White Flag (band) explained

White Flag
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Sunnymead, California
Genre:Punk rock
Years Active:1982 - present
Label:Gasatanka Records
Current Members:Jello B. Afro
Mike Mess
Trace Element

White Flag is an American punk rock band currently based in Los Angeles. Their current lineup consists of frontman Mike Mess (guitar), Jello B. Afro (bass), and Trace Element (drums). These members have been in the band since 1982, though many have rotated in and out. White Flag has a discography that ranges from their 1982 debut R is for Rocket to 2010's Benefit For Cats.

History

White Flag formed in 1982 in Sunnymead,[1] a community in California's Inland Empire, which is now part of the city of Moreno Valley.[2] The original core lineup, which included Pat Fear, Trace Element, Doug Graves, and El Fee, released their self-released debut album S Is for Space the same year.[3]

In contrast to other bands at the time, White Flag took an anti-drug, pro-Reagan, anti-communist, pro-Christian stance as a faux image, with Fear dressing up as a police officer.[4]

They played their first two shows in the summer of 1982 at keg parties, before opening a show for Black Flag. A live version of this third show was included on the 25th anniversary deluxe reissue of S Is For Space. This version of the lineup featured Al Bum on lead vocals.[5]

In a 1983 Flipside interview, guitarist Pat Fear noted:

In 1984 the band released the album Third Strike, which featured Social Distortion singer Mike Ness singing harmonies on the song "Middle Class Hell".[6]

While mostly inactive in the 1990s, they released the album Eternally Undone in 1999.[7] In 2006 White Flag toured in Italy for the first time. As a souvenir of the group's first visit, the band released a limited edition, hand numbered 8 song 10-inch vinyl album, on Roma based RARO! Records, entitled "Piangi Con Me", which is now out of print.

In 2008, the band toured Europe twice, first in March (Germany and Netherlands), and then in June–July they did 23 gigs, including two with NOFX and the Adolescents. Some gigs in the U.S. with the Germs and the Adolescents followed.

In May 2010 the band released the 7-inch e.p. "Keepers of The Purple Twilight" on Target Earth Records limited to 300 copies. 2010 also saw the release of "Benefit For Cats" on Cupcake Records.

In 2011 Strange Magic Records released White Flag and Tony Adolescent's "Live at Bohemian Grove / White Flag & Tony" 7-inch EP. That same year the band, who were big fans of 70's seminal punk group The Runaways contributed the track "C'mon" to the controversial tribute album "Take It Or Leave It: A Tribute To The Original Queens of Noise: The Runaways". The song featured Michael Lee Smith, lead singer of the band Starz on lead vocals.

The current line-up, featured on the July 2010 vinyl only release "Benefit For Cats", performed their first Midwest shows in July 2010. With shows in Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago, on July 15,16, and 17 respectively. The shows were record release parties for the album, as well as for the Russian release limited edition 7-inch e.p. "Two Pack", which is limited to only 100 copies, and is a split release with Russian band Citramons.

Pat Fear died on September 24, 2013.[8] The band continued on with members Trace Element, Jello B. Afro, and Mike Mess.[9]

Members

The punk rock names of band members were chosen to parody those of Jello Biafra, Mike Ness, and Pat Smear.

Current lineup

Former members

Discography

White Flag has a large discography. This is an incomplete list:

Studio albums

Eps and 7-inches

Splits

Compilation albums

Live albums

Albums contributed to

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: White Flag Albums and Discography. AllMusic.
  2. Web site: MORENO VALLEY: City's 30-year history includes little-known facts. 7 December 2014.
  3. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  4. Web site: White Flag. 28 July 2011 .
  5. Web site: White Flag. 28 July 2011 .
  6. Web site: White Flag.
  7. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  8. Web site: MUSIC: White Flag's Bill Bartell (Pat Fear) has died . Blog.pe.com . 2013-09-24 . 2013-10-07.
  9. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  10. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  11. Web site: White Flag.
  12. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  13. Web site: White Flag.
  14. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  15. Web site: R.I.P. Bill Bartell of White Flag – The Punk Vault . Punkvinyl.com . 2013-09-24 . 2013-10-07.
  16. Web site: » RIP, Bill Bartell (September 24, 2013) AKA Pat Fear of White Flag The Music's Over . Themusicsover.com . 2013-09-24 . 2013-10-07.
  17. Web site: History is Fiction - White Flag | Credits | AllMusic. AllMusic.
  18. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  19. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  20. Web site: White Flag. 28 July 2011 .
  21. Web site: White Flag. 28 July 2011 .
  22. Web site: White Flag.
  23. Web site: White Flag.
  24. Web site: History is Fiction - White Flag | Credits | AllMusic. AllMusic.
  25. Web site: White Flag.
  26. Web site: History is Fiction - White Flag | Credits | AllMusic. AllMusic.
  27. Web site: History is Fiction - White Flag | Credits | AllMusic. AllMusic.
  28. Web site: Eric Erlandson.
  29. Web site: White Flag.
  30. Web site: White Flag.
  31. Web site: Mesa Lanes is More Than a New Band for Veteran Punk Nick Sjobeck. It's a Fresh Start. – OC Weekly. 21 April 2018 .
  32. Web site: Tours: White Flag to tour Italy in February. 3 February 2006 .
  33. Web site: Tours: White Flag to tour Italy in February. 3 February 2006 .
  34. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  35. Web site: White Flag Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  36. Web site: White Flag Albums and Discography. AllMusic.
  37. Web site: White Flag Albums and Discography. AllMusic.
  38. Web site: History is Fiction - White Flag | Releases | AllMusic. AllMusic.
  39. Web site: White Flag Albums and Discography. AllMusic.
  40. Web site: White Flag Albums and Discography. AllMusic.
  41. Web site: White Flag Albums and Discography. AllMusic.
  42. Web site: White Flag Albums and Discography. AllMusic.
  43. Web site: White Flag Albums and Discography. AllMusic.
  44. Web site: White Flag. 28 July 2011 .

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