"TV Party" by Black Flag - January 28th 80's Quest Band/Song of the Day

Black Flag was always one of those bands that was on my radar, but as I was not male, from California, or a hardcore punk, I probably didn't get into them as much as others did, but I liked what they were doing.  They especially came on my radar when one of their songs "TV Party" appeared on what I consider to be one of the best movie soundtracks of all time, for the 1984 underground cult movie "Repo Man" about a punk rocker turned auto repossession agent, which was produced by Mike Nesmith of the Monkees, directed by Alex Cox, and starred a then unknown Emilio Estevez, and Harry Dean Stanton.

Black Flag was a punk rock band formed in Hermosa Beach, California in 1976.  They were essential to the formation of hardcore punk, the do-it-yourself music scene,  one of the premier California punk bands, and key influence on punk subculture.  They played with speed and ferocity that was unprecedented.  Their numerous line-up changes hindered them from mainstream success, but they were revered as an underground band.

Greg Ginn, the band’s guitarist, formed the Black Flag.  He was the major songwriter and only continuous band member throughout the band’s career.   The band was initially called Panic and featured Keith Morris (singer), Chuck Dukowski (bass) and Brian Migdol (drums).  There was another band already called Panic, so they changed their name to Black Flag in 1978 because if a white flag meant, surrender; then a black flag meant anarchy.  Their logo was four vertical black rectangles that looked like a rippling black flag.  Ginn’s brother, Raymond (using the pseudonym Raymond Pettibon), created the logo, as well as the signature artwork for all but two of the band’s releases, their merchandise and gig flyers.

In true DIY-fashion the band spray painted their logo all over Los Angeles.  They pinned up flyers and did all their own marketing.  Greg Ginn started his own record label SST Records,recorded and released their material and made videos.  Because the punk scene was violent, Black Flag and other punk bands had a hard time finding venues that would allow them to play, so the band found their own venues, set up and promoted all their shows.

Drummer Migdol was replaced by a Columbian drummer named Robo.  He wore several metallic bracelets that clicked together when he played and became part of his drum sound.  Singer Morris quit in 1979 (and formed the punk band The Circle Jerks).  After he left the Black Flag, they recruited a fan, Ron Reyes, to be their new singer, recorded an EP called “Jealous Again” and began their first tour up and down the West Coast.  They also appeared in the movie  The Decline of Western Civilization.   This line-up was short-lived as Reyes quit the band in the middle of a gig in Redondo Beach, because things were getting too violent.  After Reyes left the stage, the band stayed on playing the song “Louie, Louie” and inviting audience members on stage to take turns at singing until the end of the gig.

They brought on another fan, Dez Cadena, as their next  singer and began a national tour.  Shortly afterwards in 1981, Cadena’s voice was shot from all the touring, and he decided to play guitar for Black Flag rather than sing.  For the next singer, they brought on another fan from Washington, D.C., who had been corresponding with them, Henry Rollins.  He became their longest lasting singer and brought a different perspective to the band.  Over time goofy songs about apathy and drinking were replaced by more personal, emotional lyrics, and a slower style of music that incorporated some elements of classic rock and blues.  Being the lead singer, Rollins, was often the target of violent audience members, but he was a weight-lifter and became known for holding his own and getting in fist fights with audience members.

With Rollins on vocals, the band began working on their first full-length album, “Damaged” which was released in 1981 on Unicorn Records, a subsidiary of MCA Records.   Problems ensued when MCA refused to distribute the album.  Unicorn Records was so mismanaged and strapped for cash that distributing the album would have actually lost MCA money.  This led to a legal battle that would prevent Black Flag from using their own name on any record after “Damaged” was released. 

On their way home from Europe, their Columbian drummer, Robo was detained in the U.K. by customs and not allowed back into the United States.  This was the end of his career with Black Flag (although he was later allowed back into the country in 1983 and joined the Misfits as their drummer).  Chuck Biscuits was leaving the band D.O.A. and was brought on as the new Black Flag drummer.   Rollins and Biscuits did not get along (Rollins thought he was a “fuck-up”), so Biscuits soon left for The Circle Jerks and Bill Stevenson of the Descendents joined.

Lyrics:

T.V. party tonight!
T.V. party tonight!
T.V. party tonight!
T.V. party tonight!

We're gonna have a T.V. party tonight!

Alright!

We're gonna have a T.V. party alright!

Tonight!

We've got nothing better to do
Than watch T.V. and have a couple of brews

All our friends are gonna hang out here tonight

Alright!

We're gonna pass out on the couch alright

Tonight!

We've got nothing better to do
Than watch T.V. and have a couple of brews

Don't talk about anything else
We don't wanna know!
We're dedicated
To our favorite shows!

We sit glued to the T.V. set all night
And every night!
Why go into the outside world at all?
It's such a fright!

We've got nothing better to do
Than watch T.V. and have a couple of brews

T.V. news shows what it's really like out there
It's a scare!

You can go out if you want
We wouldn't dare!

We've got nothing better to do
Than watch T.V. and have a couple of brews

Don't talk about anything else
We don't wanna know!
We're dedicated
To our favorite shows!

I wouldn't be without my T.V. for a day
Or even a minute!

Don't even bother to use my brain anymore
There's nothing left in it!

We've got nothing better to do
Than watch T.V. and have a couple of brews

Wait a minute! My T.V. set doesn't work!
It's broken!
What are we gonna do tonight? This isn't fair!
We're hurtin'

We've got nothing left to do
With no T.V. and just a couple of brews

What are we gonna talk about?
I don't know!
We're gonna miss our favorite shows!
NO T.V. PARTY TONIGHT!

Even though they were unable to release any music using the name Black Flag due to the injunction with their record company, the band still worked on new material and released a compilation album, “Everything Went Black” which was credited to the musicians named individually, and not “Black Flag”.  When Unicorn Records went bankrupt the band was released from the injunction and released the album “My War”.  Bassist Dukowski had left the band in 1983, and a new bassist was brought on – Kira Roessler.  The band was on fire in 1984 and released 3 albums and toured constantly. 

The band began experimenting with their sound, and slowing some things down and taking on more of a metal sound.  This irritated some audience members and violence against the band (especially Rollins) flourished.  Others (including many musicians from the early 90’s grunge scene) loved the change and credit  Black Flag’s slowed down style as influential in their own bands’ grunge sound. 

 Roessler was cut from the band due to erratic behavior.  They also lost another drummer.  By 1986 there was a lot of tension and fighting in the band, and members were tired of the relentless touring and living in near-poverty.  Commercial success had eluded them due to their unstable line-ups over the years.  The band played their last show on June 27, 1986 in Detroit, Michigan and later broke up. 

Since the break-up most band members have continued playing music. Rollins has been the most prolific.  There have been some reunion shows.  The history of the band has been written about in a couple of books:  Rollin’s tour diary, “Get in the Van” and a book about several important underground rock bands called “Our Band Could Be Your Life”.