In a Basement Bedroom Where Sons Don't Peek

While we're speaking of black metal, someone needs to go on record about the new Blut Aus Nord. Especially if you're one of those few, like me, who aren't quite "neck deep" in one-man-band bleakness just yet. The moniker, roughly translated from the French, means: "Norse Black Flag". Specifically, "Mort" is like a black metal version of instrumental, late period Flag. Seriously. Or I'm hearing shit. Which wouldn't be anything new either.

Which reminds me, I finally saw "American Hardcore" the other night. And, well duh, of course it was hard nipples. Even if you didn't read the Steve Blush book, you'll find the DVD version just as maddeningly incomplete as the softcover. But what could you expect in a tight 90 minutes? And, so, it's safe to say that Rollins-era Flag came out smelling like a fuck-you-skins-long-haired, tatted rose. Which is all right by me, since that's the era I grew up with. In other words, I'm not ashamed to say I only discovered the Keith Morris stuff (and Chavo and Dez) later. To me, Morris was the Circle Jerks' frontman; and what a dumbass look I had on my face when I realized different.

So, and yes, it can be argued that Keith and Ron and Dez had some fine chops and as far as hardcore goes, it's tough to beat "Jealous Again" and "Nervous Breakdown". But let's face facts, Black Flag didn't hit their stride until Rollins came on board and "Damaged" was laid down. I certainly won't begrudge you if you'll claim they got winded pretty quickly thereafter and I don't mind admitting that I came at those early singles and EPs from a backward drift. I mean, shit, do I have to have been Damo-Suzuki-hair-sweat close to wax philosophic about "Ege Bamayasi"? Of course I wasn't there! But, now, were you?

As in You:

I saw a pre-Panic rehearsal in 1976, before Morris joined the band, where Ginn's cat meowed into a mic for a half an hour. Brilliant! Anything post-Reyes, Dud. F Rollins, he's a self-promoter.

Ginn's cat-fronted band > Panic > Anyone Not Rollins > Damaged

Hey You, you're losing, you're losing, you're losing, your Vitamin C...