Yo, DJ.....HIT ME!!

[Johann]

NOW I can go berzerk with Joy.


Chuck Dukowski, the original bassist for Black Flag has basically given the middle finger to Greg Ginn, by forming FLAG, with original singer Kieth Morris (the first and best Black Flag vocalist- of the Circle Jerks), Dez Cadena- another BF singer from the Glory days- and drummer Bill Stevenson.

They play Toronto on June 20th at the Opera House. Will I be there? Does the Pope think he's catholic?
They will be performing Black Flag songs.

Henry Rollins is conspicuously absent, but I understand why.
He has said he has no happy memories from his Black Flag days and that he does not want to re-tread the past.

I think my soul will explode at the FLAG gig.....I can't believe I'll be seeing 4 original members Live....

[Johann]

One thing I love about Toronto is that all the big bands play here.

The Rolling Stones play here next month (I couldn't get a ticket to save my life), Patti Smith has a "Camera Solo" exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario until July (I will not miss that- I wanted a ticket to see her perform Live at the AGO but guess what? SOLD OUT.)
The Specials play Kool Haus soon (love that group! THIS TOWN IS RUNNIN' LIKE A GHOST TOWN...), Bad Brains play June 13th, and Glenn Danzig will play at Sound Academy- gotta be there for that gig- guitarist DOYLE from the Misfits will join him.

But the show of the year for me is FLAG, with Kieth Morris, Dez Cadena, Bill Stevenson and The DUKE, Chuck Dukowski on bass playing the Immortal songs of Black Flag. I already have my ticket, and I got it a week before they went on sale. First on the stack! number 0000001!
You say you're a Black Flag fan?
Well I got the first ticket, Bitch.
You're not as big a fan as me.
Sad that there's no Henry Rollins on the mic, but I know exactly why. It's no mystery.
And Greg Ginn?
He alienated everyone in the punk world.
It's astounding.
Greg....your Genius Legend Status has taken a Massive hit.
But you probably don't care, right?

[Johann]

FLAG at NXNE


I had the incredible honor of seeing heroes of mine play immortal hardcore music at the Opera House in Toronto for NXNE.
FLAG, Chuck Dukowski's touring version of Black Flag (minus co-founder Greg Ginn) played for 1 hour and destroyed all comers.
Stephen Egerton and Bill Stevenson from the Descendents (and Bill was Black Flag's drummer for a while) joined Dez Cadena and Chuck and original frontman Keith Morris to deliver an Epic setlist of classic Flag tunes. I was in heaven, it was just sheer nirvana.

The crowd was a mixed bag, with youngsters and old "vets" who saw these guys in their prime. One 50+ guy in particular made himself look like a total jackass by telling Keith to "stop talking" the first time he spoke to the crowd. I'm surprised Keith didn't kick him in the face.
The guy was a drunk, greasy old punk. I hope he wasn't from Toronto. He made us look bad.
Keith was talking about Hermosa Beach, and how there isn't much cool to do there except surf and look at girls in bikinis when that idiot shouted "stop talking!" Keith looked at him and said "What?" The guy shouted again: "stop talking!"
Keith just said "OK, I'll just take my mic and go. I'll listen to you..." Fuck what an idiot he was.
The "fans" who stage-dived were morons. I couldn't believe they got up onstage (repeatedly) and stage-dived, bumping into Stephen as he played, no compass, drunk on their asses- one of them, he looked like a 16-year old muslim with a hand-made Black Flag tee and red headband, got up multiple times and bumped into Chuck like a total moron- at one point Keith singled him out- "HEY YOU! with the red headband! You don't have to get up here and manhandle Chuck!" What does the kid do? He climbs up onstage and hugs Chuck! Chuck just shrugged at Keith. Amazing. Chuck did some bass noodling and Keith tells him to stop: "You can do your bass solo later..."

Bill was on a riser, behind his impressive Yamaha drumkit. He was like the Rock of Gibraltar. Precision and Perfection on drums. The Ultimate Anchor Man.
Hearing those songs Live was almost too much for me. It was like I'd died and gone to heaven. No joke.
They played all the "hits", if you can call them "hits":
Revenge, Padded Cell (sung by Dez), My War, Jealous Again, Clocked In, Fix Me, Wasted, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Rise Above, Police Story (also sung by Dez, he dedicated it to "the guy at the border", American Waste, No More, Thirsty & Miserable, No Values, Six Pack, Louie Louie and for the encore they did two:
DAMAGED I- Incredible to hear that one and even more incredible to hear I LOVE YOU from the My War Lp- I was very surprised that they chose that one. Keith said before they started the encore that they intended to play those 2 songs as the crowd were filing out of the venue, but it was clear that no one was gonna leave until FLAG were off the stage for good.

I took photos (they'll be up on Facebook sometime soon) and I got my Rise Above CD sleeve signed by Chuck- he wrote "MY LIFE IS THEIR DISEASE. AIN'T NO PHASE" (Henry Rollins and THE DUKE have signed my CD sleeve!!!) and I also got a photo and chatted with Dez outside before their van took off for Montebello Quebec. He's a big NY Giants fan and loves baseball.
They played with Marilyn Manson and Alice Cooper at Montebello and Dez told me to listen to ALice's radio show- "He plays some great stuff on his show!"

If Dez Cadena tells me to listen to Alice Cooper's radio show, I will abide by that.

[oscar jubis]

I love these posts of yours, such vivid descriptions and such passion for (real good) music. I wonder, Johann, as a fan of the group as well as other bands that recorded for SST such as Descendents and Minutemen, if I would miss Greg Ginn, his guitar playing in particular, which is to my ears reminiscent of the great Johnny Thunders (RIP).

[Johann]

Thanks Oscar.

Greg Ginn wasn't even missed. It seems incredible, but Stephen Egerton played the songs exactly like Greg- I couldn't tell the difference.
He played those (iconic) riffs perfectly. (on a CLEAR see-through guitar- an Armstrong guitar like Greg's? I'm not sure...)
I met Chuck & Dez after the show- I was dying to meet Keith Morris but he just vanished after the gigs. He seemed very angry that night, so I don't know if he wanted to meet and greet anyone.

I can honestly say I saw Black Flag Live now. Without Henry and without Greg. As Keith said, these songs require people who know them, who've LIVED them, and these guys definitely LIVED them. If only Henry joined them- it would've been the icing on the cake.
I asked Chuck what inspired him to do this tour and he said "STRAUSS". I said "Johann Strauss??" He said "Yep." and his Father-in-Law, who is apparently in his 90's and dives without a snorkel or tank. I thought that was cool.
I also asked him about Henry Rollins, and how he has no happy memories from his Black Flag days.
Chuck smiled and said "THAT'S A LIE. HE HAS SOME HAPPY MEMORIES".

[Johann]

Have you heard Johnny Thunders' version of Elvis' "CRAWFISH"? I love that song.

And I also love "I was Born to Cry". There is also a film I've been looking for forever: BORN TO LOSE.

[oscar jubis]

I don't think I'd heard it before. Just did. Very cool. Who knows when BORN TO LOSE will be available for viewing. The director made another documentary on punk rock titled D.O.A. way back when, which I have seen and would be thrilled to have a chance to see again.