White Flag (band)
Encyclopedia
White Flag is an American punk rock
band currently based in Los Angeles
. Their current lineup consists of frontman Pat Fear (guitar), Mike Mess (guitar), Jello B. Afro (bass), and Trace Element (drums). All of these members have been in the band since 1982, though many have rotated in and out. White Flag has an extensive discography that ranges from their 1982 debut R is for Rocket to 2010's Benefit For Cats.
of California's Inland Empire
now called Moreno Valley. They played their first shows that year (the second and third of which were later included on their "S Is For Space – 25th Anniversary De Luxe Edition"). Their name is to be considered a parody on punkrock elitism. Hence the members' names, resembling Jello Biafra
, Mike Ness
and Pat Smear
, each a veteran in the SoCal-punk scene in their own right. The band recorded two albums that year, "R is for Rocket" and "S is for Space", the latter of which was released in 1983. After playing numerous shows around California, the band toured Europe for their first time in 1986, and released a Live E.P. from that tour titled "Bleedin' in Sweden".
In 2006 White Flag toured in Italy
for the first time. As a souvenir of the group's first visit, they band released a limited edition, hand numbered 8 song 10" vinyl album, on Roma based RARO! Records, entitled "Piangi Con Me", which is now out of print.
In 2008, the band toured Europe twice, first in March (Germany and Netherlands), and then in June–July they did 23 gigs, including 2 with NOFX
and The Adolescents
. Some rare gigs in the U.S. with The Germs
and Adolescents followed.
In May 2010 the band released the 7" e.p. "Keepers of The Purple Twilight" on Target Earth Records limited to 300 copies. 2010 also saw the release of "Benefit For Cats" on Cupcake Records.
The current lineup featured on the July 2010 vinyl only release "Benefit For Cats" will be performing their first ever Midwest live shows in July 2010, with exclusives shows in Detroit, Cleveland and Chichago, on July 15,16, and 17 respectively. These shows will be record release parties for the new album, as well as the Russian release limited edition 7" e.p. "Two Pack", which is limited to only 100 copies, and is a split release with Russian band Citramons.
Punk rock
Punk 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 perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band currently based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Their current lineup consists of frontman Pat Fear (guitar), Mike Mess (guitar), Jello B. Afro (bass), and Trace Element (drums). All of these members have been in the band since 1982, though many have rotated in and out. White Flag has an extensive discography that ranges from their 1982 debut R is for Rocket to 2010's Benefit For Cats.
History
White Flag formed in 1982 in Sunnymead, an unincorporated areaUnincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
of California's Inland Empire
Inland Empire (California)
The Inland Empire is a region in Southern California. The region sits directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Inland Empire most commonly is used in reference to the U.S. Census Bureau's federally-defined Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, which covers more than...
now called Moreno Valley. They played their first shows that year (the second and third of which were later included on their "S Is For Space – 25th Anniversary De Luxe Edition"). Their name is to be considered a parody on punkrock elitism. Hence the members' names, resembling Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
, Mike Ness
Mike Ness
Mike Ness is an American guitarist, vocalist, and chief songwriter for the punk rock band Social Distortion, which was formed in 1978. As of Dennis Danell's death in 2000, he is now the only original member of the band...
and Pat Smear
Pat Smear
Pat Smear is a rock musician who has been a guitarist in several well-known bands including The Germs and Nirvana. He is currently a guitarist for the Foo Fighters...
, each a veteran in the SoCal-punk scene in their own right. The band recorded two albums that year, "R is for Rocket" and "S is for Space", the latter of which was released in 1983. After playing numerous shows around California, the band toured Europe for their first time in 1986, and released a Live E.P. from that tour titled "Bleedin' in Sweden".
In 2006 White Flag toured in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for the first time. As a souvenir of the group's first visit, they band released a limited edition, hand numbered 8 song 10" vinyl album, on Roma based RARO! Records, entitled "Piangi Con Me", which is now out of print.
In 2008, the band toured Europe twice, first in March (Germany and Netherlands), and then in June–July they did 23 gigs, including 2 with NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
and The Adolescents
The Adolescents
The Adolescents are an American punk band formed in 1980 in Fullerton, California. It is a punk supergroup, made up of early members of Agent Orange and Social Distortion. They are often credited as one of the leading bands of the 1980s hardcore punk scene....
. Some rare gigs in the U.S. with The Germs
The Germs
The Germs are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1977 to 1980. The band's early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and their most consistent drummer Don Bolles. Germs have since reformed in 2005 with Shane...
and Adolescents followed.
In May 2010 the band released the 7" e.p. "Keepers of The Purple Twilight" on Target Earth Records limited to 300 copies. 2010 also saw the release of "Benefit For Cats" on Cupcake Records.
The current lineup featured on the July 2010 vinyl only release "Benefit For Cats" will be performing their first ever Midwest live shows in July 2010, with exclusives shows in Detroit, Cleveland and Chichago, on July 15,16, and 17 respectively. These shows will be record release parties for the new album, as well as the Russian release limited edition 7" e.p. "Two Pack", which is limited to only 100 copies, and is a split release with Russian band Citramons.
Current lineup
- Pat Fear - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jello B. Afro - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Mike Mess- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Trace ElementTrace elementIn analytical chemistry, a trace element is an element in a sample that has an average concentration of less than 100 parts per million measured in atomic count, or less than 100 micrograms per gram....
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Other members
- Doug Graves
- El Fee
- Al Bum
- Pick Z. Stix
- Bruce Wingate
- Greg HetsonGreg HetsonGreg Hetson is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California since he was 2 years old...
- Steven McDonaldSteven McDonaldSteven McDonald is a NYPD detective who was shot on July 12, 1986. The shooting left him quadriplegic. He is the most seriously injured New York City Police officer to survive his injury....
- Ken Dector
- Ronnie Barnett
- Kim ShattuckKim ShattuckKim Shattuck is the lead singer and guitarist of the band The Muffs. From 1983 to 1991, she was a member of The Pandoras. Since 2001, she also has been lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for The Beards, a superpop sideproject composed of Shattuck, Lisa Marr, and Sherri Solinger.She sang on a...
- Duke Seino
- Randy Robbins
- John ButlerJohn Butler-Arts and Entertainment:*John "Picayune" Butler , American performer*John Butler , American artist*John Butler , member of the English alternative rock band Diesel Park West...
- Ken StringfellowKen StringfellowKenneth Stuart Stringfellow is an American musician, best known for his work with The Posies, R.E.M., and the re-formed Big Star.-Musical career:...
- Viv VacuumEric ErlandsonEric Erlandson is an American musician known as the co-founder, former songwriter and lead guitarist of alternative rock band Hole.-Early life and career:...
- Jim Laspesa
- El SweChips KiesbyeChips Kiesbye is the guitarist and vocalist for the Swedish rock band Sator formed in the late 1980s in Borlänge. Kiesbye is also successful music producer and have worked with several of Swedens most successful rock bands and artists such as The Hellacopters, Millencolin, Thåström, Sahara...
- Victor M. Surrounded
Studio albums
- R is for Rocket (1982)
- S is for Space (1983)
- Third Strike (1984)
- (WFO) (1985)
- Feeding Frenzy (1986)
- Peace (1986)
- Zero Hour (1986)
- "Wild Kingdom" (1987)
- Sgt. Pepper (1987)
- Eternally Undone (2001)
- Benefit For Cats (2010)
Eps and 7"s
- Suicide King (1987)
- R is for Rad (1989)
- "Within You Without You" (1990)
- White RabbitWhite RabbitThe White Rabbit works for the Red Queen, but is also a secret member of the Underland Underground Resistance, and was sent by the Hatter to search for Alice...
(1992) - Don't Give It Away (1992)
- "3rd Sun Mower" (1993)
- "Novocaine" (1995)
- On The Way DownOn the Way Down"On the Way Down" is the debut single by Ryan Cabrera, released from his 2004 studio album, Take It All Away. The song won a 2006 ASCAP Pop Award for most performed song of that year. The song was co-written with Curt Frasca and Sabelle Breer who also helped create hit songs for Stacie Orrico and...
(1999) - Piangi Con Me (2006)
- "Keepers of The Purple Twilight" (2010)
Splits
- "Tesco Vee and White Flag"
- Jail Jello! (1987) (split with NecrosNecrosNecros were an early American hardcore punk band from Maumee, Ohio, although they are usually identified with the Detroit music scene. They are the first band to record for Touch and Go Records.-History:...
) - Sator Vs. White Flag (1994) (split with SatorSator (band)Sator is a Swedish rock band. The band was founded in Borlänge and have released 7 albums. They notably released a song about a disgruntled Baby Doc Duvalier complaining about his fortunes, called "Baby Doc Holiday"...
) - "White Flag/Baby Demons" (2008)
- "Two Pack Split" (2010)
- "Levitate The Listener" (with Versus You) (2011)
Compilation albums
- "Step Back" (1994)
- R is for Rocket, U is for Unreleased (2003)
- "T Is For Twenty" (2006)
- "Counterclockwise" (2007)
Albums contributed to
- Desperate Teenage Lovedolls (1984)
- Rat Music for Rat People, Vol. 3 compilation (CD Presents, 1987)
- Germs (Tribute) - A Small Circle Of Friends compilation (1996)
- "Short Music for Short PeopleShort Music for Short PeopleShort Music for Short People is a 1999 compilation album released on the Fat Wreck Chords record label. The title is a parody of the 1980s punk compilation Rat Music for Rat People...
" (1999)