first encountered them during their initial performance.

Morris wondered, ‘Why is this considered a competition?’ Each person here added their unique contribution, reflecting their individual personalities.

The tale of Black Flag often revolves around recurring conflicts with their elusive guitarist and songwriter, Greg Ginn, due to contrasting personalities. It’s not surprising that intense music draws intense people. What sets these disputes apart is that they persisted even after Ginn disbanded his own group in 1986.

In June 2003, Rollins and Morris performed Black Flag songs separately, as Morris explained during the panel discussion, in order to generate funds and increase public attention for the West Memphis 3 cause.

It’s unlikely that it was just by chance that Ginn organized a kind of Black Flag reunion at the Hollywood Palladium later that summer. However, there seemed to be an issue with this event.

The performance included musicians not previously part of the band, playing to pre-recorded bass tracks. The disorganized show was met with unfavorable responses. Interestingly, these events also served as a catalyst, sparking the rise of a significant industry producing CAT FLAG T-shirts.

For the very first time in December 2011, Morris, Dukowski, Stevenson, and Egerton united on stage during the Goldenvoice’s 30th anniversary concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. They were presented to the audience as “Black Flag.

Originally, these old pals enjoyed playing music together so much that they decided to continue their jam sessions. Enter Cadena into the group, and they started performing Black Flag tunes under the name FLAG. Their first public performance as a band took place at the Moose Lodge in Redondo Beach in April 2012, and it was an electrifying show!

It’s likely no accident that Ginn later brought Black Flag back together and took various legal actions against his previous band members, primarily concerning the rights to the names FLAG and Black Flag. The main dispute was over who had the right to employ these names. Eventually, the courts decided that FLAG could keep using the name.

Mike Magrann, vocalist and guitarist for L.A. punk band Channel 3, saw both bands play that year.

As a die-hard fan, I found it baffling when Black Flag took the stage, as they seemed to stray from their roots. But when FLAG performed, they recaptured the essence of those songs just like they did back in the day. It transported me right back to my youth, standing at the edge of the pit, feeling that raw energy and danger that was palpable then. It was nothing short of breathtaking!

The indescribable sense of thrill stemming from the perceived danger was what captivated numerous individuals towards FLAG’s Memorial Day performance. Enthusiasts traveled from far and wide merely to witness this spectacular event. Joey Cape, hailing from Lagwagon, concluded a solo tour in Japan and immediately jetted off to Punk Rock Bowling.

Similar to Cape and Magrann, some dedicated fans who later became musicians were inspired by Black Flag during their youth. David O. Jones of Carnage Asada, accompanied by Martin Wong (who organized Save Music in Chinatown), and his daughter Eloise Wong from the Linda Lindas, traveled in from Los Angeles for the concert. After the show, they promptly headed back to L.A., as Eloise, a high school senior, had a physics test waiting for her the next morning.

FLAG’s performance certainly justified the journey. They played an impressive 22 songs, kicking off with “Revenge” and including fan favorites such as “My War,” alongside lesser-known tracks like “Clocked-In.” Morris gripped the microphone tightly, almost as if he was sounding a call to battle, inciting the crowd to move.

The festival’s wildest section was undeniably bustling, nearly reaching the stage’s expanse, with a continuous flow of crowd surfers jumping over the barrier – this included elderly gentlemen, young ladies, and even little ones. During tunes like “Gimme Gimme Gimme”, “Wasted”, and “Nervous Breakdown”, the audience’s uproar was nearly as deafening as the music itself.

During the program, Morris, who is typically talkative, didn’t engage in playful banter like usual. Instead, towards the end of the show, he merely thanked everyone for their participation before moving on to the next song.

Following the customary play of “Louie Louie” to conclude the performance, the musicians removed their equipment from the stage and vanished. Spectators of all ages, their lives irrevocably impacted, found themselves staring at one another in shock, as the raw power of punk rock had left an indelible mark on their very genetic makeup.

Once more, FLAG delivered impressively. They breathed new life into each song, staying true to their original essence. They paid tribute to their rich history.

Following such an energetic period, it’s going to be quite challenging for Black Flag to maintain their momentum, given that they’ve been quite active lately and have had numerous changes in their lineup. Notably, just last May, Keith Ginn announced a European tour this summer featuring three fresh members: all young musicians, with Max Zanelly, a promising new vocalist, being one of them.

Once more, the internet was inundated with Black Flag memes highlighting the significant age difference between Ginn, aged 70, and his fresh bandmates who appear to be several decades, if not generations, younger. Wong, understanding the influence of youthful musicians, remains optimistic.

In a utopian scenario, an updated Black Flag band would inspire Greg Ginn to create more music, but even if it doesn’t, we still have FLAG, which is considered by many as the ideal Black Flag lineup that never materialized. As a result, everyone benefits when there’s more good music in circulation.

While Black Flag prepares for its new chapter, is this the end of the road for FLAG?

At the Punk Rock Museum’s panel, I found myself at a loss for words. The camaraderie among us was palpable, and it was evident we share a deep affection for each other. Rest assured, we’ll keep this going as long as we can. Age may eventually catch up with one of us, but for now, we’re still young at heart.

Jim Ruland is known as the writer behind the critically acclaimed book “Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise & Fall of SST Records,” which made it onto the bestseller list of The New York Times. Additionally, he publishes a weekly Substack named Message from the Underworld, where he discusses books, music, and literature related to music.

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2025-05-30 01:01

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