| Die for the Government | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Anti-Flag |
| Cover: | Anti_Flag-Die_for_the_Government.jpg |
| Released: | August 20, 1996 |
| Genre: |
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| Length: | 44:51 |
| Label: | New Red Archives |
| Producer: | Joe West, Anti-Flag |
| Prev Title: | Kill Kill Kill |
| Prev Year: | 1995 |
| Next Title: | Reject |
| Next Year: | 1997 |
Die for the Government is the debut studio album by the U.S. punk rock band Anti-Flag, released in 1996. After this album, bassist Andy Flag played with Anti-Flag on their EP North America Sucks, but left soon after as they couldn't get along as a band. The CD booklet bids farewell to Andy Flag.
The front cover gives the title "Die for the Government", but side of the CD reads "Die for Your Government".
Some members of the local community accused the band of selling out for signing with a national label.
"Fuck Police Brutality" was inspired by events at a Queers show Justin Sane once attended.[2]
Many of the songs on the record were written about the local punk scene, and included condemnation against the Nazi Punks that were infiltrating the music scene at the time, accusing them of ruining concerts and committing violent acts against other fans. The rest of the album features social-political songs heavily influenced by the Persian Gulf War back in 1991.
You'd Do the Same, Kill the Rich, and No More Dead are all the same versions that were featured on the Kill Kill Kill EP. Davey Destroyed the Punk Scene was also featured on the ep, although it was rerecorded for the album.
Summer Squatter is a more ska-influenced track than the rest of the album. The album's liner notes described the song as being against punks who came into the scene, ruined it for other fans, then left, and not being against the practice of squatting. Go-Go Dancer describes the protagonist falling in love with a girl who works at a punk show as a go-go dancer, and is unique among the Anti-Flag catalogue as being their only love song.