Black Flag’s music defied categories: Along with being among the earliest punk rock groups to incorporate elements of heavy metal, there were often overt jazz and contemporary classical elements in their sound, especially in Ginn’s guitar playing. Black Flag recorded an instrumental rock EP that earned favorable comparisons to Mahavishnu Orchestra and Ornette Coleman; their records and performances were interspersed with instrumentals throughout their career. They also played longer, slower, and more complex songs at a time when many bands in their milieu stuck to a raw, fast, three-chord format. As a result, Black Flag’s (extremely large) discography is more varied than many of their punk-rock contemporaries. Keith Morris was their original lead singer. He left the band suddenly in 1979 to form the well-known band, Circle Jerks. Ron Reyes was the second singer for the band, but decided to leave the band not too long after. Dez Cadena would be their next singer, but switched to second guitar when they found fourth and final singer Henry Rollins in Washington D.C. in 1981. Black Flag forged a unique sound early on that mixed the raw simplicity of the Ramones with atonal and microtonal guitar solos and frequent tempo shifts. Over this could be heard lyrics — mostly written by Ginn — about isolation, neurosis and paranoia, themes taken in new directions when Henry Rollins took on the role of lead singer in 1981. Most of the band’s material was released on Ginn’s independent label, SST Records. While Black Flag were - and remain - very respected among their underground culture, their music has not been the stylistic model one might expect, in spite of their formidable reputation. Rather, their influence was seen primarily in their tireless promotion of a self-controlled DIY aesthetic. They’re often regarded as pioneers in the movement of underground do-it-yourself record labels that flourished among the 1980s’ punk rock bands. Over the course of the 1980s, Black Flag’s sound, as well as their notoriety, evolved in ways that alienated much of their early punk audience. They were part of the first wave of American West Coast punk rock, are considered a key influence on Punk culture band, and are especially important in the creation of hardcore punk. Their later sound, however, was often reminiscent of proto-heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath. The band broke up in August 1986, when Greg Ginn decided to quit. Through seemingly-constant touring throughout the USA and Canada, and occasionally Europe, Black Flag established an extremely dedicated fan base. Many other musicians would follow Black Flag’s lead and book their own tours, utilizing a word-of-mouth, grass-roots network.| |
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