The fans, the fans, the fans. It’s who all bands take the time to acknowledge. At concerts, artists will always shout out partially histrionic statements like, “We couldn’t do this without you…the fans!” And as a result, every fan’s devotion soars through the roof (if not eternally). It’s somewhat silly, though, not to realize that the fans do make everything possible. People like bands, so they buy their records, see their shows, sometimes blog about them (hey there), “Like” their Facebook pages, live chat with them on Twitter, and on super-rare occasions, even get to meet them. It’s all fine and dandy, but sometimes simple fandom turns into lifestyle choices and obsession.

There are a chunk of bands out there whose fans should never be referred to merely as fans. These fan bases are more or less a cult. Somehow, over the years, a few musical acts have completely shaped people’s worlds. Liking them on Facebook just isn’t enough; their followers have to paint their faces or attend every show the band plays. Some of these cult acts you might understand and think, I can see why people like them. And others make little to no sense at all; in fact, you wonder how the hell somebody got into them in the first place.

It’s simple. It’s called loyalty.

-Ted Maider
Media Specialist

X Japan

Sure, you don’t see them make surprise appearances to wow audiences at Bonnaroo, but X Japan is a group of Japanese metal freaks who have the Eastern Hemisphere stoked. For over 30 years, drummer/pianist Yoshiki and vocalist/guitarist Toshi have been successfully issuing metal records. The even stranger, more alluring facet of the group is their stylistic choice. X Japan specialize in making glam metal that is reminiscent of stuff like KISS, or even Iron Maiden.

This is one band that has become too big for Japan. On X Japan’s Facebook, thousands of people leave remarks proclaiming undying love and how happy they were to see them live. Meanwhile, people in Malaysia are stating they’ve been waiting 20 years just to see them on stage! One reason for this may be because X Japan mainly tour Asia; in fact, it was only a little over a year ago that they first hit the States. Because of this, they might not even hit your country. This leaves fans plenty of time to obsess over old records while desperately awaiting their heroes’ return. It’s almost like poetry…

The Smiths

Morrissey has an uncanny ability. He can make your day turn into absolute shit with just a simple lyric.

There is a great quote at the end of 24 Hour Party People where “God” tells Tony Wilson, “It’s a shame you didn’t sign the Smiths,” and I couldn’t agree more. Had Tony Wilson discovered them, maybe Morrissey would have been a little more cheery. (Wilson was kind of funny.) Most people regard The Smiths as two things: 1) a unique 80s act and 2) the most depressing band on the planet. But there is a sub-group of society that believes The Smiths were (or, are) the greatest thing to ever happen in music. They made some good albums and recorded plenty of good songs, but that just isn’t enough for some people.

Morrissey has gone solo, still plays Smiths songs, and his fans eat it up like Jack in the Box. They love him no matter what. Meanwhile, Johnny Marr spends his time with Issac Brock, The Cribs, or Hans Zimmer. The former Smiths apparently hate each other, too, which makes the cult around them somewhat complex. People are constantly praying for Smiths reunions, and if you don’t believe me, go read the Coachella message board. To pass the time, there are Morrissey conventions that are headlined by Smiths cover bands. Bottom line: The Smiths may never play again, and that in no way satisfies the people who get down on their knees, pray, and listen to “How Soon Is Now?” while asking for a  reunion.

Primus

The cult of [Les] Claypool is a pretty diverse one. You can find just about any type of “_____ music fan” in a Primus crowd. This includes metal-heads, hippies, stoners, e-tard jamtronica kids, hipsters, and on a good day, a couple gangsters. Primus and its whacky-yet-talented frontman Les Claypool have established themselves as one of the strangest popular rock bands of the past 20 years. How a band whose motto is “Primus Sucks” got so far is crazy to consider. One minute they’re popping up in Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, and the next they’re showing up onstage with Phish. Primus has released a total of just seven albums (five of which are amazing) in over 20 years, but people are still devoted to their lunacy.

It took Primus 12 years to release their latest work, Green Naugahyde, and in between, the cult of Primus still thrived strong. Whenever Claypool brought back the mighty trio, though, the Primus fans came out of the woodwork. Their return show at the Great American Music Hall just one year ago sold out in lighting speed. So it would seem that the less Primus do, the more in demand they are by their nuttiest of worshippers. And now that they’re back and touring regularly, there is more time for the cult of Claypool to further deform and mutate for future generations.

Claypool will inevitably go down in history as the only bass player to lead the masses. Primus certainly do not suck.

Dave Matthews

Here’s something you probably already know: Dave Matthews and his band have made millions off bros, hippies, Abercrombie models, and college kids alike. Over the years, Matthews has become less a musician and moreover a pal to ring up on a rainy day. Most fans feel comfortable enough to call him simply “Dave”; you know, because they’re longtime pals. Somehow, the South African frontman has exuded enough friendly pheromones to keep an amassing cult following.

As a result, wherever “Dave” goes, they go. Just take a look at their live shows. The band hasn’t been Billboard royalty in ages, yet they continue to sell out gigs in every city. They’re a live wunderkind, as diehards will tell you. Whether it’s a solo gig, a headlining set with Tim Reynolds, or the band’s own shindig, aptly titled the DMB Caravan, you’re bound to see the same teary-eyed fans – whom all skipped classes to grab tickets, no doubt. To quote Carmine Falcone a la 2005′s Batman Begins, “That’s power you can’t buy.”

Some may never understand Dave Matthews, or his music, but a hell of a lot of other people sure do.

Elvis Presley

Some people believe the world’s flat, others think Elvis Presley never croaked. To borrow from Jim Morrison, “People are strange.” There’s a reason for the latter, though. No musical artist has left a legacy greater than the King of Rock. Elvis arguably set the standards for what a “cool rock star” is supposed to be. He abused narcotics, he ripped off his superiors, he had an unbelievable live show, he danced sexually, he starred in movies, he sang like an angel, and he had a signature hairdo/slogan. Few in the genre have been as iconic. Note: That’s as iconic.

When Elvis died on August 16, 1977, he left behind the biggest cult of crazies any artist could ever hope to have. Let’s just start off with the tip of the iceberg: His home in Memphis is referred to as “Graceland”. Not even Kanye West would be that bold. His legacy is continued by two different factions of devoted fans. The first you can find anywhere in Las Vegas. Across the sin city, men pose as Elvis and engage in a number of different moneymaking activities, including performances. The other subset consists of obsessed women who feel they should have been born years ago just to have a shot at sleeping with the King. People love him so much that they even make movies about his legacy that have nothing to do with Elvis (e.g. 3000 Miles to Graceland, the underrated classic Rock-A-Doodle).

Salma Hayek once said, “That’s why [Elvis] is the King, and you’re a schmuck.” We’re all schmucks compared to the King; that’s why we worship him.

Radiohead

It’s hard to brand any band that is considered one of the biggest in the world as having a cult following, but the cult of Radiohead certainly exists. In their time, they’ve released three game-changing records (OK Computer, Kid A, In Rainbows), and have only continued to excel in creativity, diversity, and overall uniqueness. There has never been, and probably never will be, a band like Radiohead.

The Radiohead Cult, on the other hand, believes half of the above paragraph. Die-hard fans constantly post setlists online to show how unique their Radiohead show was (thank you, 58hours.com). They also don’t believe Radiohead released three amazing albums; they believe Radiohead has released nothing but amazing albums to a point where they will argue the legitimacy of Pablo Honey all night until you want to kill them. They’re those people you hate who constantly claim “they are the best band in the world.”

It’s hard for this writer to disagree on that one, but that’s because he got his membership card years ago.

Black Flag

Members of the Black Flag cult include just about every famous rock star of the past two decades (like Kurt Cobain), every SoCal skate punk since 1981, Daniel Dassario from Freaks and Geeks, and actual members of the band (Henry Rollins was a huge fan before he was their singer). Black Flag is most notorious for doing the unthinkable: touring the nation with no money, no fame, no agents, and playing in whatever shithole club would allow them to. Today, every band that is on MySpace tries to follow that template. They made some pretty good punk records, most notably 1981′s Damaged, all of which reshaped the sonic assault of punk rock. People even branded punk as something else after that: hardcore.

Nowadays, every punk who takes themselves seriously belongs to the cult of Black Flag. While the band will undoubtedly never reunite again, they still get the respect and credit of any other cult band. Any cult members who have a band today cover their songs ad-infinitum (usually the song “Six Pack”). Many punks, including their singer Henry Rollins, have the Black Flag bars tattooed on their body somewhere. And the thing is, the Black Flag cult isn’t necessarily underground anymore like it was in the ’80s. People proudly pledge allegiance to Black Flag by getting ink, reading the (many) books about them, cranking “Rise Above” when they’re feeling blue, and seeing any former member’s side project if they can.

As long as punk lives, people will buy Black Flag records.

Wu-Tang Clan

When you have nine members in your group, it’s kind of difficult not to get a following. Logic would dictate that at least one person has to be good. The Wu, though, defied all logic; almost all of them were good. Wu-Tang have made some moves in the music industry that are admirable and clearly the ideas of a moneymaking genius (RZA). They have changed the sound of underground hip-hop, released far too many records to count, and are still living large after almost two decades. The only other rappers who have done that well at this point are Public Enemy, Run-DMC, and Dr. Dre,

The reason the Wu-Tang Clan have remained so successful is this: Their fans, or Wu-Disciples, will buy just about anything they stamp that huge W on. Aside from records, Wu-Tang have issued: re-released kung fu movies, video games, comic books, and books with titles like The Way of the Wu. Not to mention a few of them have made appearances in film and television (Ghostface on 30 Rock was just one of hundreds of highlights). Their Disciples buy all that stuff, along with the insane number of solo records that exist beneath the streets. People follow these ninjas blindly through Shaolin, and life, and don’t stop to question where the group is at now.

They have followed the way of the Wu for so long, they don’t know any other rap lifestyle to live.

deadmau5

I don’t think Joel Zimmerman, aka deadmau5, had any intention of leading masses to his glowing cube for the past few years, but if you light it up, they will come. Deadmau5 has had the best past few years any musical act could ask for, despite the fact he only has one commercial album. You don’t see his poster hyping up a new release at Best Buy, but his fans are certainly always waiting for more. He has done it all at this point, including DJing the VMAs, heading the top tiers of music festivals, and slaying the evil Chtulhu with Harley Morenstein and Muscles-Glasses.

The fans of deadmau5 are what constantly make his shows an experience worth remembering. For one, they love to dance, and they know his songs all too well. They know when to jump, grind, and scream perfectly. And people don’t go to his shows to hear him “spin” for hours. No, they go to hear actual songs like “Ghosts N Stuff” and “SOFI Needs a Ladder”. What really separates deadmau5 from many other cult acts, though, is that his fans like to sport his headgear. At any of his shows, you will find Mau5 helmets in different shapes, colors, sizes, and all with different abilities (some have LED blinking eyes). One such fan recently informed me he spent 40 hours on his helmet! Hey man, ask Zimmerman for a job with that kind of dedication!

Soon those helmets will start to be mass-produced, and that will certainly open the floodgates for more members to join the cult of Mau5.

Misfits

I wish I could have been alive to enjoy the benefits of the Fiend Club. When New Jersey muscle-heads and horror geeks Glenn Anzalone (Danzig) Jerry Caiafa (Jerry Only) formed a punk band in the Caiafa family basement, they probably didn’t see their legacy stretching much further than that. Here we are, though, 30 years later, and the Misfits remain one of America’s most notorious cult acts. In their time, The Misfits played a brand of “hardcore punk” that essentially started with the pop sensibility of a Blink 182 riff. Their recordings were low quality, and the songs were simplistic. The lyrical content was a bit on the weird side, and their stage show complimented all of that perfectly, all the way down to their signature Crimson Ghost logo and devilock hairstyle.

As it turns out, most people in the Misfits cult enjoy two things: 1) Danzig and 2) ripping off the Misfits (see: Metallica). The Misfits cult, though, is more a dress code- and attitude-based society rather than a legion that follows them to every show. Lots of darker skateboarders idolize them (e.g. Jamie Thomas, Bam Margera, Adrian Lopez, etc.), goth kids appreciate them, and even the Aqua Teen Hunger Force seems to like Danzig, if not fear him. The Crimson Ghost is still everywhere (like the hood of Bam’s car) in America and is sold on t-shirts at Hot Topic. Some people even wear their clothes without knowing what that skull really means.

I once told a friend that I considered the Crimson Ghost to be “the Stealy of punk rock.” Considering how fiends nod to each other in passing when they see the mark, I feel that remark holds some validity.

Minor Threat

I once got to hear Ian MacKaye speak and, almost predictably, the first question anybody asked was “How do you feel about what the straight edge movement is today?” He replied by saying this was the most commonly asked question in his life.

Ian MacKaye is one of those “accidental rock stars.” He didn’t necessarily want to be famous, but he is, and he also turned a few thousand heads along the way. When he responded to the question stated above, he replied, “I didn’t think we’d be talking about this now. I wrote that song for my friends and myself.” The cult of Minor Threat is one that involves a lifestyle change for sure; you have to be completely substance free. MacKaye started Minor Threat in the mid-80s, and they quickly blew up as one of hardcore’s most influential (and valid) acts. They wrote songs about the things kids went through, the pressures of the Reagan world, and how staying above the influence could help you remain on top.

The best part is that people believed it then and still believe it to this day. The straight edge movement is still at large and will always seem to have a home in punk counterculture. Minor Threat didn’t just get fans to like their music; they got them to completely change their lives. Chuck Klosterman once laughed about a guy who said, “Punk saved my life,” but for some people strung out on H all the time, straight edge music might have legitimately saved them. It showed people that even the toughest and meanest kids on the block could have a good time by drinking milk. Ian MacKaye didn’t just create a cult; he created a movement.

Insane Clown Posse

Two videos have been released recently to convince me that Juggalos are not as bad as we think. One is a documentary on Vimeo, entitled American Juggalo, which chronicles a weekend at the infamous Gathering. The second is the Juggalo episode of Workaholics, Comedy Central’s mashup of Always Sunny and The Office. Insane Clown Posse is one of the most mocked, hated, and somehow slightly underrated rap groups of our time (The Great Milenko is a freaking 90s classic). This isn’t surprising considering they dress like clowns and talk about decapitating bitches. Their words, not mine.

What is admirable, though, is how dedicated their Juggalo fans are, not just to them, but to every band they are affiliated with (Kottonmouth Kings, Twiztid, Dark Lotus, Tech N9ne… I could go on forever). They spend oodles of cash, not just on CDs and tickets, but on jerseys, Hatchet-Man chains, and an over-abundance of tattoos. The Hatchet-Man is pretty much everywhere, whether spray painted on your local 7-11 or staring at you from somebody’s back windshield. The Juggalos have no problem with their undying love for two white-trash knuckleheads from Detroit and go out of their way to prove their loyalty. Sometimes, this involves painting your face and going to the mall.

Consider the Gathering of the Juggalos on this writer’s bucket list. There are apparently 0 conflicts there.

Phish

Phish’s four-night run at Madison Square Garden for this New Year’s Eve sold out in under 10 minutes. The saddest part is that this happens almost every single year.

There have never been fans more ruthless than those obsessed with Phish. The Phans are all out of their mind. Phish is working their way even further up the ladder of jam-band success, and there is a possibility they will some day surpass the Grateful Dead. Their live shows are indeed astounding, complete with a spectacular light show, sporadic song choices, and glow stick wars. Phans (now thanks to the internet) are constantly swapping sets, but that’s even becoming less of a need as the band posts all of them on their site. It’s almost as though they are trying to lure you in. After all, Phish like bait.

While the Phans might appear all hippy-dippy, do not be deceived; they are absolutely ruthless. One such Phish Phriend of mine paid $700 for two Telluride tickets, and he considered that a good deal. That’s dedication. At any festival the band plays (Bonnaroo particularly), the crowd closest to the front goes into lockdown mode, takes a seat, and ensures nobody will get in front of them. The Phish lot scene consists of loads of shirts, all made by different groups of Phans, usually to fund their drug-induced tour of America as they follow the band. And that’s the other thing: People follow the band. Everywhere. If they don’t have tickets, they find a way in. And if they don’t find one, they will sit in the parking lot and listen. That definitely happens way more than you think, considering their shows always sell out.

KISS

If you don’t believe this article, then go watch 1999′s Detroit Rock City.

People who love KISS, love them. Sure, they’re gimmicky, but they’re also skilled musicians and have a stage presence even some 30 years later. (Think about it: Who wants to follow a guy who spews blood and hangs above fire?) Their acclaimed live album, 1975′s Alive, remains a staple amongst the bravest rock aficionados and still motivates kids to pick up axes themselves. But above all, their escapist rock ‘n’ roll fantasies are responsible for one of the biggest cults of the genre: the KISS Army.

During the late ’70s, KISS legitimately owned America. They started as openers for acclaimed rock acts, but that didn’t last too long. In due time, their spell washed over millions of sex-crazed souls, thanks in part to the band’s seminal hit “Rock and Roll All Nite”. The craze spread everywhere. KISS released movies, Christmas specials, comics, lunchboxes, and all sorts of ridiculous merchandise, and the KISS Army continued to arm themselves to the teeth with the memorabilia.

Today, the KISS Army isn’t nearly as strong as it was back in the days of disco, but some embers in the fire remain. The band still cops a pretty penny when they tour (even without two of its original members), Gene Simmons has his own reality TV show (and cologne), and Peter Griffin threatened to divorce Lois on the grounds of not knowing KISS lyrics. Not too shabby.

The Grateful Dead

The original name for the kings of the jam scene was the Warlocks, a title that seems far too fitting. Jerry Garcia certainly was some sort of magical pied piper, as he was able to lead thousands of hippies all over the world. The Grateful Dead are probably the first band to have such a devoted cult following, and rightfully so. Over their 30-year career, the band played well over 2,000 shows! And even though Jerry Garcia died in 1995, people are still following any Dead offshoots, side projects, and former members to this day. The most recent offshoot, Furthur, even headlined multiple festivals last year and continue to tour with full support from Dead Heads around the world.

The Dead Heads are more than your ordinary supporting cult; they go to great lengths to stay devoted. Some of them give up their homes, cars, diet, and all sorts of belongings to stay on tour with the Dead. People usually eat a lot of drugs, which also compliments the chaotic lifestyle the actual band lived back in the day. And unlike any of the other bands listed here, people follow them around the world. In 1978, the band played a huge show at the Egyptian Pyramids, and yes, people followed them there, too. Dead Heads know no boundaries on this planet; they are all about universal harmony and good vibes.

As long as there is music, people will listen to the Grateful Dead. Even if their music someday becomes totally irrelevant, the grandchildren of hippies will keep alive their grandparents’ legacy of taking blotter acid in San Francisco at Ken Kesey’s parties. The Dead Head cult will always take new members, and that’s a beautiful thing, because everyone is always welcome.

No Age have been known to cover Black Flag’s “Six Pack” in concert, but L.A.’s post-shoegaze punk duo got a chance to experience the real deal last night. Newestra reports that Chuck Dukowski and Keith Morris – both founding members of Black Flag – joined No Age on stage following their set at L.A.’s MacArthur Park. Under the banner No Flag, the quartet then went on to perform a six song set, barreling through cuts from 1978’s Nervous Breakdown EP, as well as “No Values” from 1980′s Jealous Again. Naturally, chaos ensued. We have your video evidence below.

Morris also gave a speech:

Damaged was released in December 1981. I was 11. At the time, I had no idea who Black Flag was. I had no real clue at the time what hardcore was, despite living in Southern California. I was still a pawn of the industry. Aside from listening to a lot of Iron Maiden, I listened to what radio and MTV played (it was 1982, so it’s all good), and Black Flag wasn’t it (except maybe on 91X, and I just didn’t know it). I wouldn’t come across a Black Flag album until 1983, and even then it was just looking at them in record stores.  I was drawn to the cartoon covers of albums like Slip It In and My War. I often wonder what would have happened had I bought one.

The cover to Damaged is anything but cartoonish. The image of Henry Rollins and his bloodied fist reflecting in a shattered mirror (all faked) has since become iconic; however, in 1981, it was pretty heavy. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this cover image is a pictograph summarizing the aggression, rebellion, angst, anger, and desperation in Greg Ginn’s lyrics.

Damaged was the first full length recording by Black Flag despite playing and recording for three years. By all accounts, it is their best album. It is also the first album to feature Henry Rollins on vocals, a role he maintained until Ginn dissolved the band in 1986. From the very first moments of the album, the band pulls you into the pit with its anthemic “Rise Above”, acting as a call of unification to the youth of America to gather up their strength and not succumb to the system. When Rollins joined Black Flag, he brought a seriousness to the band. Greg Ginn commented in an interview regarding Rollins, “We couldn’t do songs with a sense of humor anymore; he got into the serious way-out poet thing.” Regardless, there are some pretty funny moments on Damaged, the most obvious being “T.V. Party”.

If any song was Black Flag’s pop song, it is probably “T.V. Party”. I think it was even used in the closing credits of a Simpsons episode once. A song ridiculing (or maybe slightly praising) the hedonistic lifestyle of the homebody isolationist, the best part of the song has got to be when the band members scream out their favorite shows. This also grants a brief trip down memory lane, as I recall watching all those shows. Today when bands cover this particular song, the show shout-outs are a bit more contemporary.

Humor exists elsewhere on the album in songs like “Thirsty and Miserable” and “Six Pack”. In fact, the band screams almost as much about booze and alcohol as they do about the system. However, upon repeated listens, the humor in those songs is shed to show the seriousness of the issue at hand: Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life.

As with titular roar of “Rise Above” and anger in “Spray Paint” and “No More”, “Police Story” is another very anti-authoritarian song that has gone on to become a Black Flag classic. However, rebellion is not the only theme. If it were, this album would not have lasted nearly as long as it has; rebellion is only part of it. Songs like “Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie” and “Depression” hint at far deeper issues, as do both versions of the title track “Damaged”, the original version of which closes the album. This album captures all the pain and anger associated with many people who feel they have no control over what is happening around them.  In today’s world, this is all the more important as there is a huge potential for a large part of this country’s youth to become disenfranchised and pissed at the system in much the same way that American punks did in the ’80s and UK punks did in the ’70s. If that does come to pass, let’s hope that they can produce music as definitive as Damaged.

OFF! consists of Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks) on vocals, Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides) on guitar, Steve McDonald (Redd Kross) on bass, and Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket From The Crypt) on drums. Back in late ’09, Coats and Morris began penning tracks for a now-scrapped Circle Jerks record, and although this record will never see the light of day, the duo were determined to continue collaborating. The next step was adding a rhythm section, so Coats and Morris called up two veteran Southern Californian punks and longtime acquaintances in Rubalcaba and McDonald.

The quartet debuted at this year’s South By Southwest Music Festival but have only recently landed a recording contract with Vice Records. And the foursome isn’t wasting any time getting to work on new material. According to Vice, OFF! will release 4 EPs comprising a total of 16 songs during 2010.

The first release, aptly titled 1st EP, will be issued October 12th as a limited edition 7-inch with artwork and an exclusive poster courtesy of living legend, and Black Flag’s visual artist, Raymond Pettibon. Clocking in at just over four minutes, 1st EP gives a concise indication of what can be expected–four professionals honing their craft to bare-bones perfection.

The complete set, which is getting the equally mundane name First Four EPs, will follow on November 23rd as a four 7-inch EP box set. Each EP of the set features its own Pettibon cover art.

And if you caught our announcement for the upcoming Fun Fun Fun Fest, it’s no surprise that OFF! will continue touring as they finalize their newly recorded tracks. According to guitarist Coats, live performances will be topping off at 20 minutes, so the foursome plan to play as many shows as possible in the coming months. Currently, none of the dates have been announced. But check out the three upcoming festival appearances below.

OFF! 2010 Tour Dates:
09/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Fest
10/09 – Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest *
11/07 – Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest

* = with Cro-Mags

The tour kicks off January 12th in Dublin, Ireland and winds its way throughout Europe until the beginning of February. Then, it’s a journey across the pond as the North American leg begins on February 17th in Solana Beach, CA. The tour powers through America with almost a show a day before coming to a close on April 9th in Madison, WI. Unfortunately, an appearance at next year’s Coachella is not in the works, but according to MonstersAndCritics.com, the tour will continue on to South Africa and Australia before coming back to the U.S. in mid-May.

The ever-busy Rollins also told MonstersAndCritics.com that the tour is his way to not only go back to what he’s more known for but also a chance to react publicly to recent political occurrences.

“Since I was last on tour, I have been working in television and radio, traveling all over the world,” Rollins said. “And like everyone else, dealing with the changes America – and the world – is going through. I thought America would become a more peaceful place in 2009. I had no idea the country had so many lunatics. There’s a lot to remark upon, of course. There always is.”

Tickets go on sale December 4th at Ticketmaster.com.

Henry Rollins 2010 Tour Dates:
01/12 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street
01/13 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy Glasgow
01/14 – Leicester, UK @ De Montfort Hall
01/15 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
01/16 – Manchester, UK @ The Lowry Salford Quays
01/17 – Leamington, UK @ The Assembly
01/18 – Norwich, UK @ University Of East Anglia
01/19 – Bournemouth, UK @ Opera House
01/20 – Liverpool, UK @ O2 Academy Liverpool
01/21 – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK @ O2 Academy Newcastle
01/22 – Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy Leeds
01/23 – Wolverhampton, UK @ Wulfrun Hall
01/24 – Ghent, BE @ NTGent
01/25 – Brussels, BE @ L’Ancienne Belgique
01/27 – Mainz, DE @ Frankfurter Hof Mainz
01/28 – Berlin, DE @ Astra Berlin
01/29 – Copenhagen, DK @ Studio 2 at The Concert House
01/30 – Malmo, SE @ Palladium
01/31 – Stockholm, SE @ Hotel Rival
02/01 – Gothenberg, SE @ Lorensbergsteatern
02/03 – Bremen, DE @ Kulturzentrum Schlachthof Bremen
02/04 – Munich, DE @ Theaterfabrik
02/05 – Zurich, CH @ Aktionshalle
02/06 – Vienna, AT @ WUK Kulturzentrum
02/07 – Budapest, HR @ A9
02/08 – Prague, CZ @ Palac Akropolis
02/17 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
02/18 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
02/19 – Albuquerque, NM @ KiMo Theatre
02/20 – El Paso, TX @ El Paso High School Fine Arts Auditorium
02/21 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
02/23 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
02/24 – Dallas, TX @ Lakewood Theater
02/25 – Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s Little
02/26 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
02/27 – Birmingham, AL @ WorkPlay Soundstage Theatre
02/28 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
03/02 – Clearwater, FL @ Capitol Theatre
03/03 – Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live
03/04 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
03/05 – Charleston, SC Music Farm
03/06 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
03/07 – Richmond, VA @ National
03/09 – Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere
03/10 – Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere
03/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
03/13 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza – The Fillmore
03/16 – Bayshore, NY @ Boulton Center for the Performing Arts
03/17 – Somerville, MA @ Somerville Theatre
03/18 – Portland, ME @ Space
03/19 – Halifax, NS @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
03/20 – Moncton, NB @ Capitol Theatre
03/22 – Montreal, QC @ Le National
03/23 – Ottawa, ON @ Bronson Centre Theatre
03/24 – Kingston, ON @ Sydenham Street United Church
03/25 – Kitchener, ON @ Conrad Center for the Performing Arts
03/26 – Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
03/27 – Syracuse, NY @ Westcott Theatre
03/28 – Ithaca, NY @ Castaways
03/30 – State College, PA @ State Theatre
03/31 – Pittsburgh, PA @ New Hazlett Theater
04/01 – Kent, OH @ Kent Stage
04/02 – Columbus, OH @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
04/03 – Newport, KY @ The Southgate House – Ballroom
04/05 – Bloomington, IN @ Buskirk-Chumley Theater
04/07 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
04/08 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
04/09 – Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theater

The legendary Danzig drummer, who has also worked with Black Flag, Samhain, and ended his punk career in 1999 with Social Distortion, was reported to have passed away earlier today (Oct. 29) from throat cancer at the age of 44, with media giants like NPR, Entertainment Weekly and NME picking up the story up.

Turns out, however, that Biscuits’ death might not actually be true. The website that first reported the story, JG2 Land, is now claiming to have received an e-mail stating that Mr. Biscuits is alive and well. What’s more, other reports claim that while Biscuits does have cancer, the man who basically dropped out of the music scene is still fighting strong. As well, Entertainment Weekly took down its original posting.

While no official word has come down either way, it’s seeming more and more likely that Biscuits will be able to enjoy reading his own obituary.

We’ll keep you updated as per usual.

Today, of course, is Election Day. If you’re unaware of this, you either a.) live in Morocco, b.) live under a rock, or c.) are an absolute recluse, who happened to find internet today. In that case, welcome aboard, the future is now, and here’s the lowdown: Republican candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin are going against Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden in what is being called, “The 2008 Presidential Election.” It’s a pretty big deal, especially considering the last eight years have been an absolute joke, and the laughter stopped sometime after America (see: Bush Administration) decided to pull a re-run of the Gulf War.

Regardless of the past, today is all about the present. Well, actually no, it’s all about the future. So whether or not you’re voting for McCain or Obama (Whatever the case, just get out there!), the excitement should be at your fingertips, racing and coursing through with electrified tension. To celebrate, we’ve come up with some politically charged “numbers” to get you movin’ and shakin’.

So, after you’re done voting, mosey on back and “pump up the volume”…

10. Black Flag – “Rise Above”

It might seem like a cliche at this point, but “Rise Above” is just a balls to the wall, throw ‘em up in the air,   politically motivated song. Written by Greg Ginn, the opening track off of the band’s 1981 debut, Damaged, is probably the first thing every kid should hear on their thirteenth birthday. The chorus is anthemic (“We are tired of your abuse/Try to stop us its no use”), the rhythm is heavy, and the aggression is immature yet focused. If you missed out on this baby in middle school, do yourself a favor and kick up a riot.

9. The Rolling Stones – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

Everyone recognizes the signature guitar riff, the bouncy bass, the shuffling drums, and the hallway cat calls of Mick Jagger. Yes, this is quite possibly one of the most overplayed songs in radio history yet there’s a reason for it. It bounces, it pops, it moves, and it shakes. Hell, the infamous hook, “I can’t get no/Satisfaction”, could have sold this song alone. Yet this track, which originally appeared on the Stones’ 1965 diamond album, Out of Our Heads, is a historic landmark in rock n’ roll, let alone in songs to “rile” up the crowds, even if it isn’t necessarily about politics. And please, by all means, pull out your best Jack Black (of High Fidelity) impersonations and berate me to death!

8. Nine Inch Nails – “Capital G”

For being such a recluse, Trent Reznor (of NIN) sure knows how to throw some fire around. If his past efforts, The Downward Spiral or the double billed The Fragile, didn’t sell you on this idea, then perhaps last year’s concept album, Year Zero, did. Sure, he tackled the war in “The Good Soldier”, the paranoia and disturbing culture that is Americana in “Survivalism”, yet it was “Capital G”, with its marching drumbeats, wicked programming, and ultra-distortion that really brought things into perspective. A year later, it has never been so relevant. Oh, it also rocks, too… if that’s any consideration.

7. U2 – “Sunday Bloody Sunday”

Even if South Park declared Bono the world’s largest bowel movement, at the end of the day, Trey Parker and Matt Stone still aren’t responsible for The Joshua Tree, The Unforgettable Fire, and War. That’s okay, we’re not asking them to be. However, give some credit where credit’s due. Amongst all that Irish excess, there lies a great body of songs from U2. One of them happens to be the iconic epic, “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” To be honest, if you don’t move in the slightest, you might want to see a therapist or consider yourself legally dead. This track, which opened one of the band’s finest albums, 1983′s War, is everything a politically charged song should be. Hence why after all these years, people still beat their hands together and cowl at the chorus.

6. John Lennon – “Gimme Some Truth”

When then ex-Beatle John Lennon screamed, “Im sick and tired of hearing things/From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics,” everyone probably said, “Well, you know what? Me too!” That’s what makes the bluesy yet psychedelic number off of his 1971 solo success, Imagine, so timeless. Here’s this English lad, saying it how it is… or was… or is. Whatever the case, it still works, and that’s why it’s friggin’ on here.

5. The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again”

Before CSI snagged all the band’s tunes for its crummy television programs, The Who used to represent something ideal and promising. When they weren’t smashing instruments or running over their chauffeurs, the punkish quartet put together some immaculate lyrics. Actually, Pete Townshend did, but these words would be nothing without the energy behind it. There are plenty of examples of this throughout the band’s discography, and especially on Who’s Next, the finished product of what was originally planned to be Townshend’s Lifehouse epic. On this song, the band continued soaring high, with timeless concoctions like “Baba O’Riley”, “Bargain”, and of course, the politics-laden favorite, “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” When Daltrey screams, “Yeah!”, you can’t help but want to slide on the floor, pry open the floorboards, and bite into whatever is underneath. Now, put that over a crowd-an agitated one-and you’ll see the wonders of politics come into play.

4. Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Fortunate Son”

Sure, the song’s been used on commercials, movies (Forrest Gump comes to mind), and probably half a million baseball games, but that shouldn’t discount its lyrical content. Originally released on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s fourth record, Willy and the Poor Boys, “Fortunate Son” is a strong anti-war statement that resonates nearly forty years later. When that drumming hums in and that guitar lick slides by, it’s not only sexy musically, but ultimately accessible by nature. This one is usually good when there’s traffic and you’re just about to snap.

3. Public Enemy – “Fight The Power”

Thank the heavens for Public Enemy. Even if Flava Flav is a whore to MTV nowadays (or is it VH1?), it’s nice to pull out the old records and remember when the group was actually relevant. Anybody and their mother could chalk up the group’s best song, but director Spike Lee beat everyone to the punch, when he used “Fight The Power” in his 1989 masterpiece, Do The Right Thing. Naturally, while the song punched up the film’s soundtrack on the charts, it was the corresponding album that made all the difference. To date, few hip-hop albums have challenged the prowess and jaw dropping ecstasy that was in the politically drenched third album, Fear of a Black Planet. For what it’s worth, what other song tells Elvis to fuck off?

2. The Clash – “I’m So Bored With the U.S.A”

Simple math equation. The Clash + “I’m So Bored With the U.S.A” = Problem Solved. Feeling angst? Ticked off at your neighbor? Your boss? Your girlfriend cheating on you? Someone eat your lunch? Someone make you eat your lunch? Is there a nagging sensation at the bottom of your foot? Is there only .34 cents in your bank account? Does work suck? Are you not dreaming? Is your life a proverbial cul de sac? If you answer yes to any or all of the above questions, then good Lord, play this song as soon as possible. Oh and one other thing, rinse and repeat.

1. Bruce Springsteen – “Born in the U.S.A.”

What would a political list of songs be without the inclusion of The Boss? Bruce Springsteen is an American institution, and if the nation were pressed to choose one songwriter to represent the country at hand, it would be him without a doubt. Sure, some might lump him in with New Jersey trash like Jon Bon Jovi, but they’re the same idiots who think the world’s flat, that Earth is the center of the universe, and that “Born in the U.S.A.” is a great song for a Republican campaign night. Oh wait, that last part actually happened. The idiot? Whoever chose the songs for President Reagan’s 1984 campaign.

Of course, anyone who actually listened to the song’s snide commentary on American politics might actually know that this is not a happy go lucky, bouncing ball number, but a very, very sarcastic anthem. Even the song’s first verse reveals this truth: “Born down in a dead man’s town/The first kick I took was when I hit the ground/You end up like a dog that’s been beat too much/’Til you spend half your life just covering up.” What were they thinking, right?

Regardless, this popular single gave the finger to American politics, and yet rowled up the American populace at the time. Though with Springsteen at the wheel, it’s not too hard to see how this happened. The man has an eye out for America, and even if you don’t agree with him, you’ll accept his debate.

Or else…

Well, that’s it, folks. Hope these weren’t too traditional for you. Were there some missing? Of course. A list without Neil Young (“Southern Man”, “Keep On Rocking in the Free World”), Bob Dylan (pretty much anything he wrote in the ’60s), and Weird “Al” Yankovic (“Eat It”, “Amish Paradise”) seems like a mockery, but then again, it’s not your list.

Let’s hear a round of applause, an “Amen!”, and a “U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!” Shall we?

From the early days to the end, Ginn implied a different approach to the guitar, both for songwriting and for technical skill. He used his trusty Ampeg Dan Armstrong as more than just a guitar, but as a battle axe to cut through the mainstream and channel his distorted imagery to those who felt the same way as the band itself. In 1981, the band recorded their first album, the classic and heavy-as-hell Damaged. After many EPs and revolving singers, (which included eventual Circle Jerks frontman Keith Morris), a young Henry Rollins makes his debut less than a month after joining the band and gives one of punk’s finest hours.

Here on December 20th, 1984, the Flag are shown ripping the floorboards up at the Embassy Hotel in Ontario with one of my favorites, track seven off of Damaged, “Police Story”. Talk about a great pre-Christmas gift! Here Rollins is in full form while Greg Ginn is tearing his guitar up like a beast. This was taken during the band’s My War tour and clearly shows how far ahead of the bell curve Ginn’s writing was in the hardcore world. Without further ado, here’s Black Flag doing what they do best.

Black Flag – “Police Story”