Anti-Flag
Encyclopedia
Anti-Flag is a punk rock
band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in the United States
, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war
activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism
, U.S. wealth distribution, and various sociopolitical sentiments. The line-up includes singer/guitarist Justin Sane
and drummer Pat Thetic, who founded the band; later members are guitarist Chris Head, and singer/bassist Chris #2 who replaced Jamie "Cock" Towns, who had replaced original bassist Andy Flag in 1997 following his departure one year prior. Anti-Flag is known also for their advocacy of progressive
political action groups such as Greenpeace
and Amnesty International
. Most recently, the band has focused criticism on the United States bailouts
.
Justin's sister, Lucy Fester (aka Lucy Geever-Conroy) formerly of Chicago band Toothpaste. The band failed to solidify, and it fell apart after playing just one show.
In 1993, Justin and Pat reformed the band, now with Andy Flag on bass.
, on New Red Archives
. Andy Flag left the band in the summer of 1997 because of personal disputes between himself and Justin. For a brief time after Andy's departure in 1997, Sean Whelan of Pittsburgh band the Bad Genes filled in on bass. It was during this time that Sean was also playing in another band (57 Defective) with guitarist Chris Head, whom he introduced to the band.
In early 1997, Pittsburgh guitarist Chris Head began filling in on bass. In late 1997, Jamie Cock took over as the new bassist, moving Chris Head over to second guitar, which he preferred. The current line-up finalized in 1999 when Chris Barker, also known as Chris #2, replaced Jamie Cock on bass.
In 1998, the band released their second full-length release, Their System Doesn't Work For You
. The album contained all nine Anti-Flag songs from the 1996 Anti-Flag/d.b.s.
(Death By Stereo) split album North America Sucks
, as well as 10 new unreleased songs. The band decided to release the album independently, and Their System Doesn't Work For You
became the debut release for the band's own A-F Records
.
In 1999, Anti-Flag released the album A New Kind of Army
on Go-Kart Records/A-F Records
. The album addressed topics such as abortion, political corruption
, racism
, fascism
, troubled youth, police brutality, and unity within the American youth. The cover art page unfolded into a poster featuring the phrase "Too smart to fight. Too smart to kill. Join now. A new kind of army." In addition to this, the band had a disclaimer at the bottom of its album cover saying,"Anti-Flag does not mean Anti-American. Anti-Flag means anti-war. Anti-Flag means unity."
. During this time, the members of Anti-Flag met NOFX
's Fat Mike, owner of the Fat Wreck Chords
record label. This meeting spawned a friendship that would lead to Anti-Flag's release of two albums on the label.
In 2001, Anti-Flag teamed with punk music producer Mass Giorgini
to record the album Underground Network
, released on Fat Wreck Chords
. The release of the album is arguably the band's breakout from the hardcore underground to a more mainstream spotlight. The album continued to address the issues of fascism
(specifically neo-Nazis infiltrating the "hardcore scene") and the United States' foreign policy. The album was the first to contain the now-commonplace booklet filled with essays from historians and political commentators, most notably Professor Howard Zinn
.
In February 2002, Anti-Flag released the album Mobilize on A-F Records
. The album featured eight new studio tracks as well as eight live tracks of songs from other albums. In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, Anti-Flag spoke out against the push for war with the album's title track "911 for peace". During this time, many music stores pulled Anti-Flag's records from shelves, as their music was labelled as "anti-American."
In 2003, Anti-Flag released the album The Terror State
on Fat Wreck Chords
. The album primarily focused on criticizing the Bush
Administration's handling of the War on Terrorism
. Again, the album contained a booklet full of essays from the band as well as other political commentators. The album contains a song whose lyrics were originally written by Woody Guthrie
entitled "Post-War Breakout." The track's music was arranged by the members of Anti-Flag, as Guthrie had never committed the arrangements to paper.
On October 8, 2004, U.S. Representative
Jim McDermott
gave a speech in the House of Representatives, praising Anti-Flag for their work in encouraging young people to register and vote.
. In an interview with British newspaper The Guardian
, Justin Sane explained the band's move to a major label:
The first of these two albums, For Blood and Empire
, was released on March 21, 2006. The album's main focus is the band's criticism of the mishandling of the War on Terrorism
by the United States Government. The song 'This Is The End (For You My Friend)' from the album For Blood and Empire is featured in the video game Madden NFL 2007 and on NHL 07
, and strays from the theme of war and back towards troubled youth. They finished their huge "War Sucks, Let's Party" United States headlining tour in April and work on some side projects like African Well Fund
and Start to Finish MS now.
Throughout Anti-Flag's career, many other bands have been added to the roster of the band's own label, A-F Records
. These bands include The Code
, Pipedown
, Much the Same
, The Vacancy, The Unseen, Modey Lemon
, Thought Riot, Tabula Rasa, and more.
On November 25, Anti-Flag revealed on their homepage that their newest album was titled The Bright Lights of America
. Produced by Tony Visconti
(of David Bowie
, T. Rex (band)
and Morrissey
fame), it was released on April 1, 2008. The single "The Bright Lights Of America" was released exclusively on iTunes on February 12, 2008. A video of the song was released some weeks later.
In 2008, on tour with Canadian band Billy Talent
in Europe, Justin Sane
and Chris#2 joined Billy Talent
singer Ben Kowalewicz and guitarist Ian D'Sa
, singing their new song "Turn Your Back
" from their upcoming unreleased album. The two also play on the single version of the song.
In March 2009, Anti-Flag were forced to cancel a series of tour dates after Justin Sane broke his collar bone landing awkwardly whilst jumping off the stage to stop a fight which broke out in the crowd at the UEA LCR in Norwich.
On March 31, 2009, Anti-Flag announced that their next CD, The People or the Gun
, would be released on SideOneDummy on June 9, 2009. The band recorded the album in a home studio they built themselves. On Anti-Flag.com, the first track of the album "Sodom, Gomorrah, and Washington DC (Sheep in Shepherd's Clothing)" can be listened to. On May 1, 2009, the band performed a full set of The Clash
covers at Hoodwink in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In September 2009, Anti-Flag was slated to play a show during a G-20 protest that was taking place in their home town of Pittsburgh, but the promoter canceled the show due to severe parking restrictions and police presence in the immediate vicinity of the venue. However the band continued to personally take part in the protests.
In November 2009, Anti-Flag showed their support to the protesting students in Vienna. They gave a speech at the main building of the Vienna University that the students had taken over and also had one of the student representatives speak at their two shows in Vienna.
In January 2010, Anti-Flag completed a full US tour supported by Aiden
and Cancer Bats
with various bands filling another supporting slot and local bands opening as many of the shows as possible. The tour was sponsored by Amnesty International, Peta 2, Greenpeace and Innes Clothing (who supported a clothing drive for local homeless and youth shelters). The band followed the US tour, with an Australian tour, playing the Soundwave Festival dates in February 2010, with bands such as AFI
, Paramore
, Escape the Fate
, A Day to Remember
, HIM and more, as well as playing two headlining dates supported by Alexisonfire
and Comeback Kid
.
Throughout the summer of 2010, the band playing various festivals such as Ruisrock
and Woodstock en Beauce
, as well as playing the few last dates of the Vans Warped Tour
in August. September 2010 saw the band headlining a Canadian tour with support from the Menzingers
, which was followed by the European Vans Off the Wall Music Tour in October, with supporting acts The Swellers
and Pulled Apart by Horses
.
The band made their live comeback in March 2011, while headlining a South American tour with This Is a Standoff
, and then supporting My Chemical Romance
on two dates in the US in April. In May–June 2011, the band returned to Europe to play the Slam Dunk Festival dates, as well as supporting System of a Down
on June 2 in Milan, Italy.
On June 21, 2011, frontman Justin Sane
has announced that Anti-Flag is working on material for a new album, which they hope to release this fall, with working title of Magnum. Sane has also announced plans for him to record a new solo album in the coming future, as he's been working on some folk
oriented solo material as well.
They have been involved in performing at multiple protests, including two in support of Rage Against The Machine.
They performed outside the Republican National Convention in 2008. They were supposed to be the last band to play, but when officials found out that Rage Against The Machine were going to perform after them, they shut down the stage's power and Rage Against The Machine performed two songs using megaphones.
Most recently, the band played an acoustic set at the Occupy Wall Street
demonstration in New York City on October 8, 2011.
They also regularly support political organisations which include:
The band's song "Die For Your Government" was sung by anti-war protesters who briefly blocked a road to prevent US troops from deploying to Iraq in August 2010.
They have appeared in the 2010 music documentary Sounds Like A Revolution
, about new protest music in America.
s in the form of a star shape. It is not infrequent for fans of Anti-Flag to get a Gun Star tattoo. Also, they used the O & X superposed symbols on Die for the Government
LP frequently.
, Bad Religion
, Woody Guthrie
, Bob Dylan
, Billy Bragg
, Generation X
, The Smiths
, Crass
, Dead Kennedys
, Fear
, Johnny Cash
, Aus Rotten, Refused
, Fugazi, The Pixies, Less Than Jake
, Rage Against the Machine
, Bouncing Souls, Alkaline Trio
.
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 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
, U.S. wealth distribution, and various sociopolitical sentiments. The line-up includes singer/guitarist Justin Sane
Justin Sane
Justin Cathal Geever , best known by his stage name Justin Sane, is the guitarist and singer/songwriter of the United States-based musical group Anti-Flag, a punk rock band formed in 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania known for its outspoken left-wing views. He holds dual US and Irish citizenship and...
and drummer Pat Thetic, who founded the band; later members are guitarist Chris Head, and singer/bassist Chris #2 who replaced Jamie "Cock" Towns, who had replaced original bassist Andy Flag in 1997 following his departure one year prior. Anti-Flag is known also for their advocacy of progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
political action groups such as Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
and Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
. Most recently, the band has focused criticism on the United States bailouts
Troubled Assets Relief Program
The Troubled Asset Relief Program is a program of the United States government to purchase assets and equity from financial institutions to strengthen its financial sector that was signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush on October 3, 2008...
.
Early years (1988–1996)
Anti-Flag was formed in 1988 by singer/guitarist Justin Sane and drummer Pat Thetic. During the band's early years, various guitarists and bassists moved in and out of the band, includingJustin's sister, Lucy Fester (aka Lucy Geever-Conroy) formerly of Chicago band Toothpaste. The band failed to solidify, and it fell apart after playing just one show.
In 1993, Justin and Pat reformed the band, now with Andy Flag on bass.
First three albums (1997–1999)
In 1997, the band released their first album, Die For the GovernmentDie for the Government
- Personnel :*Justin Sane – guitar/vocals*Andy Flag – bass/vocals*Pat Thetic – drums* Andy Wright mixed tracks 4,6,7,8,12,13,16, and 17.* Andy "Reagan" Wheeler, Ricky "Reagan" Wright, Anne Flag, Mike Poisel, Mike Armstrong, Dan D. Lion, Jason DeCosta, and the band Disco Crisis all provided back up...
, on New Red Archives
New Red Archives
New Red Archives is an independent record label based in San Francisco, mainly home to punk rock bands. Started in 1987, the label began by releasing punk and hardcore records on coloured vinyl...
. Andy Flag left the band in the summer of 1997 because of personal disputes between himself and Justin. For a brief time after Andy's departure in 1997, Sean Whelan of Pittsburgh band the Bad Genes filled in on bass. It was during this time that Sean was also playing in another band (57 Defective) with guitarist Chris Head, whom he introduced to the band.
In early 1997, Pittsburgh guitarist Chris Head began filling in on bass. In late 1997, Jamie Cock took over as the new bassist, moving Chris Head over to second guitar, which he preferred. The current line-up finalized in 1999 when Chris Barker, also known as Chris #2, replaced Jamie Cock on bass.
In 1998, the band released their second full-length release, Their System Doesn't Work For You
Their System Doesn't Work for You
Their System Doesn't Work for You is a compilation album by punk band Anti-Flag, released in 1998. It is a reprint of the Anti-Flag songs available on their split album North America Sucks plus 10 unreleased live tracks...
. The album contained all nine Anti-Flag songs from the 1996 Anti-Flag/d.b.s.
D.b.s.
d.b.s. were a punk rock band from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. From their beginnings in 1992 to their eventual breakup in 2001, they gained popularity in the Canadian punk rock scene d.b.s. were a punk rock band from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. From their beginnings in...
(Death By Stereo) split album North America Sucks
North America Sucks
North America Sucks is a split album released by punk bands Anti-Flag and d.b.s. in 1996. Only 1,000 copies of the album were pressed. The first 10 tracks are by Anti-Flag. Tracks 11-18 are by d.b.s....
, as well as 10 new unreleased songs. The band decided to release the album independently, and Their System Doesn't Work For You
Their System Doesn't Work for You
Their System Doesn't Work for You is a compilation album by punk band Anti-Flag, released in 1998. It is a reprint of the Anti-Flag songs available on their split album North America Sucks plus 10 unreleased live tracks...
became the debut release for the band's own A-F Records
A-F Records
A-F Records is an independent record label originated by the band Anti-Flag, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This label was created to help expose more political punk rock bands to a greater audience...
.
In 1999, Anti-Flag released the album A New Kind of Army
A New Kind of Army
A New Kind of Army is a punk rock album originally released by Anti-Flag on May 25, 1999. It was reissued by A-F Records on October 19, 2004...
on Go-Kart Records/A-F Records
A-F Records
A-F Records is an independent record label originated by the band Anti-Flag, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This label was created to help expose more political punk rock bands to a greater audience...
. The album addressed topics such as abortion, political corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, troubled youth, police brutality, and unity within the American youth. The cover art page unfolded into a poster featuring the phrase "Too smart to fight. Too smart to kill. Join now. A new kind of army." In addition to this, the band had a disclaimer at the bottom of its album cover saying,"Anti-Flag does not mean Anti-American. Anti-Flag means anti-war. Anti-Flag means unity."
Fat Wreck Chords (2000–2004)
In 2000, Anti-Flag was invited to participate in Vans Warped TourWarped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. During this time, the members of Anti-Flag met 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...
's Fat Mike, owner of the Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
record label. This meeting spawned a friendship that would lead to Anti-Flag's release of two albums on the label.
Mass Giorgini
Mass Giorgini is an Italian-American bassist and record producer, who rose to fame when several of the bands he produced experienced huge gains in popularity during the pop-punk boom on the mid-90's. Among these bands was Giorgini's own Squirtgun, which received minor MTV rotation and several...
to record the album Underground Network
Underground Network
Underground Network is the name of Anti-Flag's third album, released on Fat Wreck Chords in 2001. Widely considered to be the band's breakthrough album, it helped make Anti-Flag become a household name in the US punk scene with tracks like "Underground Network," "Bring Out Your Dead," and "Stars...
, released on Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
. The release of the album is arguably the band's breakout from the hardcore underground to a more mainstream spotlight. The album continued to address the issues of fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
(specifically neo-Nazis infiltrating the "hardcore scene") and the United States' foreign policy. The album was the first to contain the now-commonplace booklet filled with essays from historians and political commentators, most notably Professor Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn was an American historian, academic, author, playwright, and social activist. Before and during his tenure as a political science professor at Boston University from 1964-88 he wrote more than 20 books, which included his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United...
.
In February 2002, Anti-Flag released the album Mobilize on A-F Records
A-F Records
A-F Records is an independent record label originated by the band Anti-Flag, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This label was created to help expose more political punk rock bands to a greater audience...
. The album featured eight new studio tracks as well as eight live tracks of songs from other albums. In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, Anti-Flag spoke out against the push for war with the album's title track "911 for peace". During this time, many music stores pulled Anti-Flag's records from shelves, as their music was labelled as "anti-American."
In 2003, Anti-Flag released the album The Terror State
The Terror State
-Personnel:* Justin Sane- Guitar & lead vocals* Chris Head- Guitar & vocals* Chris #2- Bass & lead vocals* Pat Thetic- Drums...
on Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
. The album primarily focused on criticizing the Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
Administration's handling of the War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. Again, the album contained a booklet full of essays from the band as well as other political commentators. The album contains a song whose lyrics were originally written by Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
entitled "Post-War Breakout." The track's music was arranged by the members of Anti-Flag, as Guthrie had never committed the arrangements to paper.
On October 8, 2004, U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Jim McDermott
Jim McDermott
James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means...
gave a speech in the House of Representatives, praising Anti-Flag for their work in encouraging young people to register and vote.
RCA (2005–2009)
In 2005, Anti-Flag signed a two-album record contract with major label RCARCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
. In an interview with British newspaper The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Justin Sane explained the band's move to a major label:
We've been approached by the major labels over the past seven or eight years but we thought we were having an impact where we were. They were never willing to give us complete control. This time they were willing to give us complete control over what we record, the artwork, who we tour with. We won't be censored. If there was ever a time to take a chance to be heard on a mass scale then this is the time. I feel like we've been a voice in the wilderness for too long.
The first of these two albums, For Blood and Empire
For Blood and Empire
-Variations:*Some Australian and European releases add "Corporate Rock" – 1:53 as track 14.*The Japanese release adds "The New Millennium Generation" - 3:08 as track 14...
, was released on March 21, 2006. The album's main focus is the band's criticism of the mishandling of the War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
by the United States Government. The song 'This Is The End (For You My Friend)' from the album For Blood and Empire is featured in the video game Madden NFL 2007 and on NHL 07
NHL 07
NHL 07 is an ice hockey video game. It was released on September 12, 2006, the successor to NHL 06. The game improved the series' gameplay with more realistic features, such as stickhandling and a wider variety of controller schemes...
, and strays from the theme of war and back towards troubled youth. They finished their huge "War Sucks, Let's Party" United States headlining tour in April and work on some side projects like African Well Fund
African Well Fund
African Well Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the construction and maintenance of freshwater wells throughout impoverished sections of Africa. It was founded in October 2002 by a group of U2 fans who were inspired by frontman Bono's May 2002 visit to poor sections of...
and Start to Finish MS now.
Throughout Anti-Flag's career, many other bands have been added to the roster of the band's own label, A-F Records
A-F Records
A-F Records is an independent record label originated by the band Anti-Flag, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This label was created to help expose more political punk rock bands to a greater audience...
. These bands include The Code
The Code (band)
The Code is a former American ska-punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band released their first full-length CD on A-F Records, which they followed up with a split with Whatever It Takes. They have also toured with bands such as Rise Against, Against Me!, Bouncing Souls, Pipedown and...
, Pipedown
Pipedown
Pipedown was a hardcore punk band from Northern California with radical leftist lyrics. Starting in Grass Valley, California in 1997, their lyrics often remind of eco-anarchism, especially since they recommended books like the Unabomber Manifesto: Industrial Society and its Future and Deep...
, Much the Same
Much the Same
Much the Same was a punk rock band from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Their style is based on the fast, melodic skate punk of the mid-to-late 1990s made popular by bands such as NOFX, Lagwagon, and No Use for a Name....
, The Vacancy, The Unseen, Modey Lemon
Modey Lemon
Modey Lemon is an American garage rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group formed in Pittsburgh's South Oakland neighborhood in 1999 as an informal side project of Dean Swagger, a rock trio that had spent the previous year mainly performing in basements to college party crowds...
, Thought Riot, Tabula Rasa, and more.
On November 25, Anti-Flag revealed on their homepage that their newest album was titled The Bright Lights of America
The Bright Lights of America
-Chart positions:...
. Produced by Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
(of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, T. Rex (band)
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
and Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
fame), it was released on April 1, 2008. The single "The Bright Lights Of America" was released exclusively on iTunes on February 12, 2008. A video of the song was released some weeks later.
In 2008, on tour with Canadian band Billy Talent
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
in Europe, Justin Sane
Justin Sane
Justin Cathal Geever , best known by his stage name Justin Sane, is the guitarist and singer/songwriter of the United States-based musical group Anti-Flag, a punk rock band formed in 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania known for its outspoken left-wing views. He holds dual US and Irish citizenship and...
and Chris#2 joined Billy Talent
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
singer Ben Kowalewicz and guitarist Ian D'Sa
Ian D'Sa
Ian Michael D'Sa is the guitarist for the Canadian band Billy Talent.-Early life and career:Ian's family moved from the UK to Canada when he was 3 years old. He is of Indian Goan descent and grew up in Mississauga, Ontario learning guitar at the age of 13...
, singing their new song "Turn Your Back
Turn Your Back
"Turn Your Back" is the first demo single by Billy Talent from their third studio album, Billy Talent III. The song debuted live at The Norwegian Wood Festival in Oslo, Norway, on June 14, 2008 during their performance. Later performances of the song would be accompanied by Justin Sane and Chris #2...
" from their upcoming unreleased album. The two also play on the single version of the song.
In March 2009, Anti-Flag were forced to cancel a series of tour dates after Justin Sane broke his collar bone landing awkwardly whilst jumping off the stage to stop a fight which broke out in the crowd at the UEA LCR in Norwich.
SideOneDummy (2009-present)
Beginning on September 30, 2008, Chris#2 began to post on his blog, at nowarwithoutwarriors.blogspot.com http://nowarwithoutwarriors.blogspot.com, that the band had begun to work on their seventh studio album. On December 2, Anti-Flag began to record their record, starting with "The Economy is Suffering... Let It Die".On March 31, 2009, Anti-Flag announced that their next CD, The People or the Gun
The People or the Gun
The People or the Gun is Anti-Flag's seventh studio album. The album was released on June 9, 2009. It was their first album released on independent label SideOneDummy Records after the band's two-record contract ended with RCA Records. The first track, "Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington D.C...
, would be released on SideOneDummy on June 9, 2009. The band recorded the album in a home studio they built themselves. On Anti-Flag.com, the first track of the album "Sodom, Gomorrah, and Washington DC (Sheep in Shepherd's Clothing)" can be listened to. On May 1, 2009, the band performed a full set of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
covers at Hoodwink in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In September 2009, Anti-Flag was slated to play a show during a G-20 protest that was taking place in their home town of Pittsburgh, but the promoter canceled the show due to severe parking restrictions and police presence in the immediate vicinity of the venue. However the band continued to personally take part in the protests.
In November 2009, Anti-Flag showed their support to the protesting students in Vienna. They gave a speech at the main building of the Vienna University that the students had taken over and also had one of the student representatives speak at their two shows in Vienna.
In January 2010, Anti-Flag completed a full US tour supported by Aiden
Aiden
Aiden is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington that formed in the spring of 2003. The members are WiL Francis , Nick Wiggins , and Angel Ibarra . wiL originally played bass but took over lead vocals when the original singer left...
and Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats are a hardcore punk/sludge metal band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Background:Cancer Bats originated in May 2004 with singer Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton, former member of Toronto heavy metal band At the Mercy of Inspiration...
with various bands filling another supporting slot and local bands opening as many of the shows as possible. The tour was sponsored by Amnesty International, Peta 2, Greenpeace and Innes Clothing (who supported a clothing drive for local homeless and youth shelters). The band followed the US tour, with an Australian tour, playing the Soundwave Festival dates in February 2010, with bands such as AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
, Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
, Escape the Fate
Escape the Fate
Escape the Fate is an American post-hardcore band from Las Vegas, Nevada formed in 2005 and originally from Pahrump, Nevada. They have released three EPs and three full-length studio albums. Dying Is Your Latest Fashion was the band's debut album and only album to feature vocalist Ronnie Radke...
, A Day to Remember
A Day to Remember
A Day to Remember is an American rock band from Ocala, Florida. Founded in 2003 by guitarist Tom Denny and drummer Bobby Scruggs, the band has released four studio albums, nine singles and eight music videos...
, HIM and more, as well as playing two headlining dates supported by Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire was a five-piece, Juno-nominated post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band consisted of George Pettit , Dallas Green , Wade MacNeil , Chris Steele , and Jordan Hastings .They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls...
and Comeback Kid
Comeback Kid
Comeback Kid is a Canadian hardcore band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Formed in 2002, the band is currently signed to Facedown Records. Their name comes from a headline in a newspaper about hockey player, Mario Lemieux coming back to the NHL. The band was formed in 2002 by Andrew Neufeld and Jeremy...
.
Throughout the summer of 2010, the band playing various festivals such as Ruisrock
Ruisrock
Ruisrock is a rock festival held annually on the island of Ruissalo in Turku, Finland.Ruisrock, founded in 1970, is the second oldest rock festival in Europe and the oldest in Finland. The festival has attracted world-famous artists throughout its lifetime except in the turn of the 2000s, due to...
and Woodstock en Beauce
Woodstock en Beauce
Woodstock en Beauce is a yearly weekend-long music festival held in St-Ephrem-de-Beauce, Quebec, Canada. It was created in 1995 with the intention to re-create the atmosphere of the original Woodstock Festival in 1969, emphasizing on the atmosphere of peace and fun. The first edition of the...
, as well as playing the few last dates of the Vans Warped Tour
Warped Tour 2010
Warped Tour 2010 is the 16th installment of the annual Summer Warped Tour festival. Vans Shoes was again the tour's primary sponsor. The first bands were announced on December 18. The 43-date tour kicks off on June 25, 2010 in Carson, California and ends August 15, 2010 in Hillsboro, Oregon.On...
in August. September 2010 saw the band headlining a Canadian tour with support from the Menzingers
The Menzingers
- Biography :The Menzingers formed in the wake of Scranton ska-punk bands "Bob and the Sagets" and Kos Mos...
, which was followed by the European Vans Off the Wall Music Tour in October, with supporting acts The Swellers
The Swellers
The Swellers are an American punk rock band from Flint, Michigan. Their music draws influence from melodic punk rock bands as well as alternative and indie rock from the 90s.-Band history:...
and Pulled Apart by Horses
Pulled apart by horses
Pulled Apart by Horses are an alternative rock band from Leeds, England. They formed in late 2007, and released their debut self-titled album Pulled Apart By Horses on 21 June 2010.- Formation and debut release "Meat Balloon" :...
.
The band made their live comeback in March 2011, while headlining a South American tour with This Is a Standoff
This Is A Standoff
This Is a Standoff is a Canadian melodic hardcore/punk rock band.After the demise of their former band Belvedere, songwriter/guitarist Steve Rawles and drummer Graham Churchill were set on starting a new project and getting back on the road. After joining forces with Forty Cent Fix’s John Meloche,...
, and then supporting My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
on two dates in the US in April. In May–June 2011, the band returned to Europe to play the Slam Dunk Festival dates, as well as supporting System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
on June 2 in Milan, Italy.
On June 21, 2011, frontman Justin Sane
Justin Sane
Justin Cathal Geever , best known by his stage name Justin Sane, is the guitarist and singer/songwriter of the United States-based musical group Anti-Flag, a punk rock band formed in 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania known for its outspoken left-wing views. He holds dual US and Irish citizenship and...
has announced that Anti-Flag is working on material for a new album, which they hope to release this fall, with working title of Magnum. Sane has also announced plans for him to record a new solo album in the coming future, as he's been working on some folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
oriented solo material as well.
Activism
Anti-Flag have been involved with activism throughout their musical career. This has included starting the activism groups The Underground Action Alliance http://www.undergroundactionalliance.org, Military Free Zone http://militaryfreezone.org/ (a group to protest a clause in the No Child Left Behind Act, which gave military recruiters automatic access to students' personal details) and The Bright Lights http://www.wearethebrightlights.org.They have been involved in performing at multiple protests, including two in support of Rage Against The Machine.
They performed outside the Republican National Convention in 2008. They were supposed to be the last band to play, but when officials found out that Rage Against The Machine were going to perform after them, they shut down the stage's power and Rage Against The Machine performed two songs using megaphones.
Most recently, the band played an acoustic set at the Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing series of demonstrations initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters which began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district...
demonstration in New York City on October 8, 2011.
They also regularly support political organisations which include:
- Democracy Now!Democracy Now!Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...
, the latest headlines from which can be found on the band's homepage,http://www.Anti-Flag.com. - PETAPetaPeta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
, who were one of the sponsors of their 2010 'The Economy Sucks Let's Party' tour. - Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, to which the band donated money from the sale of The People and the Gun, have supported for a long time and who were one of the sponsors of their 2010 'The Economy Sucks Let's Party Tour'. - GreenpeaceGreenpeaceGreenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
, with whom the band worked in order to persuade world leaders to attend the climate conference in Copenhagen and who were one of the sponsors of their 'The Economy Sucks Let's Party Tour'. - Useless, whom they sold screen-printed limited-edition T-shirts with to raise money The Kandorwahun project, while raising awareness and visibility for Useless.
The band's song "Die For Your Government" was sung by anti-war protesters who briefly blocked a road to prevent US troops from deploying to Iraq in August 2010.
They have appeared in the 2010 music documentary Sounds Like A Revolution
Sounds Like a Revolution
Sounds Like a Revolution is a feature documentary about recent protest music in America.Directed by Canadian directors Summer Love and Jane Michener, the film was released in June 2010 and had its world premiere at NXNE festival and its theatrical premiere at The Royal Theatre in Toronto,...
, about new protest music in America.
Symbol
The Gun Star is the symbol for the band Anti-Flag, designed by Anti-Flag guitarist Chris Head. It was first used on the cover of the album Mobilize. It was later used on merchandise. It is made up of a number of broken M16 rifleM16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
s in the form of a star shape. It is not infrequent for fans of Anti-Flag to get a Gun Star tattoo. Also, they used the O & X superposed symbols on Die for the Government
Die for the Government
- Personnel :*Justin Sane – guitar/vocals*Andy Flag – bass/vocals*Pat Thetic – drums* Andy Wright mixed tracks 4,6,7,8,12,13,16, and 17.* Andy "Reagan" Wheeler, Ricky "Reagan" Wright, Anne Flag, Mike Poisel, Mike Armstrong, Dan D. Lion, Jason DeCosta, and the band Disco Crisis all provided back up...
LP frequently.
Influences
The band claims to have countless influences, though the most important ones are: The ClashThe Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, Generation X
Generation X (band)
Generation X was a British punk rock band, formed on 21 November 1976 by Billy Idol, Tony James and John Towe.-History:...
, The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
, Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
, Fear
Fear (band)
Fear is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1977. The band is credited for helping to shape the sound and style of American hardcore punk, the group started out as part of the early California punk rock scene, and gained national prominence after an infamous 1981...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Aus Rotten, Refused
Refused
Refused was a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1991. In total the band released five EPs and three albums, before splitting up in 1998...
, Fugazi, The Pixies, Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative...
, Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
, Bouncing Souls, Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
.
Band members
- Justin SaneJustin SaneJustin Cathal Geever , best known by his stage name Justin Sane, is the guitarist and singer/songwriter of the United States-based musical group Anti-Flag, a punk rock band formed in 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania known for its outspoken left-wing views. He holds dual US and Irish citizenship and...
– lead vocals, lead guitar (1988–1989, 1993–present) - Chris #2 – lead vocals, bass guitar (1997–present)
- Chris Head – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1997–present)
- Pat Thetic – drums, percussion (1988–1989, 1993–present)
Former members
- Lucy Fester — bass guitar (1988–1989)
- Andy Flag — bass guitar, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals (1993–1994)
- Brian Curran -bass guitar (1994–1996)
- Sean Whelan — bass guitar (1996–1997)
- Jamie "Cock" Towns — bass guitar (1997)
Discography
- Die for the GovernmentDie for the Government- Personnel :*Justin Sane – guitar/vocals*Andy Flag – bass/vocals*Pat Thetic – drums* Andy Wright mixed tracks 4,6,7,8,12,13,16, and 17.* Andy "Reagan" Wheeler, Ricky "Reagan" Wright, Anne Flag, Mike Poisel, Mike Armstrong, Dan D. Lion, Jason DeCosta, and the band Disco Crisis all provided back up...
(1996) - A New Kind of ArmyA New Kind of ArmyA New Kind of Army is a punk rock album originally released by Anti-Flag on May 25, 1999. It was reissued by A-F Records on October 19, 2004...
(1999) - Underground NetworkUnderground NetworkUnderground Network is the name of Anti-Flag's third album, released on Fat Wreck Chords in 2001. Widely considered to be the band's breakthrough album, it helped make Anti-Flag become a household name in the US punk scene with tracks like "Underground Network," "Bring Out Your Dead," and "Stars...
(2001) - Mobilize (2002)
- The Terror StateThe Terror State-Personnel:* Justin Sane- Guitar & lead vocals* Chris Head- Guitar & vocals* Chris #2- Bass & lead vocals* Pat Thetic- Drums...
(2003) - For Blood and EmpireFor Blood and Empire-Variations:*Some Australian and European releases add "Corporate Rock" – 1:53 as track 14.*The Japanese release adds "The New Millennium Generation" - 3:08 as track 14...
(2006) - The Bright Lights of AmericaThe Bright Lights of America-Chart positions:...
(2008) - The People or the GunThe People or the GunThe People or the Gun is Anti-Flag's seventh studio album. The album was released on June 9, 2009. It was their first album released on independent label SideOneDummy Records after the band's two-record contract ended with RCA Records. The first track, "Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington D.C...
(2009) - Magnum (2012)