Spray Paint the Walls: The Story of Black Flag

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Black Flag were the pioneers of American Hardcore, and this is their blood-spattered story. They fought with everybody: They toured overseas on pennies a day and did it in beat-up trucks and vans. Featuring over 30 photos of the band from Glen E. Friedman, Edward Colver, and others. The story, laid out from the band's earliest practices in to its end ten years later, makes a far more dramatic book than the usual shelf-fillers with their stretch to make the empty stories of various chart-toppers sound exciting and crucial and against the odds.

Gradually, he fires everyone but Rollins, yet, his pan-American shoestring SST empire is relentlessly inspirational. A gory, gobsmacking read. He is the author of Psychic Confusion: The Sonic Youth Story. He lives in South London. Thankfully, Chick's book was released too early to chronicle the nightmare of "What The However, if one has this in mind, you will already be seeing Ginn as the villain from the start.

Despite Black Flag being Ginn's band, as well as Ginn's adherence to making music only for himself and not swaying to the fans, the story is ultimately a tragic one. For those who only want the old story, just read the Black Flag segment in "American Hardcore," if you want more of Henry's voice, check out "Our Band Could Be Your Life," but if you want an as in-depth-as-possible account of one of rock music's most important bands, give this one a try.

Although, contextually I would recommend the above-mentioned books be read first. May 09, John Marr rated it it was amazing Shelves: An excellent, compulsively readable account of the career of the perhaps the most essential American hardcore band. Although not perfect--others have pointed out niggling factual errors, and I personally suspect romanticizing of the Holly Hipster vs. South Bay Slobs stuff and the endless stories about the band running from the cops and leaving the amps and drums behind?

But these are minor features in the saga of the band that did more than anyone to bring hardcore to the masses, such as they An excellent, compulsively readable account of the career of the perhaps the most essential American hardcore band.

But these are minor features in the saga of the band that did more than anyone to bring hardcore to the masses, such as they were. Mar 06, Harris Rosen rated it really liked it. Stevie Chuck uncovers buried tales of the musicians, singers, and behind the scenes players who mapped out and created an intoxicating industry one step at a time. Given the recent movements of the Ginn brothers, Keith Morris and Flag, and Henry Rollins, it would be great to see Chick back in the lab to cap it off with an updated ending.

Feb 25, Nestor Rychtyckyj rated it really liked it. I actually write this review last year for my blog, but it seems like a good time to revisit it. Finally — a book on Black Flag and it took an author from the UK to write the definitive story of the most important American punk band.

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Actually, Black Flag was one of the most important bands of any genre. All of the many things that indie bands do today brings us two Black Flag reunions Greg Ginn's Black Flag and Flag, so it's time to revisitit one of the most influential bands of all time. All of the many things that indie bands do today to become successful were really developed by necessity by those early punk pioneers like Black Flag and their contemporaries.

I attended nearly all their shows when they came through Detroit and Black Flag was constantly touring.

I dutifully brought the new albums as they were released; I accepted the constant lineup changes that seemed to happen at a way too frequent pace and I always considered them to be one of the greatest live bands ever. But there was this underlying discontent I always had with the musical direction that the band was taking. Each tour would bring a series of new songs that were always slower and longer than the previous one and I hated that.

We all know the rest of the story — Black Flag broke up, Henry Rollins became a famous author as well as a star and 20 years later suburban kids were all wearing Black Flag t-shirts. Greg Ginn gave occasional interviews, but seemed reluctant to revisit those days in the van too much. Along comes the book from Steve Chick to put together all these pieces and tell us what Black Flag really was.

Chick makes good use of the many interviews and writing from Rollins to put together an excellent history of Black Flag. Many of the other members of Black Flag, like Keith Morris, Chuck Dockowski, Dez Cadena, Kira Raessler and others did contribute to this book, so a fairly complete history of the band is presented.

The obvious discord between Greg Ginn and Henry Rollins is discussed, but wthout the participation of the two main principals is obviously incomplete. At the end Henry Rollins was too important to replace so Black Flag was done. At times the author seems a bit too enamored with both Greg Ginn and the band. I certainly disagree with those kinds of comments, but do agree that this book is certainly worth reading if you are a fun of this groundbreaking band.

Dec 03, Gabrielle rated it liked it Shelves: This book is supposed to be the definite history of the iconic hardcore band. Given how meticulously researched and detailed a narrative Chick wrote, that label would be hard to dispute.

I loved learning about how the band members met, how they scrambled to get gear together, record songs, book shows and eventually tours… Having been in a band, I know how much hard work and dedication it takes to keep things going and these guys clearly gave it their all despite being shockingly young, having precious little resources and massive ego clashes.

Stevie Chick tries to remain professional, but you can feel through the journalistic writing style that he is actually fanboy-ing all over the place his hyperbolic use of adjective actually gets hilarious on occasion. But it does make it a less engaging read. I would go through one lengthy chapter, then put the book down for a few days before chipping away at it again.

And this is a book about one of my all-time favorite bands! It also feels a bit strange to write a history of Black Flag without contribution from Henry Rollins and Greg Ginn, who have very important roles in this story. That being said, we hear from nearly everyone else ever involved with Black Flag: For Black Flag maniacs and punk nerds.

While I'm sure punk scholars and obsessive catalogers would be able to point out tons of discrepancies, incomplete stories, one-sided views of events, etc. Pulling from loads of interviews and printed sources over the years, as well as the author's own interviews with most participants, this fills in a lot of gaps in the assumed history of the band -- things a f strong 3.

The writing isn't particularly riveting I counted at least 17 uses of the words "shards of black amplifier noise" to describe Ginn's playing , but it's plenty workmanlike, and carries you along at a quick gallop. I found myself more interested in things that happened later in the band's career than the more legendary early incarnations. We've all seen "Decline I," we know the tour stories, the Ham radio business, etc. How did the touring differ, or how did it stay the same? How did the songwriting process differ? All things answered pretty well by the text.

Feb 03, Timothy rated it it was amazing Shelves: Excellent insight into the mind boggling work ethic and ethos of a trail blazing band that shaped the future of independent music and also an interesting window into the history of Californian youth rebellion. That Black Flag existed, yet alone thrived, within it's oppressive time frame and meager resources is astounding.

A group constantly at war: The b Excellent insight into the mind boggling work ethic and ethos of a trail blazing band that shaped the future of independent music and also an interesting window into the history of Californian youth rebellion. The book is propelled by great interviews with all of the players from every incarnation of the Flag a roster that puts Spinal Tap to shame and all those that mattered around the band and scene that experienced them first hand. Always insightful, occasionally heartbreaking and often hilarious I highly recommend anyone with even a passing interest read this book.

Especially if your only experience of Black Flag is seeing their iconic "bars" logo emblazoned on the T-shirt of a hipster who thinks it's a street wear label. Mar 21, G. Jason rated it it was amazing Shelves: A fantastic history of Black Flag as well as a great history lesson on the forefathers of american DIY punk rock. This book covers everything - from the beginning of Black Flag to the final days - and most everything in between. Granted, I'm a huge fan of Black Flag, and even have the Raymond Pettibon's iconic Black Flag bars logo inked on my arm - but I have even more respect for what Black Flag did after reading this.

While the author does a great job of interviewing a lot of people around Blac A fantastic history of Black Flag as well as a great history lesson on the forefathers of american DIY punk rock.

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I've read a good deal of music books over the years, but this is for sure my most favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed this, but if you're not a Black Flag fan I doubt you'll find the same pleasure. While Get in the Van is a definitive and wonderful read, it was nice to get some perspective beyond Rollins both him and Ginn are not primary sources in Chick's book - he instead uses on previously published interviews, articles, etc. I thought it was actually beneficial to leave all that space for other band members, roadies, friends, etc. My only complaint was the numerous errors throughout the book.

Most just resulting from poor editing? There's spelling errors, grammatical issues, overused metaphors, and some paragraphs and just straight up copied from previous chapters.

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Not sure what happened that allowed so many of these mistakes to get published. A good read A highly in depth history of one of America's most influential punk bands. Anyone who has enjoyed the music of Black Flag will appreciate this detailed account of the formation of the band and the creative process behind their albums in addition to stories from the road ending with the band's breakup. Greg Ginn, the aloof guitarist and main songwriter, remains a frustrating enigma, revealed mainly through contradictions that offer little insight into his motivations.

This is in c A good read A highly in depth history of one of America's most influential punk bands. This is in contrast to nearly all of his bandmates, who are presented as three dimensional real people all of whom were united by their shared experiences working with Ginn and living with him on the road during the course of Black Flag's legendarily brutal tours.

Spray Paint the Walls: The Story of Black Flag

Jan 03, Drew rated it it was amazing. Covered every era of Black Flag with equal depth and attention to detail. Stevie Chick did a great job of tracking down almost everyone who was ever in Black Flag, and if he couldn't interview them himself, he found enough interviews with them to give their take on every aspect of the band's lengthy career. I really enjoyed hearing about both the very early and very late lineups of the band, finally learning the truth about Ron Reyes's departure and the nickname "Chavo Pe Outstanding biography.

Spray Paint the Walls: The Story of Black Flag - Book

I really enjoyed hearing about both the very early and very late lineups of the band, finally learning the truth about Ron Reyes's departure and the nickname "Chavo Pederast" , and all of the included information about where band members are today. For any Black Flag fans out there, no matter what era of the band is your favorite, this bio will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about it.

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