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I ~t
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ART THROUGHINTIMIDATIONAn Introduction to the flyers ofBlack
Flag
By ChariSabba-Too-Jee Press, 260 Adelaide St. East Box
62,Toronto, ON, M5A INI, Canada
2013
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T17iof
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INTRO
The drums hit and the lead guitar dropped like a bombfrom the
sky. The thunderous wall of sound kicked in,so brutal it could
destroy anything. On top were angry,defiant lyrics sung from a
limitless reservoir of vitriol.I just stared into the vast
emptiness of the speakers,awestruck by how perfect it was.
The first time I listened to Black Flag was cathartic.All the
frustration and angst inside just spilled out oftheir songs. It
felt like the greatest music ever.
I
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T h e o t h e r g r e a t t h i n g a b o u t B l a c k F l a g
w a s t h e i r f l y e r s .
T h e y w e r e i l l u s t r a t e d w i t h s t a r k p e n a
n d i n k d r a w i n g s .
B e s i d e e a c h i m a g e w a s a c a p t i o n t h a t w a
s h u m o r o u s ,
b u t a l s o s u b v e r s i v e . T h e s p o n t a n e o u s
r e a c t i o n w a s t o
l a u g h . A f t e r , m o r e s e r i o u s r e f l e c t i o
n w o u l d f o l l o w .
T h i s i s n t s u p p o s e d t o b e f u n n y . S o w h y d
i d I l a u g h ?
R a y m o n d P e t t i b o n i s t h e a r t i s t w h o d r e
w t h o s e
i m a g e s . H e d i d n o t c r e a t e a r t f o r B l a c k
F l a g . I n s t e a d ,
d r a w i n g s w h e r e c h o s e n f r o m p r e - e x i s t
i n g a r t . T h e
i m a g e s s e l e c t e d d u r i n g t h e i n i t i a l p e
r i o d , f r o m 1 9 7 9 t o
1 9 8 1 , e x u d e d a s e n s e o f d a n g e r . T h e y w e
r e a s s t r i k i n g
a n d i n t e n s e a s t h e m u s i c a n d b e c a m e s y n
o n y m o u s
w i t h t h e b a n d , e v e n i f t h i s w a s n t t h e o r
i g i n a l i n t e n t i o n
o f t h e a r t .
T h e f l y e r s a r e k n o w n f o r t h e i r g r a p h i c
c o n t e n t , b u t t h e
p e o p l e w h o f o c u s o n t h o s e a s p e c t s m i s s
t h e p o i n t .
T h e y d o n o t s e e t h e s a t i r e , t h e m e t a p h o
r s , o r a n y o f
t h e o t h e r t h i n g s t h a t g i v e t h e f l y e r s d
e p t h . T h e i m a g e s
a r e m o r e c o m p l e x t h a n t h e y f i r s t a p p e a
r a n d n o s i n g l e
f a c e t e d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n c a n d i s t i l t h
e i r e s s e n c e .
P e t t i b o n s a r t i s f u l l s t r e n g t h , b u t h e
d o e s n o t h i t y o u
o v e r t h e h e a d w i t h a m e s s a g e . I n s t e a d ,
h e s u b t l y l i f t s
t h e m a s k a n d e x p o s e s w h a t s u n d e r n e a t h
. R a w t r u t h
a n d h y p o c r i s y a r e d i s p l a y e d i n t h e f u l
l l i g h t o f d a y , b u t
w i t h o u t m o r a l i z i n g a n d w i t h o u t t e l l i
n g u s w h a t t o t h i n k .
H e p o i n t s a t t h e e m p e r o r s n e w c l o t h e s ,
a n d s t o p s
t h e r e . T h e r e s u l t s a r e p o w e r f u l a n d t h
o u g h t p r o v o k i n g .
2
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Not everyone gets it. Some people cant see beyondthe blood
splatter. In high school a teacher noticed mereading a book of
Pettibon drawings. He took it out ofmy hands and slowly turned the
pages. The look ofdisgust on his face was obvious. He told me that
mygeneration was sick and that only a diseased mindwould want to
read this book.
I got a similar reaction when I tried to play Black Flagto other
people. I carried around a tape of early songs,mostly from
Everything Went Black. I considered it tobe the most listenable of
Black Flags recordings.Come on, who wouldnt like Gimme Gimme
Gimme?
Apparently, I was wrong. Most people hate Black Flag.I popped in
the cassette at parties and got deathstares. Turn that shit
off!
My one successful coup was at a high school dance.I started
talking to the DJ as he was setting up andcould see that wed made a
connection. He righteouslythought that I and my friends should get
at least onesong during the dance.
It took forever to get through the mind-numbingpopular songs
(Wham!, Tears for Fears, TwistedSister). Then it came. Nervous
Breakdown on full blast.The floor shook. I skanked my heart out.
And then itwas over. A pile of bodies lay in the centre of
thegymnasium floor. They didnt know how to dance tothis music and
just started pushing and shoving eachother. One person got hurt and
had to leave. He cameback to school on Monday with his arm in a
sling,telling everyone I ruined the dance.
3
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T h e o u t s i d e w o r l d r e a c t e d i n t h e s a m e w
a y t o t h e a r t
a n d t h e m u s i c . B o t h s p a r k e d i n s t a n t a n
e o u s a n d s e v e r e
h o s t i l i t y . C o n s e q u e n t l y , p u t t i n g a P
e t t i b o n d r a w i n g o n
a B l a c k F l a g f l y e r m a d e s e n s e . I t w a s a n
a c t o f
d e f i a n c e t h a t e x p r e s s e d w h a t t h e m u s i
c w a s a b o u t .
O v e r t i m e , t h e f l y e r s h a v e b e c o m e i c o n
i c . T h e y c a s t a n
a u r a o v e r t h e m u s i c , i n f l u e n c i n g h o w i
t i s e x p e r i e n c e d .
T h i s i s e s p e c i a l l y t r u e f o r p e o p l e l i k
e m e w h o n e v e r
s a w t h e b a n d p l a y l i v e . T h e m e n a c i n g p r
e s e n c e o f t h e
f l y e r s s e t s u p t h e s o n g s a n d t h e c a t h a r
t i c r e l e a s e t h a t
f o l l o w s . T h e a r t a n d t h e m u s i c t o g e t h e
r a r e t h e
c o m p l e t e p a c k a g e .
A s a c o l l e c t o r , I v e s p e n t y e a r s c h a s i n
g d o w n t h e
f l y e r s a n d a n y b i t o f i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t
w o u l d h e l p m e t o
u n d e r s t a n d t h e m b e t t e r . T h e c h a l l e n g
e w a s n t j u s t
a c q u i r i n g t h e f l y e r s , b u t t r y i n g t o m a
k e s e n s e o f t h e m .
S o m u c h a m a z i n g m a t e r i a l w a s c r e a t e d t
h a t t h e t a s k o f
o r g a n i z i n g a n d s t u d y i n g i t s e e m e d i n c
r e d i b l y d a u n t i n g .
U l t i m a t e l y , I c r e a t e d a z i n e t h a t I w i s
h h a d b e e n a r o u n d
w h e n I f i r s t s t a r t e d c o l l e c t i n g . I t w o
u l d v e h e l p e d m e
m a k e b e t t e r c h o i c e s d u r i n g t h e e a r l y d
a y s o f e B a y ,
w h e n l e g i t i m a t e c o l l e c t i n g o p p o r t u n
i t i e s s t i l l e x i s t e d .
I v e c h r o n i c l e d t h e s t o r y o f t h e f l y e r s
o v e r f i v e p e r i o d s ,
e a c h w i t h i t s o w n d i s t i n c t s e t o f c h a r a
c t e r i s t i c s . A n
a t t e m p t w a s a l s o m a d e t o i n t e r p r e t a n d
f i n d m e a n i n g i n
t h e a r t . T h e r e s l o t s h e r e , b u t e v e n s o ,
t h i s i s j u s t a
s t a r t i n g p o i n t . A n i n t r o d u c t i o n . S o m
u c h m o r e n e e d s
t o b e d o n e .
4
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ORIGIN STORY
In the mid-seventies, Greg Ginn taught himself to playguitar and
wrote songs as an outlet.1 At some point in1977, he got a band
together. He convinced KeithMorris to sing. Keith recruited his
friend Bryan Migdolon drums. Their band was called Panic.
Chuck Dukowski initially filled in as bassist and laterbecame a
permanent member. He was in the line-upthat recorded the Nervous
Breakdown EP in January1978. Many cite this as their favourite
Black Flagrelease, but it should be pointed out that it was
Panic,not Black Flag, that played on this recording. The
bandconcept of Panic was different from Black Flag. Panicwas more
about a band freaking out (hence the name).They also had more of a
fun feel than what was tocome later.2 (Despite rumours, no flyers
were createdwhile they were still called Panic.)3
5
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I t w a s a f a m i l y c o n n e c t i o n t h a t b r o u g h
t R a y m o n d
P e t t i b o n i n t o t h e s a m e s p h e r e a s P a n i c
. H e i s G r e g
G i n n s b r o t h e r . H e g r a d u a t e d f r o m U C L A
i n 1 9 7 7 a n d
b e g a n w o r k i n g a s a m a t h t e a c h e r . H e h a d
a l s o b e e n
d r a w i n g f o r a w h i l e a n d s o m e o f h i s p o l i
t i c a l c a r t o o n s
h a d b e e n p u b l i s h e d , b u t t h e n s o m e t h i n
g h a p p e n e d .
A c c o r d i n g t o h i m , . . . t h e r e w a s a p o i n t
w h e n , t o m y
e y e s , m y w o r k d i d b e c o m e m a t u r e . I n a w a
y , i t k i n d o f
h a p p e n e d o v e r n i g h t , i n 1 9 7 8 . ~ F r o m t h
a t m o m e n t o n ,
h e w a s a n a r t i s t .
B y m i d - I 9 7 8 , P a n i c n e e d e d a d r u m m e r . T
h e y g o t R o b o .
H i s d r u m m i n g w a s f a s t e r , b u t a l s o m o r e
e x p r e s s i v e .
H e h e l p e d a m p l i f y t h e d a r k e m o t i o n a l t
o n e o f t h e
m u s i c w h i l e i n c r e a s i n g i t s e n e r g y l e v
e l . A s a r e s u l t ,
P a n i c s s o u n d c h a n g e d ~ T h e m u s i c b e c a m
e h e a v i e r ,
a n d m o r e i n t e n s e .
A n u n c r e d i t e d p h o t o o f R o b e - e r a P a n i c
c i r c u l a t i n g o n t h e i n t e r n e t .
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In the fall of 1978, the bands new name, Black Flag,was chosen
after it was suggested by RaymondPettibon.5 The black flag is a
symbol of anarchism, butthey were not explicitly referencing
political anarchy.As Chuck explained, My definition of it (anarchy)
is acommitment to change. No system. Cuz the worldreally is
anarchy. But a person committed to it, iscommitted to the
destruction of the status quo.6 Theband didnt want to play the same
music the same wayuntil it became stale and irrelevant. It was
better to bein a state of change, to not rely on an
establishedformula, and to continually smash what came before.
The name also worked because it was intimidating.According to
Chuck, all of the cultural references(anarchy, poison) inherent in
Black Flag arethreatening.7 They had a heavy, menacing vibe andthis
was expressed in Chucks lyrics from the songSpray Paint the
Walls:
It feels good to say what I wantIt feels good to knock things
downIt feels good to see the disgust in their eyesIt feels good, Im
gonna go wildSpray paint the walls
I dont want to see the plan succeedThere wont be room for people
like meMy life is their diseaseIt feels good, Im gonna go wildSpray
paint the walls
I did intend to confront the world, confirms Chuck,and I enjoyed
it immensely.8
7
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A c o m m i t m e n t t o c h a n g e a n d a h e a v y , t h r
e a t e n i n g v i b e
a r e t h e t w o p a r t s o f t h e B l a c k F l a g a e s t
h e t i c t h a t
b e c a m e t h e d e f i n i n g f e a t u r e s t h e f l y e
r s . B e i n g i n a
s t a t e o f c h a n g e o p e n e d t h i n g s u p . I t a l
l o w e d f o r
u n e x p e c t e d c h o i c e s o f a r t w o r k t o b e u s
e d . A s w e l l , t h e
h e a v y v i b e o f t h e b a n d w a s l a t e r r e f l e c
t e d i n t h e
o m i n o u s v i s u a l p r e s e n c e o f t h e f l y e r s
.
B y t h e e n d o f 1 9 7 8 , P e t t i b o n a n d B l a c k F
l a g w e r e i n a
s i m i l a r p o s i t i o n . B o t h h a d f o u n d t h e i
r a r t i s t i c v o i c e a n d
w a n t e d t o e x p r e s s t h e m s e l v e s . P e t t i b
o n h a d p u b l i s h e d
h i s f i r s t c o l l e c t i o n o f d r a w i n g s C a p t
i v e C h a i n s i n a n
e d i t i o n o f 5 0 0 . B l a c k F l a g r e l e a s e d t h
e i r f i r s t s i n g l e
N e r v o u s B r e a k d o w n . 2 0 0 0 w e r e p r e s s e d
, b u t o n l y 5 0 0
h a d t h e o r i g i n a l b r i c k w a l l s l e e v e . T h
e y p r o d u c e d
t h e s e i t e m s , b u t h a d n o a u d i e n c e . I t w a
s n o w t i m e t o
m a k e t h i n g s h a p p e n .
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THE FIRST SIX(January to June 1979)
The Hollywood punk scene had shunned Black Flag.To them, the
band was a bunch of outsiders from thesuburbs. Unable to get any
gigs, they rented theMoose Lodge Hall in Rendondo Beach to put on
theirfirst show which took place on 27 January 1979. Theearliest
flyers were created for this gig.
No effort was made to document the earliest flyers.However,
enough material has survived and enoughdetails have been provided
by first hand sources toreconstruct the order of the first six
flyers. However,this isnt an exact science. This sequence is a
bestguess based on available information.
9
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C h u c k d e s c r i b e d c r e a t i n g t h e f i r s t B l
a c k F l a g f l y e r i n
B a r r e d f o r L i f e :
I t o o k a p i c t u r e o u t o f h i s ( P e t t i b o n s )
C a p t i v e C h a i n s
b o o k a n d j u s t w r o t e t h e t e x t w h i l e I w a s
d o i n g m y
l a u n d r y . I w a s l i k e , I h a v e t o d o s o m e f l
y e r s f o r t h i s
s h o w , s o I w r o t e i t w i t h a m a r k i n g p e n a n
d X e r o x e d i t
a t t h e P o s t O f f i c e , o r s o m e p l a c e n e a r b
y , t h e n w e n t a n d
p a s s e d t h e m o u t . . . 9
T h e f l y e r d e p i c t s a h a n d h o l d i n g a r e c e
n t l y f i r e d g u n ,
s m o k e s t i l l r i s i n g f r o m t h e b a r r e l . J u
s t a b o v e , t h e
b l o o d s p l a t t e r t h a t d r i p s d o w n t h e w a l
l f u n c t i o n s a s a
k n o w i n g w i n k f r o m P e t t i b o n . S o m e o n e o
u t s i d e t h e
f r a m e h a s b e e n b a d l y h u r t , b u t w h a t a c t
u a l l y h a p p e n e d
i s l e f t t o t h e i m a g i n a t i o n .
C h u c k c h o s e a n i m a g e w i t h v i o l e n c e , h u
m o u r , a n d t h e
t h r e a t o f t h e u n k n o w n . H e t h e n f r a m e d i
t w i t h s h o w
i n f o r m a t i o n t o p r o d u c e t h i s f l y e r . I n
d o i n g s o , h e
c r e a t e d a p r o t o t y p e f o r a l l t h e c l a s s i
c f l y e r s t h a t c a m e
l a t e r . B u t a t t h i s e a r l y , f o r m a t i v e s t
a g e , t h e r e w a s n o
e s t a b l i s h e d w a y o f d o i n g t h i n g s . O t h e
r t y p e s o f f l y e r s
w o u l d b e m a d e f o r o t h e r s h o w s , I t t o o k a
w h i l e b e f o r e
t h i s p r o t o t y p e b e c a m e a t e m p l a t e .
T h i s f l y e r i s e x t r e m e l y r a r e . T h e r e i s
o n l y o n e i m a g e o f
i t o n t h e i n t e r n e t , o n t h e R a t S o u n d l e g
a c y s i t e . M o s t
c o l l e c t o r s d o n o t e v e n k n o w o f i t s e x i s
t e n c e . S u p r e m e
r a r i t y a n d i m p o r t a n c e m a k e t h i s , m o r e
t h a n a n y o t h e r
f l y e r , t h e H o l y G r a i l o f B l a c k F l a g f l y
e r c o l l e c t i n g .
1 0
-
,F9;~t;~I
~jTI+THE L
-
K e i t h M o r r i s a l s o d r e w a f l y e r . 1 I t d e p
i c t s t w o b e a t n i k s
t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e u p c o m i n g s h o w . T h e f
l y e r f e a t u r e s
t w o c o u n t e r c u l t u r e f i g u r e s , b u t i t i s
d e c i d e d l y n o t
p u n k . I t i s a n e a r l y i n d i c a t i o n t h a t B l
a c k F l a g w e r e n o t
f o l l o w e r s . T h e y d i d n o t p a n d e r t o t h e p
u n k c o m m u n i t y .
T h e y h a d t h e i r o w n s e l f m a d e a n t i - e s t a
b l i s h m e n t s t y l e .
B l a c k F l a g p u t o n t h e i r s e c o n d s h o w b y r
e n t i n g a
c o m m u n i t y c e n t r e i n S a n P e d r o . T h e r e a
r e t w o k n o w n
f l y e r s f o r t h i s s h o w . O n e w a s b y R a y m o n
d P e t t i b o n .
T h e b a n d n a m e s a r e d r a w n w i t h a h a t c h i n
g t e c h n i q u e .
B e n e a t h a r e a m a p a n d d i r e c t i o n s f o l l o
w e d b y t h e
h e a d s o f t w o c h a r a c t e r s f r o m P e t t i b o n
s c o m i c b o o k .
T h e y a r e o f f e r i n g d e a l s f o r C a p t i v e C h
a i n s a n d t h e
N e r v o u s B r e a k d o w n s i n g l e .
T h i s f l y e r i s n o t a b l e f o r t w o r e a s o n s .
I t s t h e f i r s t f l y e r
c r e a t e d b y R a y m o n d P e t t i b o n , b u t h i s a
r t w o r k i s o n l y a
m i n o r f e a t u r e . T h e m a i n f o c u s i s o n t h e
h u m o r o u s
P e t t i b o n i s m s f o u n d i n t h e t e x t .
T h e o t h e r r e a s o n f o r t h i s f l y e r s i m p o r
t a n c e i s l e s s
o b v i o u s . I n t h e b o t t o m r i g h t c o r n e r i s
a s m a l l a d f o r t h e
N e r v o u s B r e a k d o w n s i n g l e . W i t h i n t h e
a d i s t h e f i r s t
p r i n t e d a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e B l a c k F l a g b
a r s . T h e b a r s
w e r e P e f t i b o n s s t y l i z e d d e p i c t i o n o f
a b l a c k f l a g
w a i v i n g i n t h e w i n d . T h e y b e c a m e t h e l o
g o o f t h e b a n d
a n d t h i s f l y e r e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t t h e b a
r s w e r e i n u s e
q u i t e e a r l y , b e f o r e t h e i r s e c o n d s h o w
.
1 1
-
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N.
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P U N K R O C K B L O W a O U T 2
f e a t u r i n g L A s b e s t b a n d s
F L k
I N B E A U T I F U L
4 , ~ R , S c W . F R E E W A Y
I
R U N D O W N S A N P E D R O h o m e o f t h e b a r s
1 ~ C O ~ E L . L
G o T o ~ N ~ O F J - 4 A ~ S O R F W / .
T O ~ t I L E F T , N ~ M ~ A N o T i 4 E ~ .
~ L ~ F 1 A T T f 4 E T p ~ C O ~ L L
r ~ ( S ~ N T A C ~ v E ~ ) . 7 A K E .
2 ~ s ~ A N r A C . R u z . . r o P A c ! F , c
: ~ A V E S A T
2 1 1 ~ . P A C 1 F ~ C A V E .
~ P t f ~
5 a r v t c ~ . C r u z c & v e s .
c ~ d r ~ i i s S l o h ~ i i y
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B L A C K F L A G 7 ~ E P l ~ i
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t 0 S S T R e c o r d s
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C a ~ 9 O 2 6 .
n a m e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a d d r e s s
-
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The other flyer for the second show was designed byKeith Morris.
It has a similar illustrative style to thefirst flyer he made.
Thick black marker is used, and thehandwriting is identical. It is
better executed, but lessinspired than his previous effort. Show
information isfollowed by a cat, a plug, and a flag which
representthree of the bands that played that night (the AlleyCats,
the Plugs, and Black Flag).
12
-
T h e n e x t f l y e r w a s c r e a t e d f o r B l a c k F l
a g s f i r s t c l u b
s h o w a t t h e B l a B l a c a f e o n t h e 1 1 t h a n d 1
9 t h o f J u n e .
S h o w i n f o r m a t i o n s u r r o u n d s t h e N e r v o
u s B r e a k d o w n
p i c t u r e s l e e v e . T h i s i s t h e f i r s t a p p e
a r a n c e o f
P e f t i b o n s h a n d d r a w n B l a c k F l a g l e t t e
r s w h i c h h e
s e e m s t o h a v e p r e f e r r e d . T h e p r e s e n c e
o f t h i s l e t t e r i n g
s t y l e o n a f l y e r i s a n i n d i c a t i o n t h a t h
e l i k e l y c r e a t e d
t h a t f l y e r .
T h e n e x t a n d f i n a l f l y e r f r o m t h i s e a r l
y p e r i o d i s f o r
B l a c k F l a g s s e c o n d c l u b s h o w . I t d e p i c
t s a p u n k g i r l
g e t t i n g k i c k e d o u t o f t h e f a m i l y h o m e w
h i l e b e i n g
t a u n t e d b y h e r f a t h e r . T h e d r a w i n g i s m
o r e s t r a i g h t
h u m o u r t h a n s a t i r e , w h i c h i s u n u s u a l i
n P e t t i b o n s a r t .
A l s o u n u s u a l i s t h e p r e s e n c e o f a p u n k c
h a r a c t e r .
T h i s i s v i r t u a l l y u n i q u e a m o n g B l a c k F
l a g s f l y e r s .
T h e i m a g e i s n o t c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e B l
a c k F l a g
a e s t h e t i c , b u t t h i s i s a p r e c e d e n t s e t
t i n g f l y e r s T h e
P e t t i b o n d r a w i n g f r a m e d b y s h o w i n f o r
m a t i o n f o r m a t ,
i n t r o d u c e d b y B l a c k F l a g s f i r s t f l y e r
( i l l u s t r a t e d w i t h
P e t t i b o n s g u n ) w a s a d o p t e d a f t e r t h i s
f l y e r . A s s u c h ,
t h i s w a s t h e f i r s t s t a n d a r d i z e d f l y e r
f r o m w h i c h a l l
o t h e r f l y e r s f o l l o w e d .
1 3
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-
THE NUMBERED FLYERS(June 1979 to December 1979)
After their first few shows, Black Flag broke throughthe
barriers that had blocked them from getting gigs.They didnt know
who we were. Says Chuck, Oncewe started playing its like a lot of
things once youget the ball rolling and then theres momentum.11
Forthe rest on 1979, the band often played in the LosAngeles area
and made two trips to San Francisco.
The flyers for the second half of 1979 were numbered.The
numbering began with # 7 in June and ended with#22 in December. The
first six flyers from January toJune are assumed to be the only
previous flyersbecause the numbering begins at seven.
14
-
T h e f l y e r s w e r e n u m b e r e d t o d o c u m e n t t
h e m a s t h e y
w e r e b e i n g c r e a t e d . I n t h e v e r y e a r l y d
a y s t h e r e m a y
h a v e b e e n a n a t t e m p t t o p r e s e r v e t h e s e
q u e n c e ,
e x p l a i n s C h u c k . A l a s , i t w e n t b y t h e w a
y s i d e . 1 2
T h e f l y e r s f o r t h i s p e r i o d w e r e l e t t e r
e d a n d l a i d o u t b y
P e t t i b o n . H e d i d t h e l e t t e r i n g f o r a w h
i l e , s a y s C h u c k .
W e s t a r t e d t o p l a y l o t s o f s h o w s a n d t h e
n , b e c a u s e o f
v o l u m e , w e t o o k o v e r . 1 3 T h e e x a c t m o m e
n t w h e n
C h u c k t o o k o v e r i s d i f f i c u l t t o p i n p o i
n t b e c a u s e h e l a i d
o u t o f a t l e a s t o n e n u m b e r e d f l y e r ( B l a
c k F l a g f l y e r
# 1 8 ) a n d p o s s i b l y m o r e . I n a n y e v e n t , P
e f t i b o n s t o p p e d
c r e a t i n g t h e f l y e r s b y t h e e n d o f 1 9 7 9 a
n d o n l y b r i e f l y
r e t u r n e d t o l a y o u t a f e w m o r e f l y e r s i n
t h e f a l l o f 1 9 8 0 .
2 9 J u n e 1 9 7 9 , B l a c k F l a g F l y e r # 7
A k n i f e t h r o w i n g a c t g o n e a w r y . T h e h u m
a n t a r g e t ,
w o u n d e d b y t h e t h r o w e r , h a s s t a b b e d h i
m i n t h e b a c k
a n d i s n o w a p p r o a c h i n g h i m w i t h a s e c o n
d k n i f e . T h e
t h r o w e r l i f t s h i s h a n d t o d e f e n d h i m s e
l f .
E a r l y B l a c k F l a g s o n g s d e p i c t s o m e o n e
o n t h e e d g e ;
e i t h e r i m m o b i l i z e d b y f r u s t r a t i o n o r
f r u s t r a t e d t o t h e
p o i n t o f l a s h i n g o u t . T h e r e a r e n o s o l u
t i o n s , n o
r e d e m p t i o n . A l l t h e n a r r a t o r c a n d o i s
g o b e r s e r k .
T h i s i m a g e c a p t u r e s t h a t f e e l i n g o f p o
w e r l e s s n e s s a n d
o f b e i n g p r o v o k e d t o t h e b r e a k i n g p o i n
t .
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Callously abandoning a fatally trapped person
isincomprehensible. What followed is equally disturbing.He got a
minor conviction for fleeing the scene of anaccident with no jail
time. Voters continued to re-electhim until his death 30 years
later. Everyone just closedtheir eyes and pretended that everything
was okay.Their slumber gave him sanctuary from having to faceany
real consequences.
A grand jury later considered this incident, but wasonly allowed
to hear 20 minutes of testimony as theysearched for truth. Although
brief, it was in Pettibonswords, a respite from the sanctuary of
sleep.
1 November 1979, Black Flag Flyer #18For Pettibon, nothing is
sacrosanct above comedy.16This includes pedophilia. Approaching
this subjectfrom a satirical angle is challenging for the
audience.The image of a sexually exploited child is veryupsetting,
but in a humorous context is capable ofarousing extreme anger. The
purpose of satire,however, isnt to appease peoples sensibilities.
It issupposed to force them to confront the ugliness,which is what
this flyer does.
The image is unsettling, but the message is clear:children are
exploited. Pedophilia exists. Pettibon pullsit out of the shadows
to show everyone that themonster is real.
19
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1 N o v e m b e r 1 9 7 9 , B l a c k F l a g F l y e r # 1
9
T h e a d u l t s c l e n c h e d f i s t s s h o w t h a t h e
i s f r u s t r a t e d b y
h i s i n a b i l i t y t o c o n t r o l t h i s s i t u a t i
o n . T h e k i d s m i l e s a s
h e d u c k s a n d d o g e s t o c o m p l e t e w i l d , u n
r e s t r a i n e d a r t .
N o o n e c a n s t o p h i m .
T h e a r t p a r a l l e l s B l a c k F l a g s l a t e n i g
h t c a m p a i g n s
w h e n t h e y i l l e g a l l y p o s t e d f l y e r s t o p
r o m o t e t h e i r
s h o w s . A c c o r d i n g t o K e i t h :
W e w o u l d g o o u t o n o u r f l y e r - p a s t i n g m i
s s i o n s i n
R o b o s l i t t l e w h i t e F o r d C o r t i n a . W e d h
a v e t h e b u c k e t
w i t h t h e p a s t e , w e d h a v e a f e w h u n d r e d f
l y e r s , a n d
a f t e r a l l t h e f l y e r s w e r e p o s t e d . l i k e
t h r e e o f f o u r h o u r s ,
w e d g o h o m e t o s l e e p .
I t w o u l d b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o k n o w h o w t h e
g e n e r a l p u b l i c
r e a c t e d t h e n e x t m o r n i n g a s t h e y w a l k e
d d o w n t h e
s t r e e t a n d w e r e g r e e t e d b y a k n i f e w i e l
d i n g n u d e
w o m a n ( f l y e r # 7 ) , o r E d G e m ( f l y e r # 1 5 )
. I t p r o b a b l y f e l t
l i k e s o m e s o r t o f a t t a c k w a s u n d e r w a y .
T h e f l y e r s
c a p t i o n s u m s i t u p p e r f e c t l y . A r t t h r o
u g h i n t i m i d a t i o n .
1 D e c e m b e r 1 9 7 9 , U n - n u m b e r e d F l y e r
F a n s h a v e a l w a y s k n o w n a b o u t t h e a w k w a
r d m u s i c a l
m i s m a t c h t h a t t o o k p l a c e w h e n B l a c k F l
a g p l a y e d a
s h o w w i t h M a d n e s s , b u t t h e f l y e r w a s u n
k n o w n u n t i l i t
s u r f a c e d a f e w m o n t h s a g o . H a n d w r i t i n
g s t y l e r e v e a l s
K e i t h M o r r i s a s t h i s f l y e r s c r e a t o r
.
K e i t h p a r t e d w a y s w i t h B l a c k F l a g a f e w
d a y s a f t e r t h i s
s h o w . T h i s t u r n e d o u t t o b e h i s s w a n s o n
g f l y e r a n d i t
i s a r e m i n d e r o f h i s c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e e
p i c i n i t i a l p h a s e
o f B l a c k F l a g w h e n t h e y l e f t t h e i r p r a c
t i c e s p a c e a n d
s t a r t e d t o p l a y s h o w s .
2 0
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T H E I N T E R R E G N U M
( J a n u a r y 1 9 8 0 t o A p r i l 1 9 8 0 )
T h e n u m b e r e d f l y e r s e n d e d i n D e c e m b e r
1 9 7 9 . N o n e w
P e t t i b o n a r t w o u l d a p p e a r o n t h e f l y e r
s u n t i l A p r i l 1 9 8 0 .
l n b e t w e e n , B l a c k F l a g p r o m o t e d t h e i r
s h o w s w i t h
f l y e r s t h a t d i d n o t f e a t u r e t h e a r t . A t
t h e s a m e t i m e ,
a n o t h e r b a n d w a s a l l o w e d a c c e s s t o P e t
t i b o n s a r t t o
c r e a t e t h e i r f l y e r s . A c l o s e l o o k a t t h
e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s
r e v e a l s h o w B l a c k F l a g s f l y e r s a n d t h e
a r t o f P e t t i b o n
w e r e m o r e c o m p e l l i n g t o g e t h e r t h a n a p
a r t .
2 1
-
When Pettibon told Maximumrocknroll in 2008 that...if it wasnt
me (providin~ art to Black Flag), it wouldhave been someone else 8
he was implying that hiscontribution was inconsequential. One look
at a flyermade without his art shows just how wrong he is.
Flyer for 16 March 1980. Chucks lettering pasted over an urban
wasteland.
22
-
T h e m o s t p r o m i n e n t f e a t u r e o f t h i s f l y
e r i s t h e
e n o r m o u s l e t t e r s t h a t s p e l l B l a c k F l a
g . M a n y a s s u m e
t h a t t h e l a r g e , u l t r a - b o l d f o n t w a s c h
o s e n b e c a u s e i t
p r o j e c t s a n o m i n o u s s e n s e o f p o w e r . T h
e a c t u a l
r e a s o n w a s m o r e p r a c t i c a l . A s i n d i c a t
e d b y C h u c k ,
T h e t e x t f o r B l a c k F l a g ~ j o t c h a n g e d t o
m a k e i t m o r e
l e g i b l e f r o m a l i g h t p o l e . ~
T h e f l y e r p r o m o t e s t h e s h o w , b u t d o e s l
i t t l e e l s e , I t
s e e m s b l a n d w h e n c o m p a r e d t o t h e p r e v i
o u s f l y e r s
w i t h P e t t i b o n s a r t .
T h e P e t t i b o n d r a w i n g s u s e d f o r t h e f l y
e r s c o n t a i n e d
m o r e t h a n a s h a r p w i t a n d a s u b v e r s i v e m
e s s a g e .
T h e t o p i c a l a s p e c t o f a n y a r t m a k e s i t i
n t e r e s t i n g ,
b u t n o t c o m p e l l i n g . I t s P e t t i b o n s i d i
o s y n c r a t i c s t y l e
t h a t d r a w s p e o p l e i n . H e m a k e s e x t r e m e
b e h a v i o u r ,
n o m a t t e r h o w a b e r r a n t o r a b h o r r e n t , s
e e m f a m i l i a r
a n d r e l a t a b l e e v e n w h e n i t i s d i s t a n t f
r o m o n e s o w n
w a y o f t h i n k i n g . T h e a r t i s l i k e a b l e e v
e n i f t h e s u b j e c t
m a t t e r i s d i s t u r b i n g . I t g a v e t h e f l y e
r s a s t r i k i n g q u a l i t y
t h a t m a d e t h e m s t a n d o u t a n d m e m o r a b l e
.
P e t t i b o n s a r t i s a k e y c o m p o n e n t o f t h e
f l y e r s , b u t
a c c e s s i n g h i s a r t c o u l d p r o d u c e v e r y d
i f f e r e n t r e s u l t s .
B y F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 0 , K e i t h M o r r i s s n e w b a
n d , t h e C i r c l e
J e r k s , w a s p l a y i n g s h o w s t h a t w e r e p r o
m o t e d b y
n u m b e r e d f l y e r s f e a t u r i n g P e t t i b o n s
a r t . A n y o n e
s e e i n g t h e n u m b e r e d C i r c l e J e r k s a n d B
l a c k F l a g
f l y e r s f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e w o u l d t h i n k t
h a t t h e y c o n t a i n
t h e w o r k o f t w o c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t a
r t i s t s .
2 3
-
The flyers are different because the two bands are sodifferent.
According to Keith:
What set us apart from Black Flag is that we were notas
aggressive. We were not as angry... The thing withBlack Flag was
that it was so incendiary, so in yourface, so explosive... Whereas
the Circle Jerks, wewanted it to be a party. We wanted everybody to
have agood time and get laid.2
~. % ~ II
There were 8 Circle Jerks flyers with Pettibon art. The first
six were numbered, followed by this one.The last flyer with
Pettibon art was for an August 1980 show with the Dead
Kennedys.
24
-
CE
-
T h e i m a g e s c h o s e n f o r t h e C i r c l e J e r k s
f l y e r s a r e m o r e
b a s e d i n h u m o u r a n d s a r c a s m . T h o s e d r a
w i n g s h a d a
c l o s e r a f f i n i t y t o t h e m a n d d i d n o t d u p
l i c a t e t h e l o o k
a n d f e e l o f B l a c k F l a g s f l y e r s . T h i s u n
d e r s c o r e s t h e
i m p o r t a n c e o f a r t s e l e c t i o n . A d r a w i n
g h a d t o b e v e r y
c a r e f u l l y c h o s e n f r o m P e t t i b o n s c a c h
e o f a r t w o r k i n
o r d e r t o c r e a t e a B l a c k F l a g f l y e r .
N e w P e t t i b o n a r t b e g a n t o a p p e a r o n B l a
c k F l a g f l y e r s
i n A p r i l , 1 9 8 0 . T h e s e c o n d f l y e r w i t h n
e w a r t w a s f o r
t h e 1 2 A p r i l 1 9 8 0 s h o w a t B e r k e l e y S q u a
r e . T h e
o r i g i n a l a r t s h o w s t h e w o r d M A L A I S E w r
i t t e n i n t o t h e
l e f t f o r e a r m b y a r a z o r b e i n g h e l d i n t h
e r i g h t h a n d . T h e
c a p t i o n M A L A I S E ! ! ! i m p l i e s t h a t t h e i
n s c r i p t i o n o f
t h e t h r e e e x c l a m a t i o n p o i n t s r e m a i n ,
a n d w i l l r e s u l t i n
s u i c i d e . T h e i m a g e a n d c a p t i o n a r e s o s
i m p l e a n d
d i r e c t , a n d s o p e r f e c t . T h e r e i s n t a n y
t h i n g t h a t
P e t t i b o n c o u l d h a v e d o n e t o m a k e i t b e t
t e r .
H e p u b l i s h e d t h e d r a w i n g i n h i s 1 9 8 2 b o
o k , M y
S t r u g g l e f o r L i f e A f t e r D e a t h . B e y o n d
t h a t , t h e d r a w i n g
n e v e r l e f t t h e a r t w o r l d . I t h a s m a i n t a
i n e d a s t a t i c
e x i s t e n c e , e x p e r i e n c e d o n l y b y t h o s e
w h o a l r e a d y l i k e
P e t t i b o n s w o r k .
A s a f l y e r , h o w e v e r , t h i s d r a w i n g s p i t
s f i r e . M o s t
a d v e r t i z i n g d e p i c t s b e a u t i f u l p e o p l
e e n j o y i n g l i f e .
P o s t i n g t h e M a l a i s e i m a g e i n a p u b l i c f
o r u m p i e r c e s
t h r o u g h t h i s f a k e v e n e e r o f h a p p i n e s s
a n d w e l l b e i n g .
I t f o r c e s p e o p l e t o c o n f r o n t a d i f f e r e
n t p o i n t o f v i e w .
C o n t e x t g i v e s t h e a r t m e a n i n g i t o t h e r
w i s e d i d n t h a v e .
S o m e t h i n g w a s g a i n e d b y c o n v e r t i n g i t
i n t o a f l y e r .
A w h o l e n e w w o r k o f a r t w a s b o r n .
2 5
-
THE CLASSIC ERA(April 1980 to December 1981)
The flyers have taken on a life of their own. Thousandsof Black
Flag flyer images are posted on the internet.Collectors routinely
search for original flyers on eBay.They are more widely known now
than ever before.This interest is largely based on the continuous,
anduninterrupted string of incredible flyers from theClassic era.
Every single one is great. Many are iconic.Looking back on it now,
this was an incredible timewhen Pettibon and Chuck could do no
wrong.
26
-
T w o m a i n f a c t o r s a l l o w e d t h i s g o l d e n a
g e t o h a p p e n .
T o b e g i n w i t h , P e t t i b o n s a r t c h a n g e d .
H i s v e r y e a r l y
d r a w i n g s w e r e m o r e d e t a i l e d . O v e r t i m
e h i s s t y l e
b e c a m e c l e a n e r a n d m o r e p r e c i s e . T h e s
e c h a n g e s
m a d e t h e a r t m o r e d i r e c t a n d i n t e n s i f i
e d t h e i m p a c t .
T h i s w a s i d e a l f o r t h e f l y e r s b e c a u s e t
h e y w e r e b e t t e r
a b l e t o g r a b s o m e o n e s a t t e n t i o n .
T h e s e c o n d f a c t o r w a s C h u c k s l a y o u t . H
e p u t t o g e t h e r
v i r t u a l l y e v e r y f l y e r d u r i n g t h i s p e r
i o d . A s p r e v i o u s l y
s e e n w i t h t h e M A L A I S E ! f l y e r , h e a p p l i
e d t h e l e t t e r i n g
i n a w a y t h a t d i d n o t i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e
i m a g e . E v e n
w h e n u s i n g h u g e , e y e c a t c h i n g l e t t e r s
t o p r o m o t e t h e
b a n d , h e t u r n e d a n i m a g e i n t o a f l y e r w i
t h o u t
d i m i n i s h i n g i t s p o w e r . H i s c l e a r a n d c
a r e f u l l a y o u t , a n d
h i s d a r i n g p l a c e m e n t o f l e t t e r i n g c r e
a t e d t h e d y n a m i c
l o o k o f a c l a s s i c B l a c k F l a g f l y e r t h a t
n o o n e e v e r
d u p l i c a t e d . T h i s b e c o m e s m o r e o b v i o u
s w h e n o t h e r
p e o p l e b e c a m e m o r e i n v o l v e d i n l a y i n g
o u t t h e f l y e r s
i n l a t e 1 9 8 1 .
6 J u n e 1 9 8 0 , T h e J u m p e r
A b i k e r s t a n d s o n t h e l e d g e o f a b u i l d i n
g , s t a r i n g d o w n
a t t h e s t r e e t . H e p a y s n o a t t e n t i o n t o a
p r i e s t a n d a
p o l i c e o f f i c e r . T h e c a p t i o n : I n e v e r w
a n t t o d i e .
C o l l e c t o r s r e f e r t o t h i s f l y e r a s t h e J
u m p e r b u t t h e
c a p t i o n d o e s n o t c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e t h a
t t h e b i k e r h a s a
s u i c i d a l i n t e n t i o n . I t s m o r e l i k e l y t
h a t h e s e n g a g e d i n
t h e r e c k l e s s p u r s u i t o f t h r i l l s , b e y o
n d t h e r e l i g i o n a n d
l a w t h a t h e i g n o r e s . O n a m e t a p h o r i c a l
l e v e l , t h e
d r a w i n g c o u l d a l s o r e p r e s e n t a n a r t i s
t d e s t r o y i n g
t h e m s e l v e s t o a c h i e v e i m m o r t a l i t y t h
r o u g h t h e i r a r t .
E i t h e r w a y , h i s b e r - c o o l t w o t o n e m o t o
r c y c l e j a c k e t
w i l l e n s u r e t h a t p e o p l e c a n s e e h i m i f h
e f a l l s .
2 7
-
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a
-
T h e O r i g i n a l B l a c k F l a g a t t h e t o p o f t h
e f l y e r r e f e r s
t o t h e o r i g i n a l l i n e - u p w i t h K e i t h M o r
r i s . H e s a n g f o r
B l a c k F l a g a t t h i s s h o w . J u s t a f e w w e e k
s e a r l i e r ,
K e i t h s r e p l a c e m e n t , R o n R e y e s , h a d q u
i t t h e b a n d .
T h e f l y e r i s u n u s u a l i n t h a t i t a p p e a r s
h a s t i l y p u t
t o g e t h e r , p e r h a p s j u s t b e f o r e t h e s h o
w . T h e r e s a f a i r
b i t o f s p a c e b e t w e e n t h e l e t t e r s a n d t h
e e d g e o f t h e
p a p e r t h a t t h e l e t t e r s w e r e p r i n t e d o n
b e f o r e b e i n g
p a s t e d o n t o t h e a r t w o r k . C h u c k n o r m a l
l y c u t t h e p a p e r
m u c h c l o s e r a n d n e a t e r t o t h e e d g e o f t h
e l e t t e r s .
T h i s i s t h e f i r s t o f t h e c l a s s i c f o u r f l
y e r s t h a t a r e
i l l u s t r a t e d o n t h e b a c k o f t h e E v e r y t h
i n g W e n t B l a c k
a l b u m c o v e r . T h e y w e r e p u t t h e r e t o e x e
m p l i f y t h e
f l y e r s , a n d e v e r s i n c e , h a v e b e c o m e t h
e m o s t i c o n i c o f
B l a c k F l a g s f l y e r s .
1 7 A u g u s t 1 9 8 0 , T i m e S t a n d s S t i l l
T h i s i s t h e f i r s t s e r i e s o f t h e m e d f l y e
r s . F r o m A u g u s t
t o N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 0 , P e t t i b o n r e c o m m e n d
e d a r t w o r k
t h a t p r e s e n t e d a t h e m e o v e r t h e c o u r s e
o f t w o o r m o r e
f l y e r s . T h e r e a r e a t l e a s t f o u r s e r i e s
o f t h e m e d f l y e r s .
T h i s f i r s t s e r i e s c o n s i s t s o f f o u r q u a
r t e r s i z e d f l y e r s f o r
a s h o w i n V a n c o u v e r . T h e c a p t i o n f o r e a
c h f l y e r i s
. . . t i m e s t a n d s s t i l l . . . T h e f i r s t d r a
w i n g s h o w s a m a n
a n d a w o m a n i n a r o m a n t i c e m b r a c e . T h e s
e c o n d
d r a w i n g s h o w s t h a t s a m e m a n s i t t i n g a l
o n e i n a r o o m .
H e i s s h i r t l e s s , w e a r i n g o n l y p a n t s a n
d s o c k s . H i s
a r m s a r e c r o s s e d . A f r a m e d p h o t o o f t h e
w o m a n i s
s e e n o n t h e s i d e t a b l e .
2 8
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T h e t h i r d d r a w i n g s h o w s a e u p h o r i c h e r
o i n u s e r w h o
h a s j u s t s h o t u p . T h e f i n a l d r a w i n g s h o
w s t h a t s a m e
p e r s o n s i t t i n g i n j a i l , h i s a r m s c r o s s
e d . T h e b e a d s o f
s w e a t o n h i s f o r e h e a d s u g g e s t t h a t h e i
s e x p e r i e n c i n g
w i t h d r a w a l .
T h e t w o s c e n a r i o s j u x t a p o s e t h e h i g h s
a n d l o w s o f
l o v e a n d d r u g u s e , i m p l y i n g t h a t b e i n g
r o m a n t i c a l l y
a t t a c h e d t o s o m e o n e i s l i k e a n a r c o t i c
, I t d e l i v e r s a n
i l l u s o r y , t r a n s i e n t j o y w h i c h i s e q u a
l l y c a p a b l e o f
i n f l i c t i n g t e r r i b l e m i s e r y . T h e l o n e
l i n e s s a n d i s o l a t i o n
t h a t t h e m a n e n d u r e s w h e n h e i s n o t w i t h
t h e w o m a n i s
l i k e n e d t o h e r o i n w i t h d r a w a l i n j a i l
.
1 9 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 0 , E v e r y t h i n g W e n t B l
a c k
A h e d g e t r i m m e r i s h e l d o p e n b y t w o h a n d
s . T h e
c a p t i o n : E v e r y t h i n g w e n t b l a c k .
T h i s f l y e r d e p i c t s t h e t h r e a t o f t h e u n
k n o w n . A n
u n s e e n a t t a c k e r u s e s h e d g e t r i m m e r s t
o i n f l i c t h a r m .
D i d h e u s e t h e m t o c u t t h e p o w e r t o t h e l i
g h t s ? D i d h e
u s e t h e m t o a t t a c k t h e v i c t i m ? N o n e o f t
h i s i s c l e a r .
S y m b o l i c a l l y , t h e h e d g e t r i m m e r s f o r
m a g i a n t X t h a t
c r o s s o u t a n d n e g a t e e v e r y t h i n g . T h i s
i s t h e m o s t
t h r e a t e n i n g o f B l a c k F l a g s f l y e r s . T h
i s i s a l s o t h e
s e c o n d o f t h e c l a s s i c f o u r .
3 O c t o b e r 1 9 8 0 , P a t t y H e a r s t
S a n F r a n c i s c o s o w n P a t t y H e a r s t a p p e a
r e d i n a b r i e f
s e r i e s o f t w o f l y e r s f o r s h o w s i n t h e G o
l d e n G a t e C i t y .
P e t t i b o n e x p l a i n e d h o w h i s i n t e r e s t i
n H e a r s t s t e m s
f r o m t h e h y p o c r i s y o f h e r r a d i c a l i d e a
l s :
2 9
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A lot of the best humor, whether its the Three Stoogesor
Moliere, is about someone who is really strident orpretentious. The
SLA and a lot of political groups fromthe 60s and 70sto any time
periodare so stridentand theyre so full of their own righteousness
for themoment. Inevitably, a year laterlike, in Pattys case,she
went from being a debutante to an urban guerillaand then back
again, where she married her ownbodyguard.21
The image lampoons Hearst by depicting her with herbodyguard
husband, two kids and a radical family dog.
8 October 1980, The First Creepy Crawl FlyerThe third and best
known series of themed flyers.It was based on the Charles Mansons
family. CreepyCrawl was a term they used to describe the
missionswhere they broke into homes and burglarized them asthe
occupants slept. Black Flag had their own creepycrawl concept. As
Chuck explained:
Creepy Crawl is fear. Fear is a real strong emotion inpeople. It
goes both ways. When you go into asituation, you experience it, and
the whole idea is toRIDE it--to use the adrenalin you get from that
anddirect it. And that within yourself is part of the CreepyCrawl.
What you do to other people with it is makethem feel this
experience of fear. You threaten a lot oftheir values, and the
potential for something to happenthat they dont understand, or they
dont have controlof in their existing mental framework, makes it
usefulto throw them off balance and thus open people up towhere you
dont have as prejudiced an attitude.22
30
-
Y O u 8 E T T E P . .
~ 6 ( ~ o o D . i i W A S N T E A S Y
G 6 t T U V 6 I N H E R E , Y o u P ~ N O W ,
\ ~
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The creepy crawl concept acknowledged how the bandfelt when
confronted with hostility. Rather than submitto fear, they immersed
themselves in it to challengethe outside world, to make others
fearful, and to nullifythe prejudice they faced.At that time,
Manson was the most hated and fearedman in America. Placing him in
a banal conversationabout behaving himself at a party amplified
theominous presence of his image because it minimizedthe terror
that people felt in the wake of Helter Skelter.The threatening
power of this, and most of the flyers,rests on inferences and not
on graphic violence. Theseinferences were offensive to many, but
were clever andfunny to the people who understood the humour.
Unsettling the mainstream was typical behaviour forBlack Flag.
But alienating the audience which theydworked so hard to build was
unexpected. Manson wasassociated to the hippies. Black Flags punk
audiencehated the hippies, and saw them as their
antithesis.However, Chuck embraced the counterintuitive choiceof
artwork, I didnt really like that flyer, but couldntreally help but
think that it was challenging too. Thiswas the flyer for our first
show in a bi~q, above groundvenue, and it had this long hair on
it.2
Looking back on it now, choosing this art was moreclosely
aligned to the ideals of punk because it did notconform to the
expectations of their audience. It wentagainst the grain and
embodied the spirit of anarchythat Chuck had defined as a
commitment to change.Being open to risk and to trying new things
made thisflyer possible. It became the third of the classic
fourand, arguably, Black Flags best known flyer.
31
-
1 8 N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 0 , T h e L a s t C r e e p y C r a w
l F l y e r
J e s u s n a i l s M a n s o n t o t h e c r o s s .
T h i s i s t h e l a s t a n d t h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i
n g o f t h e C r e e p y
C r a w l f l y e r s . I t s b e t t e r u n d e r s t o o d a
f t e r h e a r i n g f r o m
P e t t i b o n o n w h y M a n s o n i n t e r e s t s h i m
:
M a n s o n i s s o m e o n e w h o s a n o r i g i n a l e x e
g e s i s o f T h e
B i b l e a n d T h e B e a t l e s . H e t a k e s t h i s b l
a n k p i e c e o f
w o r k , T h e W h i t e A l b u m , a n d b y t h e t i m e h
e s t h r o u g h
w i t h i t , i t s b l o o d r e d . H e s t a k i n g t h e s
e R o c k l y r i c s a n d
m a k i n g a p o c a l y p t i c i m p o r t a n c e o u t o f
t h e m . T h e B i b l e
a s w e l l , T h e B o o k O f R e v e l a t i o n s . . . e v
e r y t h i n g s o p e n
t o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . T h a t s t h e w a y M a n s
o n w o r k s a n d
t h a t s w h y h e s a n i m p o r t a n t f i g u r e t o m e
. 2 4
M a n s o n p r e d i c t e d t h e a p o c a l y p s e t h r o
u g h t h e B e a t l e s .
H e r e v e a l e d t h i s v i s i o n t o h i s f a m i l y a
n d t h e y k i l l e d t o
m a k e i t t r u e . T h e y f e l l i n t o a n a l t e r n a
t e r e a l i t y b e c a u s e
t h e s t r e e t s m a r t a n d c h a r i s m a t i c M a n s
o n d o m i n a t e d
t h e i r m i n d s . H e w a s t h e i r M e s s i a h , a n e
w J e s u s C h r i s t .
T h i s m o m e n t w a s c a p t u r e d h e r e w i t h C h r
i s t r e p l i c a t i n g
h i m s e l f t h r o u g h M a n s o n .
1 8 N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 0 , M i n d C o n t r o l
T h e f i r s t f l y e r s h o w s a b a b y b r a n d e d o n
t h e f o r e h e a d
w i t h t h e l e t t e r A . T h e s e c o n d f l y e r s h o
w s a n a n g r y
o l d e r m a n w i t h d e v i l h o r n s u n d e r t h e c o
n t r o l o f t h e
p u p p e t s t r i n g s . T h e c a p t i o n o n t h e s e c
o n d f l y e r : I t
t e r r i f i e s m e t h a t p e o p l e t h i n k t h e y c a
n g e t a w a y w i t h
a n y t h i n g !
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T h e s e t w o a r e t h e l a s t o f t h e t h e m e d f l y
e r s . T h e y a r e
a l s o t h e l a s t B l a c k F l a g f l y e r s t h a t w e
r e l a i d o u t b y
P e t t i b o n . B o t h f l y e r s a r e a b o u t c o n t r
o l .
T h e b a b y s y m b o l i z e s h o w w e s t a r t o u t w i
t h a c l e a n
s l a t e t h a t i s e v e n t u a l l y f i l l e d w i t h a
l l t h e t h i n g s w e
l e a r n a s w e g r o w u p . T h i n g s l i k e r a c i s m
, p r e j u d i c e , a n d
m i s o g y n y a r e t a u g h t t o u s l e a v e a n u g l y
m a r k , a s u g l y
a s t h e A o n t h e b a b y s f o r e h e a d . A b r a n d i
n g m a r k i s
a s i g n o f o w n e r s h i p , o r i n t h i s c a s e , a s
i g n o f
i n d o c t r i n a t i o n . O n c e a b e l i e f s y s t e m
i s p r o g r a m m e d
i n t o a m i n d , t h e y b e l o n g t o t h a t g r o u p
.
T h e l e t t e r A i s l i k e l y a v e i l e d r e f e r e n
c e t o t h e c i r c l e d
A w h i c h i s t h e s y m b o l o f a n a r c h y i n p u n k
c u l t u r e . I f
s o , t h e f l y e r i s a b o u t y o u n g p e o p l e w h o
b l i n d l y a c c e p t
p u n k w i t h o u t e v e r q u e s t i o n i n g i t .
T h e o t h e r f l y e r a p p e a r s t o b e a d i s t o r t
e d i m a g e o f a
c o n s e r v a t i v e , w i t h a n i n f a n t i l i z e d l
a r g e h e a d a n d s m a l l
b o d y . H i s d e v i l h o r n s i n d i c a t e t h a t h e
i s i n h e r e n t l y e v i l .
T h e p u p p e t s t r i n g s s h o w t h a t h e i s u n d e
r t h e c o n t r o l o f
o t h e r s . H e n e e d s t o r e s t r i c t p e o p l e b e
c a u s e g r e a t e r
f r e e d o m t e r r i f i e s h i m .
I t w o u l d b e q u i t e e a s y , a l m o s t u n d e r s t
a n d a b l e , i f a
p u n k l a u g h e d a t t h i s d e h u m a n i z e d v i s i
o n o f t h e
e s t a b l i s h m e n t . B u t i f t h e y d o l a u g h , t
h e n t h e y a r e
b e i n g s u c k e d i n t o t h e p r o p a g a n d a . T h a
t i s w h a t p a i r s
t h i s f l y e r t o t h e p r e v i o u s o n e . A n i n d o
c t r i n a t e d p e r s o n
w h o q u e s t i o n s n o t h i n g w i l l a l s o b l i n d
l y a c c e p t
c a r i c a t u r e s o f t h e o t h e r s i d e . I n r e a l
i t y , t h e u n e x a m i n e d
l i f e o f a p u n k i s a s c o n t r o l l e d a n d m a n i
p u l a t e d a s t h e
c o n s e r v a t i v e s . H e i s , i n f a c t , a n o l d e
r v e r s i o n o f t h e m .
3 3
-
6 & 7 January 1981, Taste the MomentA beer commercial slogan
combined with a murderscene. My personal favourite.
Pettibon downplays his significant role in creating
theiconography of Black Flag. Part of the reason may berelated to
the way his work was treated:
To me my work was the equivalent of a band likeBlack Flag or any
other band who was righteously self-protective of recordings. I
would give them original artand it would come back to me scrawled
upon andtaped over or whited out, and Id always ask nicely,Could
you please make a copy of this first and then dothat? Their master
tapes were deemed sacrosanct,while my work was seen as completely
disposable. ,,25
An example of the unsanctified treatment of his workis seen on
the original art for this flyer. The photocannot be accurately
reproduced here, but can be seenat http :Ilpettibon-e.tumbI
r.com1image128380523373.
Taste the moment was written on the original art.The words were
then whited out or etched out and thisis obvious in the photo.
11 February 1981, The Reality of EvilChuck chose the art and did
the layout for this finalclassic four flyer.
34
-
T A S T E T H E
M O M E N T !
I
T u
W I T H
T H E
A N D
O C I A L _ _
W e d s v ~ 1 T 1
6 ~
~ Z ~ ~ C H I N A W H I T E
I
J a n
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8 i ~ ~ s a n f a M o ~ ~ ~ i v t ~
-
CUU]
CU
C)4 >~
CUCU
U]
r-~ ~U]G)
CU
U~J)CU
CLIMAX PRESENTS r
THE REAlITYOF EVIL
jEAR
cIRCLE JERKSCHINA WHITEWEDNESDAY
(c~4f4
FEB. 11DUST ~~ 462~1~1~1
-
R a c i s m i s r a r e l y t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r o f
B l a c k F l a g s
f l y e r s . I t d o e s a p p e a r h e r e , b u t i n a v e
r y s u b t l e f o r m .
L i k e m a n y P e t t i b o n s i m a g e s , t h e m e a n i
n g i s n o t o v e r t .
A t f a c e v a l u e , i t a p p e a r s t o b e a c o o l d e
v i l h e a d .
H o w e v e r , i t i s a c t u a l l y m e a n t t o b e a n e
x a g g e r a t e d
a n t i - S e m i t i c r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a J e w
i s h p e r s o n . T h i s i s
t h e r e a l i t y o f w h a t e v i l l o o k s l i k e t o t
h e r a c i s t .
T h e o b t u s e n e s s o f t h i s f l y e r w a s d e m o n
s t r a t e d i n 2 0 0 2
o n t h e s h o r t l i v e d t e l e v i s i o n s e r i e s T
h a t 8 0 s S h o w .
A l a r g e a n d o b v i o u s h o m a g e o f t h i s f l y e
r a p p e a r s i n
t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f a s t r e e t s c e n e . A n a n
t i - S e m i t i c
i m a g e w o u l d n e v e r b e s h o w n o n a n e t w o r k
s i t - c o r n .
I t s m o r e l i k e l y t h a t t h e p r o d u c t i o n c r
e w h a d n o i d e a
a b o u t t h e t r u e n a t u r e o f t h e s o u r c e m a t
e r i a l .
S u m m e r 1 9 8 1 T o u r S c h e d u l e
T h e l a s t o f t h r e e P e t t i b o n i l l u s t r a t e
d t o u r s c h e d u l e s
t h a t w e r e i s s u e d b y B l a c k F l a g d u r i n g t
h e C l a s s i c e r a .
P e t t i b o n m a d e d r a w i n g s t h a t t a r g e t e d
E l v i s p e r s o n a .
T h i s i m a g e , h o w e v e r , t a k e s a i m a t t h e f
a n s . T h e
c a p t i o n Y o u d i d n t J o v e h i m e n o u g h t o u c
h e s o n t h e
u n q u e s t i o n i n g c o m m i t m e n t o f h i s f o l l
o w e r s . I f t h e y
h a d o n l y b e e n m o r e t h a n a b s o l u t e l y d e v
o t e d , t h e n h i s
d e a t h w o u l d n o t h a v e o c c u r r e d . C r u c i f
y i n g t h e f a t E l v i s
p u t s h i m i n a n i d e a l i z e d c o n t e x t , s h o w
i n g t h a t h e i s
v e n e r a t e d n o m a t t e r w h a t t h e t r u t h m a y
b e .
3 1 O c t o b e r 1 9 8 1 , S u p e r m a n
P e t t i b o n l i t e r a l l y p e e l s a w a y S u p e r m
a n s g - r a t e d
e x t e r i o r t o r e v e a l t h e t r u t h u n d e r n e a
t h . I n t h e p r o c e s s ,
h e h u m a n i z e s t h e M a n o f S t e e l m o r e t h a n
D C c o m i c s
e v e r c o u l d .
3 5
-
~fo V ,11~i LOVE H IM EN
I scM~Y ~ - ~ C~4~iSr
Julil 26 The Show~1ace,Dover,YJJU~L~ ZT IrviL.g
P].aza,YYC,NIJULY 3 Si~on~ Dcwow~,~awtuckat,P~1JULt 4
PittsburY,PAJULY 8 City Gardene,Tre~.ton~NJJULY 9 The
is-take,Cleaveland,0EJULY 10 The Star1ite,PhiIad.e1phia,~AJULY 11
The Paradise~Bosto~,UAJULY12 a Paradiae,all agesJULY 12 ~1Th1~T1
Club ya~ia,MAJULY 13 Agoi~a,Eew 8aven,CYJULY 14 Clutch
Cargo,Let~oit,M1JULY 15 Tuts9Cbichago,IL
,~* JULY 16 ~LerU~s,Madizo~,WIJULY 17 Starsbip ,Milwakee,~IJULY
18 7th Street Exit,lLiiiea;o1is~~1XJULY 20 Salt Lake City,U!I~JULY
28 Destinations,0k1aho~ia City,OKJULY 29,30 B0D.go
SyUys,Tulsa,OKJULY 31 Duke ,AuatiL.,TXAUGUST 2
Agoura,Ec>u~tou,TIAUGUST 3 Bata~ Ro~ge,L~1/ AUGUST 8
Agoura,Atlawta,GAAUGUST 10 Agoiira,Ta~a,?LAUGUST 13 930 Club,
~iaehi~gtou,DCAUGUST 14 City Ga~dena, Tr~tor~JAUGUST 15 East Side
Clth,Thi.ladelphia,PAAUGUST 20 Rahars ,~crhha~tou,~iiAUGUST 21
Bastcu,~AAUGUST 22 Irving Plaza,IYC,i1I
V
~Lc1~p7?~ pvelense #i~47 ~..e ~e t / /~~1~
bI~~ ofcs1e~iv~.L~*~ 4~aCe H-, in #Afuh, r~ yov wofl# b~~J,)e1o
hAYeak,if5,r~1e VflIeSf yOav~r tke ci~ ~*~e6e~c#0-~f P~15,b~
-
O v e r k i l l
S A T O C T 3 1
a t t h e E l i t e C l u b r :
-
POST CLASSIC ERA(1982-1983)
If the Classic Era was a celebration of amazing art,then the
Post Classic Era was the hangover thatfollowed. Its not that the
flyers are terrible. Some greatimages and interesting flyers were
made after 1981.However, the flyers spiralled away from the heavy
vibethat had previously challenged the world with aweinspiring art.
They began to look different. Everythinghad changed.
36
-
O n e o f t h e c h a n g e s w a s t h a t C h u c k d i d n t
a l w a y s
m a k e t h e f l y e r s . T h i s d u t y w a s t a k e n u p
b y o t h e r
p e o p l e w h o w o r k e d w i t h t h e b a n d , i n c l u
d i n g J o e
C a r d u c c i , M u g g e r , a n d D a v e C l a a s s e n .
2 6 A d d i n g o t h e r s
t o t h e m i x d i l u t e d a p r e v i o u s l y c o n s i s
t e n t a e s t h e t i c . I t
c h a n g e d h o w t h e f l y e r s l o o k e d . T h i s i s
o b v i o u s i n t h e
H a t e f u l W h o r e f l y e r .
5 M a r c h 1 9 8 2 , T h e H a t e f u l W h o r e
T h e a r t i s b a s e d o n a r e a l l i f e i n c i d e n t
w h e r e a m a n c u t
o f f t h e a r m s o f h i s s p o u s e a n d t h e n w e n t
t o j a i l . L o c a l s
w e r e s o u p s e t b y t h i s f l y e r , t h a t t h e y p
r e s s u r e d t h e
p r o m o t e r t o c a n c e l t h e s h o w . T h e b a n d a
g r e e d t o
c h a n g e t h e f l y e r a n d t h e s h o w w a s a l l o w
e d t o p r o c e e d .
T h e a r t i s p r o v o c a t i v e a n d t h e s a t i r i c
a l c a p t i o n i s r a z o r
s h a r p . B u t t h e l a y o u t i s n o t w e l l e x e c u
t e d . T h e w h i t e
s p a c e a r o u n d t h e w o r d s i s d i s t r a c t i n g
. T h e b a r s a r e
n o t a l i g n e d w i t h t h e n a m e o f t h e b a n d . T
h e d a t e o f t h e
s h o w i s m i s s i n g .
T h e l a y o u t i s a m e s s . B u t e v e n i f i t w a s t
e c h n i c a l l y
p e r f e c t , i t s t i l l w o u l d n t l o o k l i k e a c
l a s s i c B l a c k F l a g
f l y e r . I t w a s C h u c k s a e s t h e t i c s e n s i b
i l i t y t h a t c r e a t e d
t h e l o o k o f t h e c l a s s i c f l y e r s . O t h e r s
m a y h a v e t r i e d ,
b u t n o o n e w a s e v e r a b l e t o d u p l i c a t e i t
.
T h e f l y e r s a l s o c h a n g e d b e c a u s e R a y m o
n d P e t t i b o n s
a r t c h a n g e d . I t b e c a m e l o o s e r a n d m o r e
c e r e b r a l .
H e c o n t i n u e d t o e x p l o r e m a n y o f t h e s a m
e t h e m e s a s
b e f o r e , b u t i n a d i f f e r e n t w a y . H i s n e w
a r t d i d n o t h a v e
t h e s a m e i m m e d i a t e i m p a c t a s b e f o r e . T
h e n e w i m a g e s
s i m p l y d i d n o t w o r k a s w e l l f o r f l y e r s
.
3 7
-
G) C r a m z 0 m 0 D m (I) m
I
\l\\\
~-c~
-\~~~
\\\\,
j
-
T h e b i g g e s t c h a n g e , h o w e v e r , w a s i n P e
t t i b o n s
r e l a t i o n s h i p t o B l a c k F l a g . D u r i n g t h
e c l a s s i c e r a , h e
w a s f u l l y e n g a g e d i n t h e p r o c e s s o f s e l
e c t i n g
d a n g e r o u s a r t t h a t a n t a g o n i z e d t h e o u
t s i d e w o r l d . B y
1 9 8 2 , h e w a s a n t a g o n i z i n g t h e b a n d .
A c c o r d i n g t o H e n r y R o l l i n s , B l a c k F l a
g s f i n a l s i n g e r ,
F o r m o s t o f t h e t i m e I w a s i n B l a c k F l a g ,
R a y s b a s i c
p o s t u r e w i t h u s w a s l i k e . . . ( r a i s e s m i
d d l e f i n g e r t o t h e
c a m e r a ) . 2 7
1 7 J u l y 1 9 8 2 , R o l l e r D e r b y
P e t t i b o n p o k e s f u n a t t h e m e n a c i n g p r e
s e n c e o f B l a c k
F l a g t h a t h e h a d h e l p e d t o c r e a t e . H e d e
p i c t s t h e m a s
a n a f f a b l e , h a p p y g o l u c k y t e a m .
P e t t i b o n w a s n o l o n g e r i n t e r e s t e d i n c
o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h
t h e b a n d , a n d i n s t e a d , f r u s t r a t e d t h e
i r a t t e m p t s t o u s e
h i s a r t . I f y o u n o t i c e , H e n r y m u s e s , t h
e r e i s a s o l i d
y e a r o f B l a c k F l a g f l y e r s w i t h n o t h i n g
b u t e r e c t
p e n i s e s . 2 8 I t w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n p o s s
i b l e t o
c a r e f u l l y c h o o s e d r a w i n g s f o r B l a c k F
l a g f l y e r s w h e n
t h e a r t s e l e c t i o n w a s b e i n g l i m i t e d t o
p h a l l i c i m a g e s .
1 1 J u n e 1 9 8 3 , A n g e l D u s t
C h u c k m a d e t h i s f l y e r . T h e p o w e r o f t h e
d r a w i n g
s h i n e s t h r o u g h t h e c o m p l e x m i x t u r e o f
s m a l l a n d h u g e
l e t t e r s t h a t h e s k i l f u l l y l a i d o u t .
T h i s w a s t h e l a s t f l y e r t h a t c o m m u n i c a
t e d t h e h e a v y
v i b e o f t h e b a n d . I t d o e s a g r e a t j o b . . .
e v e n t o t h i s d a y .
W h i l e p h o t o c o p y i n g t h e p r o t o t y p e o f t
h i s z i n e , a r e a l
e s t a t e a g e n t a t t h e c o p i e r b e s i d e m e n o
t i c e d t h i s
i m a g e . S h e q u i c k l y g a t h e r e d h e r t h i n g
s a n d l e f t .
3 8
-
~- 4.,
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PPEtS,OV~RIc;L~.
~8.50 & 9.00TICKETS AT
TICKETROII& DOOR
SATURDAYJULY17
OLYMPICAUDITORIUM
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G O L D E N V O I C E
~ 7 E ~ I
P R E S E N T S
C H U C K D U
J
1 1
A d v a n c e d
$ 7 0 0
V A N D A L S
Z e d s , R h i n o , A a r o n s
[ M i d d l e E a r t h , M o b y
V i n y l F e t i s h , D i s c o u n t
S e c o n d T i m e A r o u n d
i c k e t r o n C i v i c b o x o f f
r ~ ~ E L r ~ U S T
S S T G I G I N F L
~ 3 ) 3 7 2 - 1 8 4 ~
S H O W S T A R T S 7 : 3 ~
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B L A C K R E 1 J ~
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-
Chuck always felt that Pettibons work as an integralpart of
Black Flag. He incorporated the art wheneverhe could, even when
doing so caused some friction.According to Chuck, Greg (Ginn) had
wanted to moveaway from the art flyers in favour of strong bold
legiblefrom a distance type.29 His departure from Black Flagin the
fall of 1983 brought an end to the use of originalPettibon art for
individual flyers.
Black Flag continued to promote shows with flyers,but the only
Pettibon art they used came from theiralbum covers. This was likely
done to promote therecord at the same time as the show. It was
amarketing technique. It wasnt art.
The one exception was when Black Flag played withthe Ramones on
17 November 1984. This was the lasttime Pettibon drawings were
specifically chosen forflyers.3 The moon punk drawing is a great
image butthe lettering and layout are sloppy. It was aninauspicious
end to what was probably the greatestrun of art flyers for any
single band.
39
-
4 -
D O O R S O P E N
A T 7 p m
a n d M I N U T E M E N
A t t h e H O L L Y W O O D ~ ? t ~ , b o ~ ,
P A L A D I ( J M
S A T N O V 1 7
-
EPILOGUE
The flyers fell into obscurity after Black Flagdisbanded. For
the most part, they were put in storageby the few people who
appreciated them. That is wherethey stayed until the rise of the
internet which allowedisolated people to connect and discuss their
nicheinterests. That was the start. A more powerful mediumwould
eventually shine a brighter light onto the flyers.
40
-
A t o n e t i m e , i t w a s a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e t
o a c q u i r e
A m e r i c a n p u n k c o l l e c t a b l e s . A M i s f i t
s s i n g l e m i g h t
a p p e a r i n G o l d m i n e . L o c a l r e c o r d s t o r
e s , i f t h e y w e r e
h i p t o t h e m u s i c , o c c a s i o n a l l y h a d a n o
r i g i n a l p r e s s i n g
o f M i n o r T h r e a t s f i r s t s i n g l e . B u t f o r
t h e m o s t p a r t ,
c o l l e c t i n g w a s a c h a l l e n g e .
A l l t h a t c h a n g e d i n t h e l a t e 1 9 9 0 s w i t h
e B a y .
L e g e n d a r y r a r i t i e s , l i k e t h e N e c r o s f
i r s t s i n g l e ( o n l y
1 0 0 p r e s s e d ) w e r e s u d d e n l y a v a i l a b l e
. C o l l e c t o r s w e n t
c r a z y b u y i n g u p a l l t h e i m p o s s i b l y r a r
e r e c o r d s .
E v e n t u a l l y , p u n k f l y e r s s t a r t e d t o a p
p e a r o n e B a y . T h i s
w a s t h e f i r s t r e a l o p p o r t u n i t y , a f t e r
t h e f a c t , t o c o l l e c t
t h e f l y e r s . 3 1 B y t h e 1 9 9 8 p u n k c l o s e t s
w e r e b e i n g f l u n g
w i d e o p e n t o s a t i s f y a n i n s a t i a b l e m e m
o r a b i l i a l u s t .
T h e 1 9 9 9 p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e b o o k F u c k e
d U p a n d
P h o t o c o p i e d a l s o b r o u g h t g r e a t e r a t t
e n t i o n t o t h e
f l y e r s o f B l a c k F l a g . I t d o c u m e n t e d t h
e e a r l y f l y e r a r t
t h a t c a m e o u t o f A m e r i c a s p u n k c o m m u n i
t y . B e f o r e
t h i s b o o k , t h e r e w a s n o p l a c e t o g o a n d s
u r v e y t h e
i n c r e d i b l e v a r i e t y o f e v e r y t h i n g t h a
t h a d b e e n c r e a t e d .
T h i s b o o k a l s o b r o u g h t a r t i s t i c c r e d i
b i l i t y t o t h e f l y e r s .
S e e i n g i t a l l a t o n c e u n d e r s c o r e d h o w t
h e a r t i s t i c m e r i t
o f t h i s w o r k h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n o v e r l
o o k e d .
T h e p r o f i l e o f t h e f l y e r s h a s a l s o b e e n
h e l p e d b y
R a y m o n d P e t t i b o n s s u c c e s s a s a n a r t i s
t . H e i s h i g h l y
r e g a r d e d i n t h e a r t w o r l d b u t t h e f l y e r
s d o n o t g e t a l o t
o f r e s p e c t . T h e y r e v i e w e d a s a m e r e f o o
t n o t e i n h i s
p r o l i f i c c a r e e r . T h e s p e c t a c u l a r a d v
e r t i z i n g a r t t h a t h e
c r e a t e d c o n t i n u e s t o b e i g n o r e d .
4 1
-
Virtually every single Black Flag flyer can now befound
somewhere on the internet. The art and themusic continue to
resonate with a new generation thatwasnt even born when the work
was being created.Unfortunately, a book that compiles every flyer
inchronological order has yet to be written and probablynever will.
There is too much acrimony among theprinciple players and not
enough momentum to makeit happen. In a way, however, it doesnt
really matter.After all these years of collecting, nothing
haschanged. I remain fascinated by the mystique of theflyers and
continue to search out their untold story.
42
-
E N D N O T E S
G r e g G i n n , R i p p e r 3 , S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 0
2 D u k o w s k i , e - m a i l 1 1 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2
D u k o w s k i , e - m a i l 2 7 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
~ R a y m o n d P e t t i b o n , i n t e r v i e w i n B o m b
s i t e i s s u e 6 9 , 1 9 9 9
D u k o w s k i , I n t e r v i e w w i t h M a r k P r i n d l
e , 2 0 0 7 , w w w . m a r k p r i n d l e . c o m
6 D u k o w s k i , R i p p e r 3 , S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8
0
~ D u k o w s k i , e - m a i l 1 1 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2
8 D u k o w s k i , e - m a i l 1 1 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2
~ D u k o w s k i , q u o t e d i n S t e w a r t D e a n E b e
r s o l e s b o o k B a r r e d f o r L i f e , 2 0 1 3
R a y m o n d P e t t i b o n c r e d i t s K e i t h M o r r i
s a s t h e f l y e r s a r t i s t d u r i n g
M O C A T V i n t e r v i e w u p l o a d e d t o Y o u t u b e
2 2 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 3
f r o m S t e v e A p p l e f o r d , B l a c k F l a g f a n s
, a f t e r y e a r s o f n o b a n d , n o w g e t
t w o , L o s A n g e l e s T i m e s , 3 1 M a r c h 2 0 1
3
2 D u k o w s k i , e - m a i l 3 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
- D u k o w s k i , e - m a i l 1 0 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2
~ S l a s h M a g a z i n e , S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 9
~ I b i d
6 P e t t i b o n i n t e r v i e w , a t w w w . A r t 2 1 . o
r g
~ f r o m J a y B a b c o c k , 1 2 S t e p P r o g r a m i n S
e l f R e l i a n c e , L A W e e k l y 2 0 J u n e
2 0 0 1
8 L a y l a G i b b o n i n t e r v i e w s R a y m o n d P e t
t i b o n , M a x i m u m r o c k n r o l l # 3 0 4 ,
S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8
~ D u k o w s k i , e - m a i l 1 0 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2
2 0 K e i t h M o r r i s i n t e r v i e w w i t h E a r w o r
m R a d i o 2 , 2 8 J u l y 2 0 1 2
2 1 P e t t i b o n i n t e r v i e w , a t w w w . A r t 2 l .
o r g
2 2 R i p p e r 6 , N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 1 9 8
1
2 3 D u k o w s k i , q u o t e d i n S t e w a r t D e a n E b
e r s o l e b o o k B a r r e d f o r L i f e , 2 0 1 3
2 4 I n t e r v i e w w i t h S t e v e n C e r i o , S e c o n
d s # 3 4 , 1 9 9 5
2 5 Q u o t e d i n M a r k S p i t z & B r e n d a n M u l
l e n , W e g o t t h e N e u t r o n B o m b , 2 0 0 1
2 6 D u k o w s k i , e - m a i l 2 7 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1
3
2 7 H e n r y R o l l i n s i n t e r v i e w i n t h e M O C A
A r t o f P u n k s e r i e s w h i c h w a s
u p l o a d e d o n Y o u t u b e 1 1 J u n e 2 0 1 3 .
2 8 I b i d
2 9 D u k o w s k i , e m a i l 2 3 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0
8
3 0 T h e r e w e r e t w o f l y e r s w i t h n o n - a l b u
m a r t f o r t h i s s h o w . T h e y a r e t h e o n l y
p o s t - D u k o w s k i f l y e r s w i t h n o n - a l b u m
a r t .
U A t o n e p o i n t , B l a c k F l a g s r e c o r d c o m p
a n y S S T s o l d B l a c k F l a g f l y e r s . 1 0
f l y e r s c o u l d b e p u r c h a s e d f o r 2 d o l l a r
s . T h i s e n d e d s o m e t i m e a r o u n d 1 9 8 7 .
4 3
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