Anti-Flag is an American
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is a city in and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and the second largest city in the state. Its population was 334,563 at the 2000 census; by 2006, it was estimated to have fallen to 312,819. The population of the seven-county metropolitan area is...
known for their outspoken views on American government. Most recently, the band has focused criticism on the United States bailouts.
Early years (1988–1995)
Anti-Flag was formed in 1988 by singer/guitarist Justin Sane and drummer Pat Thetic. During the band's early years, various guitarists and bassists moved in and out of the band, including
Justin's sister, Lucy Fester. The band failed to solidify, and it fell apart after playing just one show.
In 1993, Justin and Pat reformed the band, now with
Andy FlagAndy Flag was one of the founding members of punk rock trio Anti-Flag's second incarnation . He sang lead vocals for many songs on the album Die for the Government including "Red White and Brainwashed" and "Confused Youth". He was accompanied by Justin Sane on guitar and vocals as well as Pat...
on bass.
First three albums (1996–1999)
In 1996, the band released their first album,
Die For the GovernmentDie for the Government is a punk rock/hardcore punk CD released by the band Anti-Flag. It was released in 1996. After this album, bassist Andy Flag played with Anti-Flag on their EP North America Sucks, but left soon after as they couldn't get along as a band...
, on
New Red ArchivesNew Red Archives is an independent record label based in San Francisco, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore records on coloured vinyl...
. Andy Flag left the band in the Summer of 1996 because of personal disputes between himself and Justin. For a brief time after Andy's departure in 1996, Sean Whelan of Pittsburgh band the Bad Genes filled in on bass. It was during this time that Sean was also playing in another band (57 Defective) with guitarist Chris Head, whom he introduced to the band.
In early 1997, Pittsburgh guitarist Chris Head began filling in on bass. In late 1997, Jamie Cock took over as the new bassist, moving Chris Head over to second guitar, which he preferred. The current line-up finalized in 1999 when Chris Barker, also known as Chris #2, replaced Jamie Cock on bass.
In 1998, the band released their second full-length release,
Their System Doesn't Work For YouTheir System Doesn't Work for You is punk band Anti-Flag's second album, released in 1998. It is a reprint of the Anti-Flag songs available on their split album North America Sucks plus 10 unreleased tracks...
. The album contained all nine Anti-Flag songs from the 1996 Anti-Flag/
d.b.s.d.b.s. were a punk rock band from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. From their beginnings in 1992 to their eventual breakup in 2001, they gained popularity in the Canadian punk rock scene d.b.s. were a punk rock band from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. From their beginnings in...
split album
North America SucksNorth America Sucks is a split album released by punk bands Anti-Flag and d.b.s. in 1996. Only 1,000 copies of the album were pressed. The first 10 tracks are by Anti-Flag...
, as well as 10 new unreleased songs. The band decided to release the album independently, and
Their System Doesn't Work For YouTheir System Doesn't Work for You is punk band Anti-Flag's second album, released in 1998. It is a reprint of the Anti-Flag songs available on their split album North America Sucks plus 10 unreleased tracks...
became the debut release for the band's own
A-F RecordsA-F Records is an independent record label originated by the band Anti-Flag, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This label was created to help expose more political punk rock bands to a greater audience...
.
In 1999, Anti-Flag released the album
A New Kind of ArmyA New Kind of Army is a punk rock album originally released by Anti-Flag on May 25, 1999. It was reissued by A-F Records on October 19, 2004...
on Go-Kart Records/
A-F RecordsA-F Records is an independent record label originated by the band Anti-Flag, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This label was created to help expose more political punk rock bands to a greater audience...
. The album addressed a wide variety of topics such as
political corruptionPolitical corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
,
racismRacism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. In the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits, or get preferential treatment...
,
fascismFascism, , comprises a radical and authoritarian nationalist political ideology and a corporatist economic ideology developed in Italy. Fascists believe that nations and/or races are in perpetual conflict whereby only the strong can survive by being healthy, vital, and by asserting themselves in...
, troubled youth, police brutality, and unity within the American youth. The cover art page unfolded into a poster featuring the phrase "Too smart to fight. Too smart to kill. Join now. A new kind of army."
Fat Wreck Chords (2000–2004)
In 2000, Anti-Flag was invited to participate in
Vans Warped TourThe Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. During this time, the members of Anti-Flag met
NOFXNOFX is an American punk rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1983 in Los Angeles.The band was formed by vocalist and bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined them shortly afterward. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out...
's Fat Mike, owner of the
Fat Wreck ChordsFat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his wife, Erin, in 1990....
record label. This meeting spawned a friendship that would lead to Anti-Flag's release of two albums on the label.
In 2001, Anti-Flag teamed with legendary punk producer
Mass GiorginiMass Giorgini is an Italian-American bassist and record producer, who rose to fame when several of the bands he produced experienced huge gains in popularity during the pop-punk boom on the mid-90's. Among these bands was Giorgini's own Squirtgun, which received minor MTV rotation and several...
to record the album
Underground NetworkUnderground Network is the name of Anti-Flag's fourth album, released on Fat Wreck Chords in 2001. Widely considered to be the band's breakthrough album, it helped make Anti-Flag become a household name in the US punk scene with tracks like "Underground Network," "Bring Out Your Dead," and "Stars...
, released on
Fat Wreck ChordsFat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his wife, Erin, in 1990....
. The release of the album is arguably the band's breakout from the hardcore underground to a more mainstream spotlight. The album continued to address the issues of
fascismFascism, , comprises a radical and authoritarian nationalist political ideology and a corporatist economic ideology developed in Italy. Fascists believe that nations and/or races are in perpetual conflict whereby only the strong can survive by being healthy, vital, and by asserting themselves in...
(specifically neo-Nazis infiltrating the "hardcore scene") and the United States' foreign policy. The album was the first to contain the now-commonplace booklet filled with essays from historians and political commentators, most notably
Professor Howard ZinnHoward Zinn is an American historian, political scientist, social critic, activist, playwright, and Democratic Socialist intellectual, best known as author of the bestseller A People's History of the United States....
.
In February 2002, Anti-Flag released the album
Mobilize on
A-F RecordsA-F Records is an independent record label originated by the band Anti-Flag, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This label was created to help expose more political punk rock bands to a greater audience...
. The album featured new songs as well as eight live tracks of songs from other albums. In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, Anti-Flag spoke out against the push for war by the United States government. During this time, many music stores pulled Anti-Flag's records from shelves, as their music was labelled as "anti-American."
In 2003, Anti-Flag released the album
The Terror StateThe Terror State is the sixth full length album by punk rock/hardcore punk Pittsburgh natives Anti-Flag; released October 21, 2003 on the independent label Fat Wreck Chords...
on
Fat Wreck ChordsFat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his wife, Erin, in 1990....
. The album primarily focused on criticizing the
BushGeorge Walker Bush was the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000....
Administration's handling of the
War on TerrorismThe War on Terrorism is the common term for the military, political, legal and ideological conflict against what the effort's leaders describe as Islamic terrorism and Islamic militants, and was specifically used in reference to operations by the...
. Again, the album contained a booklet full of essays from the band as well as other political commentators. The album contains a song whose lyrics were originally written by
Woody GuthrieWoodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
entitled "Post-War Breakout." The track's music was arranged by the members of Anti-Flag, as Guthrie had never committed the arrangements to paper.
On October 8, 2004,
U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the "House," is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate. The composition and powers of the House and the Senate are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Jim McDermottJames Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the current U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th Congressional District. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.McDermott is a member of the Democratic Party...
gave a speech in the House of Representatives, praising Anti-Flag for their work in encouraging young people to register and vote.
RCA (2005–2009)
In 2005, Anti-Flag signed a two-album record contract with
major label RCARCA Corporation, founded as Radio Corporation of America, was an electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. Currently, the RCA trademark is owned by the French conglomerate Thomson SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Thomson...
. The first of these two albums,
For Blood and EmpireFor Blood and Empire is the seventh studio album by American punk band Anti-Flag. It was released on March 21 2006. It is also their first release on RCA Records, which caused the band to receive criticism from many due to their initially anti-corporate message.The booklet, which comes with the CD,...
, was released on March 21, 2006. The album's main focus is the band's criticism of the mishandling of the
War on TerrorismThe War on Terrorism is the common term for the military, political, legal and ideological conflict against what the effort's leaders describe as Islamic terrorism and Islamic militants, and was specifically used in reference to operations by the...
by the United States Government. The song 'This Is The End (For You My Friend)' from the album
For Blood and Empire is featured in the video game Madden NFL 2007 and on
NHL 07NHL 07 was released on September 12, 2006, the successor to NHL 06. The game improved the series' gameplay with more realistic features, such as stickhandling and a wider variety of controller schemes.-Features:*Tagline: "Win Every Battle"...
. They finished their huge "War Sucks, Let's Party" United States headlining tour in April and work on some side projects like
African Well FundAfrican Well Fund is a Non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the construction and maintenance of freshwater wells throughout impoverished sections of Africa. It was founded in October 2002 by a group of U2 fans who were inspired by frontman Bono's May 2002 visit to poor sections of...
and Start to Finish MS now.
Throughout Anti-Flag's career, many other bands have been added to the roster of the band's own label,
A-F RecordsA-F Records is an independent record label originated by the band Anti-Flag, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This label was created to help expose more political punk rock bands to a greater audience...
. These bands include
The CodeThe Code is a former American ska-punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band released their first full-length CD on A-F Records, which they followed up with a split with Whatever It Takes. They have also toured with bands such as Rise Against, Against Me!, Bouncing Souls, Pipedown and...
,
PipedownPipedown was a hardcore punk band from Northern California with radical leftist lyrics. Starting in Grass Valley, California in 1997, their lyrics often remind of eco-anarchism, especially since they recommended books like and Deep Ecology for the 21st Century on their first album Enemies of...
,
Much the SameMuch The Same was a punk rock band from the suburbs of Chicago. Their style is based on the fast, melodic skate punk of the mid-to-late 1990s made popular by bands such as NOFX, Lagwagon, and No Use for a Name....
, The Vacancy, The Unseen,
Modey LemonModey Lemon is an American garage rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group formed in Pittsburgh's South Oakland neighborhood in 1999 as an informal side project of Dean Swagger, a rock trio that had spent the previous year mainly performing in basements to college party crowds...
and more.
On November 25, Anti-Flag revealed on their homepage that their newest album was titled
The Bright Lights of AmericaThe Bright Lights of America is the eighth studio album released by Anti-Flag on April 1, 2008. The first song released from the album was "Good 'N' Ready", featured on Fat Wreck Chords Hanuk-Comp From the Dreidel to the Grave compilation...
. Produced by
Tony ViscontiAnthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of notable performers, including the Moody Blues, as well as T.Rex, Mary Hopkin, Thin Lizzy, Ralph McTell, Sparks, Gentle Giant, Semi Precious Weapons, The...
(of
David BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. Active in five decades of popular music and frequently reinventing his music and image, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and
MorrisseySteven Patrick Morrissey , known primarily as Morrissey, is a British singer-songwriter. After a short stint in the punk rock band The Nosebleeds in the late 1970s, he rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths...
fame), it was released on April 1, 2008. The single "The Bright Lights Of America" was released exclusively on iTunes on February 12, 2008. A video of the song was released a couple of weeks later.
In 2008, on tour with Canadian band
Billy TalentBilly Talent are a Juno award-winning Canadian band formed in 1993 in Streetsville, Ontario. The band consists of Ben Kowalewicz , Ian D'Sa , Jon Gallant and Aaron Solowoniuk .The band existed for almost a decade before mainstream success...
in Europe,
Justin SaneJustin Cathal Geever , best known by his stage name Justin Sane, is the guitarist and singer/songwriter of the political punk-rock band Anti-Flag...
and
Chris #2Christopher Lee Barker , more commonly known as Chris #2 and Chris Barker, is the bassist and co-lead vocalist of the American political punk band Anti-Flag. Chris plays a Fender Geddy Lee Signature Bass, along with a Japanese Fender Vintage Re-issue PB70 Precision Bass, with a Leo Quan Bridge and...
joined
Billy TalentBilly Talent are a Juno award-winning Canadian band formed in 1993 in Streetsville, Ontario. The band consists of Ben Kowalewicz , Ian D'Sa , Jon Gallant and Aaron Solowoniuk .The band existed for almost a decade before mainstream success...
singer Ben Kowalewicz and guitarist
Ian D'SaIan Michael D'Sa is the guitarist for the Canadian band Billy Talent.-History:Ian's family moved from the UK to Canada when he was 3 years old. He is of Goan descent and grew up in Mississauga, Ontario learning guitar at the age of 13...
, singing their new song "
Turn Your Back"Turn Your Back" is the first demo single by Billy Talent from their third studio album, Billy Talent III. The song debuted live at The Norwegian Wood Festival in Oslo, Norway, on June 14, 2008 during their performance. Later performances of the song would be accompanied by Justin Sane and Chris #2...
" from their upcoming unreleased album. The two also play on the album and single versions of the song.
In March 2009, Anti-Flag were forced to cancel a series of tour dates after Justin Sane broke his collar bone landing awkwardly whilst jumping off the stage to stop a fight which broke out in the crowd at the UEA LCR in Norwich.
SideOneDummy (2009-present)
Beginning on September 30, 2008,
Chris #2Christopher Lee Barker , more commonly known as Chris #2 and Chris Barker, is the bassist and co-lead vocalist of the American political punk band Anti-Flag. Chris plays a Fender Geddy Lee Signature Bass, along with a Japanese Fender Vintage Re-issue PB70 Precision Bass, with a Leo Quan Bridge and...
began to post on his blog, at nowarwithoutwarriors.blogspot.com
http://nowarwithoutwarriors.blogspot.com, that the band had begun to work on their seventh studio album. On December 2, Anti-Flag began to record their record, starting with "The Economy is Suffering... Let It Die".
On March 31, 2009, Anti-Flag announced that their next CD,
The People or the GunThe People or The Gun is Anti-Flag's ninth studio album. The album was released on June 9, 2009. It was their first album released on independent label SideOneDummy Records after the band's two-record contract ended with RCA Records. The first track, "Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington D.C...
, would be released on SideOneDummy on June 9, 2009. On Anti-Flag.com, the first track of the album "Sodom, Gomorrah, and Washington DC (Sheep in Shepherd's Clothing)" can be listened to. On May 1, 2009, the band performed a full set of
The ClashThe Clash were an English rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk rock. Along with punk, they experimented with reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap and rockabilly...
covers at Hoodwink in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In September 2009 Anti-Flag was slated to play a show during a G-20 protest that was taking place in their home town of Pittsburgh, but opted out due to police presence.
Symbol
The
Gun Star is the symbol for the band Anti-Flag. It was first used on the cover of the album
Mobilize. It was later used on merchandise. It is made up of a number of broken M-16 rifles in the form of a star shape. It is not infrequent for fans of Anti-Flag to get a Gun Star tattoo. Also, they used the O & X superposed symbols on Die for the Government LP frequently.
Criticism
Anti-Flag's decision to sign to RCA is a major source of criticism among critics and fans alike, since RCA is owned by Sony BMG. All fans find this decision hypocritical due to Anti-Flag's previously overt anti-capitalist lyrics.
In an interview with English newspaper
The GuardianThe Guardian is a British daily newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. Founded in 1821, it is unique among major British newspapers in being owned by a foundation .The Guardian Weekly, which circulates worldwide, provides a compact digest of four newspapers...
, Justin Sane explained the band's move to a major label:
- We've been approached by the major labels over the past seven or eight years but we thought we were having an impact where we were. They were never willing to give us complete control. This time they were willing to give us complete control over what we record, the artwork, who we tour with. We won't be censored. If there was ever a time to take a chance to be heard on a mass scale then this is the time. I feel like we've been a voice in the wilderness for too long.
Since then the band has left RCA, and released their 2009 album
The People or the GunThe People or The Gun is Anti-Flag's ninth studio album. The album was released on June 9, 2009. It was their first album released on independent label SideOneDummy Records after the band's two-record contract ended with RCA Records. The first track, "Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington D.C...
on independent label SideOneDummy.
Band members
- Justin Sane
Justin Cathal Geever , best known by his stage name Justin Sane, is the guitarist and singer/songwriter of the political punk-rock band Anti-Flag...
– lead vocals, rhythm & lead guitars (1988, 1993–present)
- Chris #2
Christopher Lee Barker , more commonly known as Chris #2 and Chris Barker, is the bassist and co-lead vocalist of the American political punk band Anti-Flag. Chris plays a Fender Geddy Lee Signature Bass, along with a Japanese Fender Vintage Re-issue PB70 Precision Bass, with a Leo Quan Bridge and...
– lead vocals, bass guitar (1999–present)
- Chris Head – lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1997–present), bass guitar (1997)
- Pat Thetic – drums, percussion (1988, 1993–present)
Former members
- Andy Flag
Andy Flag was one of the founding members of punk rock trio Anti-Flag's second incarnation . He sang lead vocals for many songs on the album Die for the Government including "Red White and Brainwashed" and "Confused Youth". He was accompanied by Justin Sane on guitar and vocals as well as Pat...
- bass guitar, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals (1993–1996)
- Jamie Cock - bass guitar (1997–1999)
- Sean Whelan - bass guitar (1996)
Studio Albums
- Die for the Government
Die for the Government is a punk rock/hardcore punk CD released by the band Anti-Flag. It was released in 1996. After this album, bassist Andy Flag played with Anti-Flag on their EP North America Sucks, but left soon after as they couldn't get along as a band...
(1996)
- Their System Doesn't Work for You
Their System Doesn't Work for You is punk band Anti-Flag's second album, released in 1998. It is a reprint of the Anti-Flag songs available on their split album North America Sucks plus 10 unreleased tracks...
(1998)
- A New Kind of Army
A New Kind of Army is a punk rock album originally released by Anti-Flag on May 25, 1999. It was reissued by A-F Records on October 19, 2004...
(1999)
- Underground Network
Underground Network is the name of Anti-Flag's fourth album, released on Fat Wreck Chords in 2001. Widely considered to be the band's breakthrough album, it helped make Anti-Flag become a household name in the US punk scene with tracks like "Underground Network," "Bring Out Your Dead," and "Stars...
(2001)
- Mobilize (2002)
- The Terror State
The Terror State is the sixth full length album by punk rock/hardcore punk Pittsburgh natives Anti-Flag; released October 21, 2003 on the independent label Fat Wreck Chords...
(2003)
- For Blood and Empire
For Blood and Empire is the seventh studio album by American punk band Anti-Flag. It was released on March 21 2006. It is also their first release on RCA Records, which caused the band to receive criticism from many due to their initially anti-corporate message.The booklet, which comes with the CD,...
(2006)
- The Bright Lights of America
The Bright Lights of America is the eighth studio album released by Anti-Flag on April 1, 2008. The first song released from the album was "Good 'N' Ready", featured on Fat Wreck Chords Hanuk-Comp From the Dreidel to the Grave compilation...
(2008)
- The People or the Gun
The People or The Gun is Anti-Flag's ninth studio album. The album was released on June 9, 2009. It was their first album released on independent label SideOneDummy Records after the band's two-record contract ended with RCA Records. The first track, "Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington D.C...
(2009)
External links