D. R. I. – THE EARLY YEARS (’82.-’85.) RETROSPECTIVE

 

 

                                                 

 D. R. I. – THE EARLY YEARS (’82.-’85.) RETROSPECTIVE

This is something that I wanted to do for a while and since the first D. R. I. record, the almighty „Dirty Rotten EP“ came out in March 1983. this retrospective of one of the best hardcore punk bands ever fits pretty good to be discussed 40 years later. D. R. I. is one of my favorite hardcore punk bands, at least the early phase of the band when they played some of the fastest and most furious hardcore puk music on the planet. Their later crossover/thrash metal records are OK in my opinion, but they don't mean that much to me as their earlier records (OK, I also really dig „Crossover“ album) which are in my opinion some of the best hc/punk records ever released. While D. R. I. is pretty known band in hardcore punk and metal community and they have fans all over the world, I've rarely seen any deeper dive into their early years and for some reason most of the interviews I've read with D. R. I. are usually quite short with basic band stuff that we all know. So, this is my attempt to try describe the genuinity of their earlier records. I also want to expose their early demos to the world, because I don't recall ever seeing anything anywhere about their early demos which are great and fans of the band should know about it and listen to it.

I first heard about D. R. I. in early 90's when I was still a dedicated metalhead kid, but I'm not sure if I really listened to their records, maybe I've heard some songs here and there (from the crossover/thrash metal phase) but that was preatty much it. During 1992. I've already switched from metal to being a hardcore punk kid learning as much as I could about the bands and finding music wherever I could. I saw in some hc/punk/metal catalog an add for D. R. I. – Dirty Rotten EP and it said it's a 22 songs records in 17 music. I was like, OK, this has to be something really good and I have to find this record. I think this was sometime in 1993. and at that point I only had dubbed tapes with hc/punk and some metal music, I still didn't own any original records (although my brothers had bunch of records but they were more into metal and alternative rock). One day I went to a record shop called „Iz Sve Snage“ which was at the time one of the rare record shops in my hometown that was selling alternative music including hc/punk. There I found Dirty Rotten LP on a CD in the metal section and while I was looking at the huge track list I said to myself no way this is metal music and this really has to be something amazing. I bought the CD and this is the first record that I've ever bought (the second is a Bad Religion live bootleg CD, just in case you wanted to know, haha). The CD is actually a 1988. re-release on the bands label Dirty Rotten Records of Dirty Rotten EP/LP including Violent Pacification 7˝ EP from 1984. and two bonus songs from 1984. (one was released on a P. E. A. C. E. 2xLP compilation in 1984.). Anyway, when I put the CD in a record player I was blown away with the intensity of the record and how fast it is. I've studied this record all the way through, I know every word and every second of the music on it and to this day, this is still one of my favorite hc/punk records, like ever in any universe or in any dimension. This record literally influenced me how I shaped my writing of fast riffs. I was lucky  seeing and playing with D. R. I. in 2004. in my hometown Zagreb, Croatia. My old band opened for D. R. I. at the show and altogether this was a great show, they played lots of early material and the band was pretty good. I've spoke to Spike Cassidy and he complemented my fast drumming and I've told him how Dirty Rotten LP is the first CD that I've ever bought and that it's one of my favorite hc/punk records ever.

Here's a short history of the beginning of the band before I go into their records. D. R. I. aka Dirty Rotten Imbeciles is an American hardcore punk/crossover/thrash metal band that formed in May 1982. in Houston, Texas. They were first called US D. R. I. but soon removed „US“ from the bands name. The original line up was consisted of Kurt Brecht on vocals, Spike Casidy on guitar, Dennis Johnson on bass guitar and Eric Brecht on drums. Everyone except Spike before forming D. R. I. played shortly in a hardcore punk band called Suburbanites. The band had rehearsals in the house of Kurt and Eric's parents and their father was regulary complaining about the noise they made and described them as: „bunch of dirty rotten imbeciles“ which led to the name of the band. This also inspired the band to write a song: „Madman“ which was released on their classic „Dealing With It!“ album in 1985. and the song had a recorded clip of Brecht's father complaining about the noise. D. R. I. played their first show on July 2nd, 1982. at Joe Star's OMNI in Houston. On November 6th and 7th, 1982. D. R. I. recorded their first record The Dirty Rotten EP and the rest is histroy, But let's back up a bit.

THE FIRST DEMO (1982.)

OK, there were probably some rehearsal demos before this one, but this particular demo is circulating on bootlegs and online for quite some time so let's talk about it. The demo was first released in 2000. on a vinyl as: „The Dirties, The Filthiest The Demos“ but also on a tape (probably during the early 2000.'s) as: „1982. Demo Tape!“ and also on a tape in 2020. called „Demo Tape“. I also remember seeing the CD version online few years ago, but recently I couldn't find it on the net and it's not listed on Discogs. The LP version has 30 songs and both Tape versions have 32 songs but there is a slight difference in order of the songs on these releases. The version of this demo that I have on mp3's has 32 songs and it has also different order of the songs than the LP version and the first Tape version and it's mostly fits to the second Tape version except for song Sad To Be that it's not in the same order on the version I have like it's on the Tape. It's possible that I have the rip of the CD version which I'm quite sure that exists. 

It's unknown when exactly this demo was recorded but considering that the band formed in May 1982. and their first record was record in November 1982. I'm guessing the demo was record during the Summer of 1982. but I can't be 100 % sure. I'm guessing the demo was recorded in the bands rehearsal place and it could be a mixboard recording or maybe just a record player, again this is something that I can't tell for sure. But I can say that the recording is quite good for what it is - a rehearsal demo, it's raw but not to the point that it's unlistenable and I quite like it.

The demo was of course recorded with the classic original band line up: Kurt on voclas, Spike on guitar, Dennis on bass guitar and Eric on drums. While the demo is not as fast as the Dirty Rotten EP, the band is still quite fast and already sounds pretty tight. Of 32 songs, 30 songs are by the band and there are two covers at the end of the demo which are both rock and roll classics: Johnny B. Good and Louie Louie (which is next to Stepping Stone one of the most covered R'nR classic songs by the early hardcore punk bands). Of the bands own 30 songs on the demo, most of the songs are the ones that were few months later recorded for the „Dirty Rotten EP“, 20 songs exactly which means that only two songs from the EP are not here, which are: „Commuter Man“ and „Dennis' Problem“. So, you get 20 early versions of the classic D. R. I. songs from the first EP which is amazing! As I've said before, these versions are pretty furious and a great fast and pissed off hardcore punk just like the EP, only a little bit less faster and more raw. From the rest of the songs, there are six songs that were later recorded and released on „Dealing With It!“ LP in 1985. These early versions are quite similar to the album versions except they're more raw soudning here and „Equal People“ song has a different part than the studio version but it's the same song basically. There are 4 songs that weren't released on the bands records except for „We Are US“ which the diffetent (and slower) version was released on The Dirty Rotten CD reissue in 2002. on Beer City Records. Other three songs are: „Guilty“, „Shame“ and one with Unkown title. The song „Shame“ is not the same song as „Shame“ song on „Dealing With It!“ album despite the same title. All these 4 songs are rippers and in my opinion these songs deserved to be included on some of the official band records.

Overall, this is a great demo and a very cool represantion of the early D. R. I. and I'm glad that this exist at least in mp3 files and on bootlegs but it would be cool if this demo gets a proper release one day with more info about it. By the way, on the mp3 file that I have, it says 1984. but that's obviously not the right year of the demo. Also, songs „Plastique“ and „Why“ are combined into a one track in the file.

DIRTY ROTTEN EP/LP (1983.)

On 6th and 7th November of 1982. D. R. I. recorded their first release: „Dirty Rotten EP“ and released it as a 7˝ EP in March 1983. on their own label Dirty Rotten Records. As we all know, the record contains 22 songs in 17 minutes which is mind blowing considering that by that point nothing like that was ever released on the planet (not that I know of). The line up of the band was still Kurt on vocals, Spike on guitar, Dennis on bass guiatr and Eric on drums. There's no info where the band recorded the EP, but I'm guessing is some local studio in Houston, it was produced by the band and the engineer was the dude called Guz Buzbee. The record was pressed only 1000 copies on 33 rpm and it wasn't the best quality sounding wise. Later in 1983. the band pressed the remixed reissue of the EP on a LP format (with collaboration of R Radical Records that was the MDC bands record label) and switched the A and B side. Here's an interesting thing, the version of the record that most of D. R. I. fans known in the 90's was the LP or the CD version which has „I Don't Need Society“ as an opening track while the original 7˝ EP version has „Sad To Be“ as an opening track. When I found out about this, my brain exploded because the reissue version is so much better in my opinion and I still can't fantom the fact that originally the band didn't go with the order of the tracks like they did later with the reissues. And I'm not the only one who think that. The mixes are also different on the original EP and on the reissue versions of the record. The EP is more raw and it's not really that bad as I've expected, because I heard it for the first time in 2000's but I still like more the reissue version because it sounds more powerful and I'm kind of used to that version.

As for the Dirty Rotten EP/LP no matter what version, this record is so freakin' amazing from start to finish. „I Don't Need Society“ song has some of the best hardcore punk intros ever written, slowly building into a manic and pissed off hardcore punk thrash attack. Also, the lyrics of the song are iconic: „Your number is up you have to go, The system says: „I told you so“,  Stucked in a plane like a truckload of cattle, Sent off to slaugher in a useless battle, Thousands of us send off to die, Never reylly knowing why, Fuck the system they can't have me, I don't need society“. I still get goosebumps listening to this song every time I hear it. What I really like about this record, not just how fast and furious is, but that it's also catchy as hell, this is not some random fast noise, every chord and riff has its place and every song is so well structured that it's just amazing. Also, I love the lyrics. No matter how short are some songs, most of the songs have lots of lyrics written so Kurt had to sing it really fast. But what's amazing is that you can actually understand every word on the record which is again fuckin' amazing. Also, the lyrics are written really good, just like the music on the record, every word make sense and it's memorable regarding most of the songs having lots of lyrics. Although you might not see Dirty Rotten EP/LP listed on peoples best hc/punk lists very often, I think this record is one of the most influental hc/punk records ever, influencing extreme fast hc/punk bands like Deep Wound, Siege, Lärm, Napalm Death, Crossed Out, No Comment etc. Again, I like more the reissue remixed version which is opened with „I Don't Need Society“ song but any version of this record is great whatever song is an opener. Fun fact, one of my old bands covered „Closet Punk“ song, but we never played it live and it was released only on one of our rehearsal tapes.

As I've said before, Dirty Rotten EP/LP was first reissued combined with Violent Pacification 7˝ EP (1984.) and two bonus songs from 1984. on a CD and tape in 1988. on Dirty Rotten Records and few more record labels, depending in which country was the release licenced. In 2002. Beer City Records re-leased a CD version with Violent Pacification EP and a bunch of early demo, compilation and live tracks. In 2005. Beer City Records re-leased a CD version of Dirty Rotten LP with the origininal track listing opening with „Sad To Be“ song and in 2010. also on both 7˝ EP and LP vinyl versions with original track listing.

VATS DEMO (1983.1984.)

OK, this one's a real treasure and there is even a bit of mystery about this demo because there's no info about it anywhere, at least I couldn't find it. Also, few facts that I know about it still kinda confuses me if the demo was recorded in 1983. or 1984. I didn't know this demo exist until like ten years ago when I found it on Soulseek althought two songs were released on the Dirty Rotten CD re-release in 2002. but I didn't know that there were bunch of more songs on the demo.

Vats demo has 14 songs and all of the songs were before or after the demo also once again recorded and released on the classic early records of the band and few songs were even before recorded on their 1982. demo. The demo was recorded at Vats which was a legendary punk squat in San Francisco during 80's and the place before it was squatted used to be a Hamm's Brewery. There's a drawn cover art for the demo that said it was recorded in 1983. but the drawing was sing by KB ’84. So, was the demo actually released in 1984.? If it was how there's no mention of the demo anywhere? Also, the linup written on the cover art is also interesting, three of the members are original early band members: Kurt on vocals, Spike on guitar and Eric on drums but the fourth members on bass guitar was supposedly Barry Dalive. If you're not fimiliar with the name, Barry Dalive is mostly known for playing a guitar in RKL and few more obscure hc/punk bands. The thing what confuses me a little bit is that in any bands biography there's no mentioning of Barry Dalive being in the band. But it's not impossible and this could be sometimes during 1983. before Josh Pape joined the band which means if this theory is correct that Vats demo predates Violent Pacification session, which could be possible.

As I've said before, only two songs from Vats Demo were officialy released in 2002. on Dirty Rotten CD re-release on Beer City Records. These songs are early version of „I'd Rather Be Sleeping“ (which was later re-recorded and released on "Dealing With It!" LP) and „No People“ which is the only version of the song that I know it exist. Anyway, of all 14 songs on the demo, most of the songs were later re-recorded and released on "Violent Pacification" EP and "Dealing With It!" LP, only Yes Ma'am was released before on Dirty Rotten EP (not this verson but the EP version of course). Few of the songs in their earlier versions also appeared on the 1982. Demo. The quality of the recording is pretty good for the demo and this could be easily released on a record as a EP because it's that good. Any fan of early D. R. I. or any fan of early 80's hardcore punk should be aware of this demo and listen to it because it's great representation of the band still not going metal route and playing fast, furious and just plain great hardcore punk. Wile I love the classic versions of the songs on the bands records I also love these demo versions of: „Slit My Wrists“, „Bail Out“, „Stupid, Stupid War“, „I'd Rather Be Sleeping“, „Madman“ and the „No People“ song is also great!

The only thing about the demo that I don't like is the fact that I don't know more about it and I would really like to know the story behind the demo and also a proper record release of Vats Demo would be nice. Also, that's what people should ask the bands in the interviews, interesting topics like this demo, why everyone always ask the same boring questions to bands instead of interesting stuff about the forgotten demos and stuff. 

VIOLENT PACIFICATION EP/SESSION (1984.)

In 1983. D. R. I. relocated to San Francisco (like their friends from MDC) and practicaly lived in their van at the time. The original bass guitar player Dennis Johnson quit the band and moved back to Texas. He was replaced by Sebastian Amok with whom the band went to their first US tour called „Rock Against Reagan“ together with MDC and Dead Kennedys. After the tour Sebastian left the band and joned The Dicks, another important early 80's Texas punk band and he was replaced by Josh Pappe. With that lineup the band record Violent Pacification 7˝ EP in late 1983. and the record was released in 1984. on Dirty Rotten Records and R Radical Records. While the record has 4 songs, the whole session has 6 songs, the other two that weren't released on the EP are re-recorded version of „Sad To Be“ and the early version of „Madman“ that was later re-recorded for the bands classic „Dealing With It!“ LP from 1985. These two songs were originally released on „Rat Music For Rat People Vol. 2“ compilation LP in 1984. on CD Presents, Ltd. Later both songs appeared also on „Dealing With It!“ CD re-release from 2003. on Beer City Records. There's a mp3 file circling online titled as 1983. Demo which is actually the Violent Pacification session, just in case if you stumble on 1983. Demo somewhere online. While both „Sad To Be“ and „Madman“ songs were released in different versions on the classic D. R. I. early records, these two versions are also great, intense and furios just like you would expect early D. R. I. to be.

As for the Violent Pacification EP, it's another classic record of the band, in the same vein as their first EP, fast, furious but also very catchy and memorable. I first heard it on Dirty Rotten CD re-release from 1988. which I've mentioned before that it was the the first CD that I've ever bought. EP is opened with the title song „Violent Pacification“ which is one of the most known songs by the band and I believe it was covered a bunch of times by various international hc/punk/metal bands. While the first part of the song is the usual early manic speedy hc/punk blast, the rest of the song is in the circle pit slower vein, later going faster and faster and building up until the end of the song. Also, the song is longer than usual early D. R. I. songs, clocking in almost 3 minutes which makes it the longest D. R. I. song at the time. B side of the EP has two typical fast as hell songs „Running Around“ and „To Open Closed Doors“ and another classic D. R. I. song „Couch Slouch“ which also has the fast parts but also in the middle of the song there's a slower break that sounds just great. „Couch Slouch“ was also later re-recorded and released on „Dealing With It!“ LP and that version is also a ripper. So, Violent Pacification is another great early record of the band, just pure classic that still holds up.

As I've said before, Violent Pacification EP was first re-released on Dirty Rotten CD (Dirty Rotten Records 1988.), then on Dirty Rotten CD (Beer City Records 2002.) and in 2010. Beer City Records re-released it on a original format as a 7˝ EP vinyl. Also on the CD re-releases the song order of the EP is reversed just like the first EP. Fun fact, one of my old bands covered „Violent Pacification“ song and we even recorded it and released it on our CD in 2004. We played a show with D. R. I. in 2004. but we didn't want to play the song at the show because we tought that it would be kinda cheesy to do it. But the interesting thing was that when D. R. I. played the song at the show, we noticed that they play it much slower than us, haha.

DEALING WITH IT! LP (1985.)

After touring in the summer of 1984. the original drummer of the band Eric Brecht left the band and he was replacede with Felix Griffin. Eric went on to play drums in various metal/crossover bands including playing on the first Death demo and later in bands Hirax and Attitude. Also Josh Pappe left the band during the recording of Dealing With It! LP and Mikey Offender (from Offenders, RIP) played bass guitar on the half of the album while on other half of the songs Spike played bass guitar. Dealing With It! album was released in March 1985. on Death Records and Enigma Records, both bigger labels, Death being the metal/crossover label and Enigma with all over the place rock genres.

While the album was a slight step to metal/crossover territory (mostly in two slower and longer songs „Nursing Home Blues“ and „Argument Than War“), this is still hardcore punk which is not a surprise because some of the songs on the album dates back to the bands 1982. Demo. The production is much better than on the previous records, but nothing too polished or weird like some other 80's mid and late 80's hc/punk and metal records. There are 25 songs on the album and while there are still present short and under the minute songs, some songs are two minutes long and the two before mentioned more metal influenced songs are more than 3 minutes long. But, as I've said before, this is still D. R. I. in their fast, furious and catchy hardcore punk style. While the band never sounded sloppy, here they are even more tight and it's noticable that Felix is a little bit more technical drummer than Eric, but still I love the drumming on the album, every beat is on point.

While most of the songs were new to the fans of the bands (at least to the ones who haven't heard the previous demos) when the album was released, some songs from previous two EP's were re-recorded for the album like: „Yes Ma'am“, „Couch Slouch“, „I Don't Need Society“ and „Reaganomics“. Also two songs that were released on compilations in 1984. were re-recorded for the album: „Snap“ and „Mad Man“. All these versions are great as the original verions of the songs. All in all, this is a great album and while I would put Dirty Rotten EP before this one on any list, „Dealing With It!“ deserves to be on the list of the best 100 hardcore punk records of the 80's. It's also interesting how this record doesn't sound dated and I can't get tired of it no matter how much times I've listened to it.

With this album, D. R. I. closed their first hardcore punk phase and went on to be one of the first and most well known crossover bands, meaning they mixed hardcore punk and thrash metal genres creating a new genre. Later Josh Pappe got back to the band and with that lineup, in 1987. the band released their first metal/crossover album „Crossover“ which still in my opinion sounds very raw and pissed off and I really like that album. Other albums which are more thrash metal influenced doesn't do much for me, but I understand there's a lots of people also diggin those records which is fine by me.

COMP TRACKS AND LIVE RECORDS (1983.-1986.)

Just few more things about early compilation tracks and live records of early stuff. OK, the first D. R. I. song ever released on a compilation is actually the song I didn't mentioned before: „Runnin' Around“ on „Cottage Cheese From The Lips of Death“ on Ward-9 Records released in 1983. This was a compilation of Texas hc/punk and post punk bands including also Really Red, The Offenders, The Dicks, Big Boys, Butthole Surfers and more. This is actually the first recprded version of „Runnin' Around“ but I'm not actually sure if it's live or studio version. There's also from the same session (or a live show) version of early version of „Couch Slouch“ which was released with „Runnin' Around“ on „Dealing With It!„ CD re-release in 2003. on Beer City Records. Both of these versions are pretty cool and every fan of early D. R. I. should check out these versions. Both songs are later re-recorded and released on the classic „Violent Pacification 7˝ EP in 1984.

Next is the early version of „Snap“ released on „International P. E. A. C. E. Benefit Compilation“ which was a double LP released in 1984. on R Radical Records. The compilation featured hc/punk bands from all over the world. There's also the early version of „Explorer“ from the same session that was first released on Dirty Rotten LP re-release in 1988. on Dirty Rotten Records. These versions are quite cool, a little bit more raw than the re-recorded versions released on „Dealing With It!“ LP in 1985.

Then we have re-recorded version of „Sad To Be“ (which original version was released on „Dirty Rotten EP“) and early version of „Madman“ released in 1984. on „Rat Music For Rat People vol 2“ compilation on CD Presents, Ltd. Later both songs were re-released on „Dealing With It!“ CD in 2003. I've already talked about these versions but I will say it again, these are really cool versions of classic early D. R. I. songs and shouldn't been missed.

That's pretty much it for the studio compilation songs, here are few more with live songs. These both compilations were released in 1986, when D. R. I. already switched to crossover/metal sound but these live songs are their early songs, so maybe you would want to check them out. Live versions of „I Don't Need Society“ and „Soup Kitchen“ can be heard on „Eastern Front – Live at Ruthie's Inn double LP compilation released on Restless Records with bunch of metal and few hc/punk bands (Raw Power for example). Also live versions of „Yes Ma'am“ and „Soup Kitchen“ can be heard on „US Speedcore Invasion“ compilation LP released on Disaster Records with bunch of metal bands.

As for live records with early D. R. I. material, there is only one officialy D. R. I. live record recorded in their early period which is „Live at CBGB's 1984.“ released in 2005. on CD and DVD by Beer City Records and also in 2015. on vinyl by the same label. Although this live recording was before released on various bootlegs, it's cool that it got officialy released because it's a great presentation of the early period of the band sounding awesome and tight live. Here you have 40 songs of early D. R. I. stuff played furious and pissed off but still tight and not missing any beat or riff. They played here completely both first two EP's and more than half of „Dealing With It!“ LP, so what more do you want!?! As for other bootleg D. R. I. live stuff, I have quite a few live shows in mp3 format from the early period which are pretty decent, so if you want them, let me know.

D. R. I. still tour although the band didn't released anything from 2016. and their last full lenght album was released in 1996. But, it's cool that the band still have energy to tour and the band is still respected and loved in the hardcore punk and metal community. I'm sharing the links for 1982. Demo, VATS Demo and original mix of Dirty Rotten EP, everything else discussed here is still available and in print (at least through reissues), so if you want to support the band and the labels that released D. R. I. stuff, go for it! Hopefully some of you will like this tribute to early period of one of the best hardcore punk bands ever, in my opinion.

Who am I? D. R. I.!

The Snake

1982. Demo

VATS Demo

Dirty Rotten EP/LP

BLACK FLAG – SIX PACK 7˝ EP (SST Records 1981.), LOUIE LOUIE 7˝ SINGLE (POSH BOY Records, 1981.) & THREE COMP. TRACKS

 

First just a short intro, as you can see by the title of the post, this time I'm talking about few records and compilation tracks from Black Flag's 1980./81. period. There are few reasons for that, one is that these particluar releases don't have many songs, so I thought it would be a good idea to talk about all of these records and comp tracks in one post. Second reason is that all of these recordings and releases were recorded with Dez Cadena, the third Black Flag vocalist and the third reason is that I wanted to speed up all these reviews a little bit, so you don't have to wait for a few months to read my rant about two songs single, haha. So, here you have in one package: two 7˝ EP's and three compilation tracks by Black Flag, let's fuckin' go!

So, around Spring of 1980 after the final recording of Jealous Again EP and after Ron Reyes finally lef the band, Dez Cadena already joined Black Flag as their third vocalist. As I've said in the previous post, Dez also recorded some of the songs during the Jealous Again sessions, but they were shelved until these songs were released on a double compilation LP - Everything Went Black in 1982. Also, as the Reyes, Dez was another previous member of Red Kross where he played guitar, although Dez never recorded anything with the band. With Dez, the band started to play even more and toured all over US and Canada during the rest of the 1980. and half of 1981. While Dez was always more comfortable as being a guitar player than a vocalist frontman, still lots of people who saw the band live at the time claim that the period with Cadena on vocals was one of the best Black Flag periods. Vocals of Dez Cadena were totally different from both previous Black Flag vocalists - Keith Morris and Ron Reyes, Dez had a very distinctive gruff vocals unlike the two previous singers of the band which only added more aggresiveness to the already hard sound of the band because the songs structure also started to became a little different then the older songs. 

VA – CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALK 12˝ EP (NEW ALLIANCE Records 1980.)

Let's start with a compilation track „Clocked In“ that was relased on the Cracks In The Sidewalk 12˝ EP compilation on New Alliance Records at the end of 1980. New Alliance was a label founded by members of the Minutemen: Mike Watt and D. Bone with their friend Martin Tamburovich in 1980. The compilation was the first release of the label and beside Black Flag includes also: Minutemen, Saccharine Trust, Kindled Imagination, Artless Entaglements and Sharp Corners. Clocked In was one of the many early classic Black Flag songs and the band played it a lot during the first four years. The songs dates all the way to 1978 and you can hear different versions of the song with other singers on Everything Went Black compilation. This version was obviously recorded with Dez on vocals, Greg Ginn on guitar, Chuck Dukowski on bass and Robo on drums. The song was recordd at Media Art Studios in Hermosa Beach, Ca, sometimes between July and November 1980. That's the closest that I could find the recording data for this version, so I'm still not sure when the song was exactly recorded. Clocked In was written by Ginn and it's a typical early Black Flag gem. While the song is not in my top 20 Black Glag songs, it's a still pretty solid song. One more thing, while this wasn't the first Black Flag song that was released on a compilation record, it was the first never released before song by Black Flag on a compilation record, that's that. Also, this version of Clocked In was later re-released on The First Four Years compilation LP in 1983. 

SIX PACK 7˝ EP (SST Records 1981.)

Six Pack was the third Black Flag EP, recorded in April 1981 at Golden Age Recordings in Hollywood, Ca and it was released in June 1981 on SST Records. The EP was produced by Spot and Geza X. The EP was also later re-released on a CD format and on The First Four Years compilation LP. The band lineup is the same as on Cracks In The Sidewalk compilation. At this point things started to move faster with recording sessions and records releases. While officialy Black Flag released with Dez only two short EP's and a few compilation songs, the band was very productive with making news songs, tours, regular shows and recording sessions (not to mention working on the label non stop). At the time the band started to get even more hassle by the LA police and at that point Black Flag became a number one enemy punk band to LA police and even FBI. With all the shit happening with police harassment, shuting down the shows and stuff, the band managed to make some of their best songs at the time and the band played as much as they could. 

There are only three songs on the Six Pack EP, but what hell of a great songs. I'm not sure if many people know this, but these songs were actually taken from the first Damaged session which is also known as Damaged Demos. At the time, the band was trying to record their first album (again), this time with Dez and they already wanted to release the album titled Damaged, way before Henry Rollins joined the band. Back to EP, the cover art is again done by Raymond Pettibon and it's just simply great, there are even hand written lyrics at the back sleeve of the record. While so far Ginn was mostly the main song writter for the band, Six Pack EP was the breaking point for the Chuck Dukowski who wrote one song and co-wrote another one with Ginn. This definitely made the sound of the band more dynamic and diverse, let alone the vocals of Dez being totally different than the previous two vocalists and the the time the band became a lot faster and started to sound more pissed off than ever before. All of these things makes Six Pack a great EP no matter the fact that it clocks in less than 6 minutes. 

A side is opened by the title song Six Pack which is probably one of the most well known Black Flag classic songs and it's indeed a classic. To this day, it's one of the bands most recognizable songs and the bass intro of Six Pack is such an iconic intro, you just can't be not amazed how good it is. Six Pack song was written by Ginn and lyrically it's more on the satirical critical point about drinking „six pack“ beer mentallity which is definitely a mock of the American white suburban culture. „My girlfriend ask which one I like better, I hope the answer don't upset her“, I love this line, it's such a witty comment which was a typical Ginns sarcastic attitude in the early days of the band. The songs builds up first with a bass intro and then also with a guitar after that it bursts into a frenzy and catchy singalong anthem. What to say else, than that this is a great song that is stuck in my head forever. Six Pack song was also re-recorded later on the classic first LP by Black Flag – Damaged with Henry Rollins on vocals.

B side opens with I've Hear It Before song written by Dukowski and Ginn. It begins with a wailing guitar noise and spoken word by Dez and then goes into a catchy awesome hardore punk song that makes you slam dance and bounce against the walls. Lyrically it's a sort of fuck you song which at that point was nothing new for the band, but still a theme that we can all identify with when people tell you what you should or shouldn't do. Pretty cool song that somehow don't get mention a lot which is a shame. American Waste is the third and the last song on the EP and it was written by Dukowski. It starts with a melodic guitar intro and soon enough goes into a similar style as the previous song, catchy but pissed off hardcore punk tune with a critical look on American culture. In a way, whole EP has a a common theme which is a heavy critical look on American society with a sarcastic touch. American Waste is also a great song and again one of the songs that you don't hear much about but these two songs on the B side are as good as the title song of the EP and as any other Black Flag classic early song. So, this is Six Pack EP, on of those short and perfect hardcore punk classic records that you just can't miss it. 

VA – CHUNKS LP (NEW ALLIANCE Records 1981.)

We're continuing with a compilation track „Machine“ from Chunks compilation LP released on New Alliance Records sometime in 1981. Other bands on the compilation are: Descendents, Chiefs, Minutemen, Stains, Peer Group, Vox Pop, Ken Starkey, Slivers, Saccharine Trust, Artless Entaglements and Nig-Heist. The band lineup is the same as on Six Pack EP. Machine song was from the same sessions as songs from Six Pack EP also known as the Damaged Demos recorded in April and May 1981. Machine was not a typical Black Flag song and it's hard to describe it. It was written by Dukowski and Cadena and the song sounds improvised which wasn't the case of course but it sounds like that.  While the song is not in the same league as some of the bands early classic songs, it's an definitely interesting tune and the band played it live regularly while Dez was in the band. Machine song was also re-released on The First Four Years compilation LP. 

LOUIE LOUIE/DAMAGED I – 7˝ EP (POSH BOY Records 1981.)

It seems that Louie Louie/Damaged I 7˝ EP was released few months after Six Pack EP, although I'm not really sure when exactly was released, but I'm guessing sometime around Fall of 1981. The fourth Black Flag EP was the first and only ever record that wasn't released originally on SST Records. There were some other Black Flag records that were collabs with other labels, but Louie Louie single was originally released on Posh Boy Records from Southern California which was a very known punk label in the late 70's and early 80's. Later, the single was re-released on SST Records on vinyl and CD format. The band lineup is the same as on Six Pack EP and the previous mentioned compilations. It's interesting that the single doesn't have the cover art done by Pettibone but instead it's a photo of Dez smoking a cigarette in some dark alley. The recording sessions for the single are a little bit complicated because the songs were recorded on a totally different recording sessions and before Damaged Demos. Damaged I was recorded „live“ at Target Video in San Francisco, August 1980. Louie Louie was recorded at Media Art Studios in January 1981. There are so much of these early Black Flag sessions and it's easy to get confused by all the data and info, so I hope you're keeping the track. The EP was produced by Spot and the band. 

Louie Louie is a cover of the classic rock'n'roll song written by Richard Berry in the early 60's. The lyrics were slightly re-written by Dez Cadena. In the early 80's, Louie Louie was one of the most common cover songs from the 60's that was covered by many hardcore punk and post punk bands. While I love the original song and some other covers and versions of the song, Black Flag version of Louie Louie is definitely one of my favorite versions. The band shortened the song and it's interesting to hear the band playing something more loose and less frenetic and raw. Damaged I was written by Ginn and Dez and it's one of the most brutal Black Flag songs ever in my opinion. Damaged I is a slow and heavy noisy outburst sounding like the band and the equipment will fall apart in any second but the song still keeps going. I would argue that this song is one of the first noise rock songs because you can just hear the influences on some classic noise rock bands from the late 80's and the 90's. Damaged I was also re-recorded on the bands classic first LP - Damaged with Henry Rollins on vocals, but more about that in the next post. Anyway, this is a great single and it's interesting how on one side you get the light rocking tune and on the other side something completely different and more dark.

VA – LET THEM EAT JELLYBEANS! LP (ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES 1981.)

We're finishing the Dez Black Flag era with another compilation track – „Police Story“ that was released on Let Them Eat Jellybeans! Compilation LP on Alternative Tentacles Records released in October 1981. I don't think that I have to introduce Alternative Tentacles label much which is a legendary punk label from San Francisco, Ca that was founded by Jello Biafra. Other bands on the compilation are: Flipper, D. O. A., Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Really Red, The Feederz, The Subhumans (Canada), Geza X, Bpeople, Wounds, The Offs, Anonymous, 1/2 Japanese, Christian Lunch and Voice Farm. The band lineup is the same as on all the previous few records and compilations. Police Story song was written by Ginn and it's definitely one of the early Black Flag classic songs with a strong anti police repression message. This version was also from the Damaged Demos sessions, recorded in April/May 1981 and it's interesting that this version wasn't re-released neither on Everything Went Black compilation or The First Four Years compilation. It's definitely a strong version of the song and it's worth tracking it down if you somehow missed this one. Police Story song was also re-recorded on the bands classic first LP Damaged that was recorded with Henry Rollins on vocals but that's the story for the upcoming post. 

That's the Dez as a vocalist era of Black Flag which was definitely an interesting and very prolific era of the band. Before Dez joining as the vocalist of the band, Ginn was mostly the main song writter so this period of the band brought more dynamics to the sound of the band because both Dez and Dukowski had a lot of impact in the song writting proccess and during this period the band wrote and recorded some of its best material. It's also interesting to speculate about what turn the band would get after if the Damaged album was released with Dez on vocals like it was originally itended in April and May of 1981. So, there's still a lot to discuss about this period of the band which makes me being still excited about Black Flag after all these years of listening the band. 

Hopefully some of you enjoyed this rant and if you want to comment and discuss anything concerning this post or Black Flag generally, you're very welcomed! All the photos and flyers were found online from various sources so if anyone wants a credit mentioned of their photo, let me know. Also, you can find me on Instagram: @deadly_138

The next post is a review of Damaged LP, so stay tuned!

I am The Snake