Harley Flanagan Breaks It Down (The New York Hardcore Chronicles Film excerpt)

Excerpt from The New York Hardcore Chronicles Film. Harley Flanagan breaks down his hardcore Bass and Drum technique.
Directed by Drew Stone

[@distortiontildeafness]

east side flea

[@Roniel81]

Haha, exactly! Even bearing some physical resemblance :) Both are great. Btw, Flea played with hardcore punk band too, with FEAR before starting The Chilis

[@percy6632]

@@Roniel81 flea also played base for the Circle Jerks and Janes Addiction

[@seanschannel9194]

Better at the end of the day imo because he plays SO well within context. Its never show-offy. But its soooooo fucking solid.

[@omarloera86]

Harleys way cooler than flea. He didn’t join a shit band

[@70blue63]

😂

[@robsgirl6465]

Harley's the man! A three minute bass lesson with him is all a guy needs! It's not about the left hand. It's not about the notes. It's not about pitch. It's ALL about rhythm and attitude. 'Nuff said!

[@yaribins5754]

If you punch notes in rythm and attitude but just bite your strings too hard it will rarely sound good

[@speedking439]

as an old punk drummer i can say finding self taught guys like harley were and are few and far between. its something you are born with,a natural sense and feeling for the style of music you love.

[@marccuomo6723]

you hit the nail on the head....

[@tomquirin4231]

old-school 80's punk drummer here too, email me , we'll talk more, thanks > tom !

[@ivanduc72]

I play bass and I was a drummer too and I got the same attitude: aggressive, percussive bass playing with some mute tones here and there to fit the fast rhythms. Harley is simply legend! ..still remember back in early '86 when me and my friends discovered the Cro-Mags: after 33 years we're still trying to recover! :-D

[@Flux799]

The nicest scariest man I ever met lol

[@genaricericpkmn7780]

I would love to meet this man

[@TheBoondoggler]

He's a good guy, often misunderstood.

[@lingertooth]

Harley needs 4 arms, so he can play bass and drums at the same time.

[@trichometrist1]

Harley , nothing but respect for you , I watched you grow up on the scene and you got some made skills ! meeting your dad in Venice was amazing, he looked exactly like you.RIP when I saw this video it made me think of Angela RIP and the Bad Brains in the 90's Just some "hard times" It's good to see you healthy and in good mind! Harri No Johnny 1

[@trichometrist1]

harri Bo! spell check

[@SaylerT]

Ross Sewage from Exhumed/Impaled/Ludicra made me appreciate the true role of the bassist as part of the rhythm section. This is a great breakdown of not just how, but why.

[@jameslykins9206]

Good to see you in the public eye Harley! Best Wishes...

[@Poundsalt_Ryan]

I’ve always been like that. Locking in with those kicks and snares. It’s totally essential in hardcore

[@8DRu]

Just what I needed, huge respect

[@THEAGGROS]

This is typical Harley Flanagan. He makes it all about him, even when talking about a song he didn't write and in the end of this segment he plays the song WORLD PEACE to demonstrate his point. A song I wrote, a groove I brought to the band. And the demonstration of the simpler approach he discusses was what he did when I met him, and this simpler rythmic approach is demonstrated in songs he wrote like (don't tread on me). When we started jamming together he had this weird picking style where he picked only up strokes, which you can hear in Dont tread on me, so when I showed him world Peace I said "no no you have to strum up and down rhythmically" just like he demonstrates on this video, with no mention of where that groove came from, which was from the songs I wrote. It came from country music by the way, which was a big part of my background because my dad was a country music producer, I actually wrote SIGNS OF THE TIMES in my dad's studio in Nashville on my summer vacation from school. Harley always joked my rythms were hillbilly. Now, that said, HF did guide Mack in how to play along with us on the drums, because HF understood the rhythm of what I was playing and translated it to Mack, because as HF said, "our songs varied rhythmically constantly and you had to vary the beat to match up, you couldn't just play a standard "hardcore beat" or you would drift and not stay in the song. Mack would drift too playing a bad brains beat he coped or some standard beat he had, but that never worked and so HF and I would demonstrate how to play like this to Mack by HF playing drums with me. HF is telling it right but leaving me out of it. This is how he revises history, he just attaches himself to an actual fact and omits others to make it appear it was only him. Not a lie but also not the truth. Hes very good at this tactic.

[@jocelynnvillarreal1450]

+Parris Mayhew Your father was Aubrey Mayhew? My favorite records were Johnny Paycheck on Little Darlin'. Oh wow!

[@naigtitep6992]

Half liar, half truth and all about him... but you're doing the same about you in your comment. The best thing to do should be to keep in touch with him and make all those half truths and liars... A FULL REALITY. I'm a first hour fan of your music so keep on. Respect

[@ryannutternh]

+Parris Mayhew kind of embarrassing that you would take to a youtube comment to refute ANYTHING.

[@THEAGGROS]

Emabarrassing to you? in what way?

[@oiyabastard7275]

Parris Mayhew. who cares cromags wasnt as good as crumbsuckers ludichrist ag front or A.O.D

[@creepe4119]

Great Stuff Drew

[@andrewchazen1884]

The name says it all and the band created havoc and the best nyhc we'd seen

[@marccuomo6723]

that drumbeat.... perfect.

[@andrewcoates4952]

Harley changed the way I looked at bass. I’d been doing what he said was simple, but incorporated more rhythmic stuff into it after properly listening to cro-mags

[@albertjacobs4312]

Love that dude and the Cro-Mags!!!🤘

[@UneedaMedicalSupply]

Yeah, forget Harley and JJ, I'd like to see Harley and Mackie collaborate again. One of the best rhythm sections in hardcore, or heavy music period IMO

[@MarcLaFauce-lw7np]

Bro me and my crew were hanging out like circa 1988 Springfield Illinois we were TIGHT and had so much fun raising hell....Cro Mags were playing in the background of so many of those memories...anyway Harley whenever we got our picture took me and my best bro Brant always said "Give em the finga and the Harley Eyebrows!"lol in so many pics were tried to give that intense mug our best imitation lmao....Some pos took my best friends head off with a shotgun right on his front porch.My heart is still broke.17 years later.He was a hard-core sonofabitch and loyal to the core.He had my back and I had his.He was a US Marine and a Dad,brother and son.And my bro. Rip Lance Cpl Brant Gramlich.

[@niknarg8150]

I LOVE that guy!

[@paulmckenna9492]

Seen play drums for Murphys Law a few years ago at the Khyber Pass in Philadelphia.

[@manicmurph]

Man he's really slapping the fuck out of that bass.

[@bookreaderson]

He looks like a young kid having lots of fun when he drums and he's good tho

Very cool!

[@dragonfly8341]

These are a sign of the times ✊

[@cheryllightning7616]

He's so talented.

[@erickh82082]

Amazing musician

[@MaximusWolfe]

Best eye brow scowl in music history.

[@sluggygrumble5164]

This is actually very important to watch, seriously. Those drums with the doubles and the bass ticking along like that make the tunes so much more exciting. Please watch.

[@JoostDNonsens]

Interesting!

[@karrazaki89]

It´s amazing that he can pull of that beat with just one foot. I always thought that "It´s the Limit" had a double bass going on.

[@benoitlemaire5961]

The song is "World Peace" dude.

[@nostalgiaof98]

@@benoitlemaire5961 I thought it was Street Justice

[@robbyolinski1450]

The 80s man. No doubles just rich kids w 2 bass drums

[@unbridledenthusiasm]

great musician

[@jacobinfranca5815]

Not just a bassist, a musician

[@skriptico]

first time i see Harley on drums... maaaan... he's total legit.. lil bit of training and there u go! :)) never fail to surprise!

[@aronfalk823]

1:48 the old school Harley flin, fkn love it

[@jayonez137]

So true man

[@Shadowbannddiscourse]

Yup lots of those drummer had that double kick on mad . I remember hearing DH from DK I was trippin on that one foot. All their hc drummers you named.. friggin don Bolles too

[@darkonojic7494]

Sign of the times.

[@ill_phil]

This IS Music History

[@jkwttrs]

The look on his face at 2:57 is awesome. What a fucken bad ass!

[@jglaser2288]

I love that guy. Fucking legend

[@Oi325]

Hopefully you rejoin the Cro-Mags man! Best Wishes!

[@orthodoxreuben1974]

Darryl & Earl Harley & Mackie. Best thunderous rhythm section in hardcore and beyond.

[@chantalama2342]

Earl and Darryl also very proficient in reggae as well .

[@williamperri3437]

Minor Threat too. Bad Brains and Minor Threat influenced EVERYONE.

[@bookreaderson]

He looks younger when he plays drums for sum reason Youthful exuberance

[@LannieLord]

he makes that wife-beater shirt SING ! 💗💚💙💗💚💙❣💯💢🤎💋💋💋💋💋💋💋

[@brooklynboiprod]

A lot of bands today lack that sound and sound too metal which I would not consider hardcore

[@quentinbohannon6611]

Then do better ?

[@jeffallman6318]

You’re right! I’ll throw away all my Judge records.

[@crypteye]

Trying to cover bass for "Then and now" song. Harley, man it is so difficult and so interesting to play.

[@TuffEsox]

That percussive style came from the original bassist, Parris (who was influenced heavily by Lemmy), who taught Harley how to play those bass parts once Parris switched to guitar. Harley certainly embraced it and gave it his own signature! Cro-Mags always had the most bad-ass bass parts in ALL of hardcore, IMO. Check out the play-through of Parris's new tune "Chaos Magic" under the moniker "The Aggros" to see where it all began.

[@naigtitep6992]

What about the new album ? It had to be out on December 12th, 2015... We wanna knooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww... Keep on HC !!!!!!!

[@PerryLevy]

PMA comes thru in many ways. Bass included!

[@txhc666]

Harley's the true definition of aggression.

[@felipezimmermann2858]

" So this is how it's supposed to go."

[@georgewaters456]

yeah, totally ... as a bassist I totally get what Harleys saying here. we did a session actually rehearsals when I was back playing bass in Adam 12 after like a 10 year absence, and I remember the guitarist Biran telling no, you are playing it all wrong but John the drummer was like no he's the only one who gets it who's playing it right because I was doing a simply rhythmic pattern up and down the neck where everything the snare drum hit I hit, it locked so fucking hard... so I get exactly what Harley is saying here 100 fucking percent. Harley rules, simple as that.

[@BarfyMan_362]

Guy seems so genuinely nice, I want to learn to play bass his way

[@Andf-kc4xx]

this guy is the absolute shit his energy is infectious

[@cameronjake8555]

900 like harry!!

[@duggersissilent7864]

Lol 'You'll DEfinately never play like me, if you're trying to, I'm not saying your trying to but....(fuckit/playdrums!)'

[@absolutseth]

wisdom

[@DanGenia]

The real deal

[@kookadams85]

The crucial hardcore drummer he left out - Spit Stix from FEAR.

[@niccopalla3548]

Any info on the guitars, pickups, and amplifiers used on the AoQ recording would be greatly appreciated.

[@marccuomo6723]

Marshall jcm 900 with a boss heavy metal pedal for the guitar tones....

[@Mad_Axe_Man125]

hes said in the past cronos from venom was an influence on his playing I can hear it.

[@josephplatania5593]

Cool cat for sure

[@DavidLopez-bv8jd]

!!FUKK YEAH!!

[@erickh82082]

Just saw him today lol

[@ill_phil]

Hardest Critic on me ...as a Bass Player But I fucking Accept IT. Years later ..Harley Was and IS a true musician .... Great Guy ... He is REALY fuckn into it ALL

[@HarborAreaPunx13]

harley's from 18street?

[@CRYPTiCEXiLE]

this is how it is man NYHC

[@kryptichands968]

Dig it

[@rjc7289]

Did he start out on drums and then pick up the bass, or was it the other way around?

[@RampinUp46]

He started drumming for The Stimulators when he was a kid and picked up the bass for the Cro-Mags (I don't recall when he actually started playing bass) later on.

[@Shitteninyourfuckingmouth]

2:03

[@nostalgiaof98]

Oh shit, I thought By Myself had double kick in it. As for hardcore, well Leeway certainly did. It's like if you had double kick it was more metal than hardcore

[@williamperri3437]

No doubt and the ONLY time I liked double kick pedal in HC was when Sammie did it with Judge and he was just doing triplets that it could have been done with one Kick Drum but at a certain type of feel with double pedal. I guess I liked it in Breakdown as well and I think killing time Brightside album may have had double kick otherwise I hated it in hardcore. No doubt though my favorite use of double pedal and hardcore as the judge bringing it Down album

[@bartsimpson2870]

World peace

[@alexsurh1472]

Dude looks like a G.I Joe

[@felipezimmermann2858]

There you go a fuckin lesson

[@txhc666]

Harley and mikey offender are the best hardcore bassists period

[@IdeasWorthSharing69]

When he plays the bass it sounds like a drum

[@flip65515]

No mention of Bill Stevenson or Spit Stix

[@jidissafi7413]

That's what I was thinking too on Spit. He was in a class all by himself. I used to wonder if he had programmed some of that stuff off the record, or layered it in more than one pass in the studio, but I think the guy was just a freak. I doubt there was much of anybody you could have replaced him with during that time period, without changing the drum parts quite a bit.

[@flip65515]

@@jidissafi7413 No. You were right the first time. He's a fuckin freak. Although I don't really know the dude, he's on my facebook page. And whenever I have a fleeting question about what timing this or that is in, he's always quick with an answer. He's well trained and very theoretical about music. I remember reading an interview with Lee Ving in the 80s and he spent a lot of time and energy recruiting the very best musicians he could find who weren't all necessarily from the punk scene.

[@jidissafi7413]

@@flip65515 He really was wild wasn't he. Sounded like he could've played straight sixteenth notes with all four limbs at the same time and had them be perfectly in-phase. I love how some of those early HC drummers just played what they felt and did whatever the song was doing. Seems like it got more "cookie cutter" after a while and it was mostly cut time rock beats. It's probably from playing in that transition era, sort of like all those 60's rock drummers that used traditional grip and had big band chops and stuff. True pioneers.

[@flip65515]

@@jidissafi7413 Honestly, in punk rock and hardcore there are only a small handful of drummers who could actually play like Harley said. When hardcore, specifically got to be an olympic sport they were mostly just playing a fuckin polka beat and cheating the drum parts

[@motionconquest]

Why i hear drums when he plays bass?

[@foganewgon]

The bass is shaking the room causing the snare drum to vibrate

[@elistarr8270]

Is he playin drums with a double kick on the vid

[@stonefilmsnyc]

No.

[@elistarr8270]

@@stonefilmsnyc goddamn he's a beast

[@robbyolinski1450]

Did u not listen to the beginning?? He clearly states doubles weren't a thing back then (so yes doing single foot rolls)

[@deeseball]

east coast Flea

[@ReeseChown]

WORLD PEACE

[@XXthekingofyouXX]

I was having fun till 1:56 ....that's how I play :(

[@marccuomo6723]

No metal drummer can pull of that beat.

[@ThePurpleInfinity]

Marc Cuomo you must not listen to a lot of music, lmao.

[@marccuomo6723]

CardiBeatdown dont have the same type of swing to it imo.

[@feddan]

Is that a fuckin jiu-jitsu belt??

[@stonefilmsnyc]

Yeah he teaches Jiu -Jitsu.

[@01REDEYEDDEVIL]

HAHAHAHAHA MAD DRUMMERS HAVE BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH THE "CHEAT BEAT". RHYTHM SECTION RULES.

[@VeryOkay]

I like you Harley. You’re sketchy but I like you.

[@garywhitehead4160]

Bass or drums...?? Fucker nails both!!

[@tedted4002]

As a Punk/HC bass player I can tell he'd be all over me when writing songs but in the end the material would sound great,,, I've played with another drummer like Harley (RIP Joe from Blacklist/Goodfight) and once you realize its about the audience and not what each band member wants to play the band usually goes awhile.... most musicians want to show how good they are or play what they want to paly and that's why bands hardly ever get past 2yrs... I'll play whatever the people looking at me want as long as its stuff I can get into,,,,, when the energy builds in the crowd those are the songs you want to build off.

[@sparkygroover]

Why no shout out to Chuck Biscuits? Surely one of the wildest drummers of H/C!

[@robbyolinski1450]

He said it in the first 10 secs dude did u miss it?

[@cromag89]

HMMM,yea ,i like Harley,he is Cro-Mags and i don't care if whinny little Parris Mayhew doesn't like the way he tells the story.Parris we heard your side ,now get your ass off your back and move on if your not gonna make anymore music,Im bored with your crying about Cro-Mags.Check out his comments people,..we've heard it all before,blah,blah,blah!! and still,... nothing will change.

[@PedroHenrique-id9co]

Explain that 18 in your shoulder…

[@plonka13]

I love Harley, but hate the way they ONLY wanna talk old school shit with him.

[@druck_s1851]

That’s fucked up he doesn’t even mention Mackie

[@THEAGGROS]

Incorrect

[@naigtitep6992]

Why.......? I thing even if you pehaps as you said learned him smthing musically, he is and stay the Chief and MASTER of all the Harcore scene and, bro, it's "because of" him (and your skills of course) if your name is a reference and worldwide well-known in the hardcore scene. Even if you did not ask that at the beginning and even if it's perhaps not very important now in your life. You should admit it, shouldn't you ? It's true that he's talking about him and not (enough) about you all but it hides for me something more interesting, the need and his inhability he had for years to bring the real CRO-MAGS back at the only condition of course each of you accept to take your own place, as you said to Bldclot one day in a bar... Do I lie ? Harley Flanagan means Charism, the one you need. Just respect his status, he will respect your and the other ones. It's the equation to win again. Her represent the mental, the Mind of Hardcore and of the CRO-MAGS, even if you're, as him I think, a/the fundamental architect of that state of Mind. He suffered a lot because of that. Now he's winning his own fight with his new album, proving that he needs nobody to reach his artistic goals. I'm happy for him, for me and for all the real Hardcore scene, living again. He always/still cristallised/s influences (Harley's war with LESOG attitude, ...) and bring it to Hardcore and bring this movement something new, all the time. Bands should follow him but nobody is able to... That's the truth. No case. You should take the job and come back in the scene, bro. As a bassplayer, I've learned a lot with this vid. Exc'Z if I bore you with my long texts, bro, but I say what I' need to say, as a fan, and I'm happy to read you in those adds. All my respect to you for what you did for us until now. Stay HC. Peace.

[@adamxrobson]

bruh

[@jomama9445]

Harley said the most truth ever...All those whack ass bands...99% of em sucked....Still do CORROSION OF CONFORMITY was the best hardcore in the 80's no one came close...

[@oigloriousoi]

Harley is back to wearing Mjolnir around his neck again huh? Guess he got tired of worshipping elephants and other weird hindu gods!

[@copsarebastards]

Fuck u

[@danadabrowski9041]

This guy is so full of himself . Especially when there's kids out there that can blow him out of the water .

[@seanfagan6998]

Wow he can't stop living in the past. Cro mags had one album that didn't suck then he tried to sing lol 😂 😆 🤣 the bass was not anything to brag about. This little boy has not been able to write so much as a song that didn't suck with out the original line up.

[@erickh82082]

Yeah ok

[@thomasdupont7186]

oh man he's such a bad musician, even for the ny hardcore standard...

[@robbyolinski1450]

If by bad u mean amazing I totally agree