The New York Hardcore Chronicles 10 Questions w/ Harley Flanagan (The Stimulators / Cro-Mags)

The New York Hardcore Chronicles 10 Questions w/ Harley Flanagan (The Stimulators / Murphy's Law / M.O.I. / Cro-Mags / Harley's War) While shooting "The Crossover" segment for The New York Hardcore Chronicles Film we managed to slip in 10 questions with the NYHC pioneer.
Directed by Drew Stone

[@maioio]

08:31 "with internet music lost its lineage, integrity and connection with the past". So fucking right

[@p0tek]

Seems the guy has a good name for the band - cro-mag aka neanderthal. Keep living in the cave. Internet allow bands to connect with the fanbase and with other bands. It allows to stream events from Australia to Ukraine and allow simulteanously millions of people to experience it. It allows to learn to play instruments, create music, cooperate when every member from your band is from different country (or event continent). It gives insane freedom and exposure. Seriously, being caveman is pathetic.

[@sgtbucksauce9129]

Even worse now.

[@coalhalo]

As someone who grew up in the D.C. scene, Harley nailed it when he answers the question asking if the Bad Brains were as good as the stories. They were better. They had no peers, they were just so beyond all the others bands when it came to their music and the energy they performed with.

[@unbridledenthusiasm]

really glad to see him interviewed. No need to get into the JJ vs Harley drama but you CANNOT deny his role in cro-mags and NYHC in general.

[@rongrimes5256]

Seriously.

[@rista22]

+unbridledenthusiasm role in cro mags?! he is cro mags

[@warchief4932]

+Marko Ristic he is NOT Cro Mags...Parris is more Cro Mags then HF

[@rista22]

War Chief hahahahahahahahahahaaha

[@unbridledenthusiasm]

+War Chief Parris is that you? In seriousness....yeah Parris had a huge role in the songwriting process. You cannot exclude either member.

[@cmm98]

One of the best bass players ever best vocalist ever nyhc legend .. Best wishes rules love that album alot

[@darXcore]

Hanged out with Harley a bunch of times in the 80's and 90's, a coupla in the aughts too, always cool, whether we talked about hardcore, religion (always disagreeing completely) or Gracie Jiu-Jitsu we've never had a dull conversation, mad respect for a true NYHC and crossover pioneer and fellow MMA fighter, hardcore punk royalty, period.

[@lesterhalfjr]

interesting that he mentioned Cronos from Venom. the riff from "7 Gates of Hell" sounds like a lot of hardcore

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

Most of Venom's music IS hardcore punk, with a bit of NWOBHM and satanic gimmickry.

[@markgood9453]

Ok props for mentioning Jaco. Never thought. Jaco Geezer nice

[@mannyb.pacheco9010]

Harley Flanagan is NYHC. He is one of the pioneers of the style man and he was ripping at since he was mad young man. I respect all those oldet dudes because they saw the golden age of hardcore punk.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

He saw the golden age off 76 punk

[@conanhunt3634]

having grown up in va beach va had the opportunity to see bad brains alot as well minor threat ,scream,even HR's solo stuff!a bad brains show was by far the greatest live shows I've ever witness still to this day nobody has even come close to creating that amount of energy felt at their shows!in my opinion the greatest band live ever hands down

[@jayonez137]

Harley is absolutely correct! New York hard-core has influenced mainstream culture to the fullest. I came onto the New York hard-core scene the summer of 1984. (This is just one example)! The only other people with tattoos all over back in the mid 80’s were bikers and us hardcore kids. Now it’s completely main stream and excepted everywhere. Now kids are tattooing their Throats before they get A tattoo on their arm. We were a product of our environment back then. I came out of the womb hard-core. H/C comes from my heart. H/C runs in my veins. YOU CANT BUY HARDCORE! H/C may be popular all over the world now but the spirit of the old NYHC scene of the mid to late 80’s is long long gone for me. I’ll be 50 next year and although I don’t go to many HC shows anymore Im still tight with the same crew of skinheads we all ran with since back in the mid 80’s. Some of my old crew are still very involved in the HYHC scene. Some of us have jobs with long hrs and families. Hardcore of old New York will always be in my heart! Every memory I have from 14 to 30 involves NYHC is some way. Hardcore for life!

[@tomquirin4231]

me too brotha , i just talked to tommy rat derosa on the phone today , very great people n singer, i am a oldschool n.y.h.c. fanatic n drummer too n i love oldschool punk too, you still have n collect cds any ? ,thanks > tom !

[@jayonez137]

@@tomquirin4231 CD’s? Nope I have tons of old vinyl

[@ivanduc72]

I keep coming back and watch his interview: he's focused and has a clear sight of the past and present of HC. I'm here for the historical part of this HC scene (the best one, in my opinion), not to read comments about what he did here and there. Here the point is the music and the scene in which this music grew up. He is the soul of Cro Mags. He is part of the history of NYHC. Period.

[@whatfriends8640]

"find somebody I didn't like and backfist them in the face" backed hard.

[@hypocrite23]

I was at that Santa Monica Civic show. I think it was supposed to be an Angelic Upstarts show but their visas were denied and the Jerks Headlined. It was also the first time Discharge played So. Cal. (I think the only time with Bones), and the first time any of us saw the Bad Brains, who proceeded to blow everyone off stage in no small way. I've still got the first single they did. What I think I liked the most (other than the music itself) was that the guys I knew who dismissed them for doing Reggae and being black had to acknowledge they were more intense in every respect. Bad Brains Forever!

[@anthonydrosos8679]

Wearing my CRO-MAGS SHIRT today Dorchester Mass. Loves to see these guys kick ass !

[@JayEss414]

this man knows his shit.

[@CharlesGriffith1965]

One of the greatest shows I ever saw was the Cromags in Pittsburgh right after Age of Quarrel came out. Like the other NYHC pioneers of hardcore, Harley made a huge difference on the music and you can't deny it... love him or hate him.

[@tomquirin4231]

oldschool 80's punker n n.y.h.c. fanatic here , you from there ?, altoona here , thanks > tom !

[@delvinhodges2831]

These fucking interviews are amazing..keep doing them..!! Please

[@mcg5167]

Hardcore got co-opted by pop culture a long time ago. I definitely relate to what he's saying, having lived through the 80's period.

[@aarr3193]

Totally

[@luther_beckett]

Saw the first Cro-Mags show. I knew who Harley was and was pretty psyched to see it. Did not disappoint. One on the best shows for me at CBGB.

[@thetriumphofthethrill2457]

Nice interview and an honest and moving point at the end, very true. Although he has his issues, Harley's funny and articulate and gives some of the best interviews

[@guttertrash6240]

Drew, these videos are coming out great! Thanks

[@jasonhorton]

One of my biggest regrets is losing my Best Wishes "Down but Not Out" 89 tour shirt

[@GiveMeYourNachosButthead]

Same man!

[@williamtallman9816]

saw Cro Mags with Destruction in Denver I think at the Gothic. Still have the shirt

[@andrewsolano8259]

+William Tallman it was at clubb maxx

[@MarleyFett]

jasonhorton best wishes..really?

[@MarleyFett]

William Tallman destruction way cool guys...almost too mellow...lol. Saw them in Detroit with said Munchkin

[@ayyutha]

Best one I've seen so far.

[@georgewaters456]

I'm a couple of years older than Harley, but man everything he is saying about NTC in the early 80s, the scene, everything Harley is saying is absolute truth, as I was there too. Harley is also right about what he says about the effect of the internet, and although I'm glad I got to see this video here, I miss the days of when technology was a phone on the wall with a wheel you spun.... !!

[@kaliyuga4312]

One of the few people in this whole series who had the decency to acknowledge Metal bands. Lots of people like the acknowledge the influence early hardcore (Discharge, etc) had on bands like Hellhammer, etc, but this isn't a case of chicken vs. egg. Metal existed long before Punk, and long before any version of Punk that even remotely resembles Hardcore. Kudos to this guy for showing some respect

[@pedrocerda6574]

this video is so incredibly inspiring to me. Especially that part about hardcore being like pushing yourself to the limit n shit. The first time I saw this I wasn't even that into the cro mags but god this made me instantly love em. Love this dude mad respect for harley

[@xxxdani310xxx]

It would be a dream to see The Age of Quarrel line up do a tour these days.

[@xkay11]

Damn, those were good times, I loved to see them live!!

[@niknarg8150]

this guy is a LEGEND!

[@centralscrutinizer66]

I agree that the internet took the mystery out of HC. A lot of the times when I saw bands I really liked, I had no idea what they looked like or what their live show was about. Another thing is when I argue that HC as we knew it is dead. No one outside of California remembers those mega shows at Fenders where like 12 big name bands would play for $8 and there were over a thousand people there, I'm in Detroit, but I'm pretty sure those don't happen anymore. Lastly, Bad fuckin Brains, one of the best things to happen to MUSIC in general.

[@andrewsolano8259]

+centralscrutinizer66 lol I remember all the suis beating everyone up there regularily

[@MikeMahleraggressivestrength]

Great interview!

[@MrPartywave]

enjoyed this interview

[@sunlightofspirt]

Coolest interview so far

[@robsgirl6465]

Hey Harley, I don't know if you'll see this but I'm throwing it out to you nonetheless. First of all, I love your quote, " You cannot talk about peace while eating a steak. You have to remember that that animal died in agonizing pain." I feel the exact same way. I've been vegan since 1989. Some years ago I wrote a book, under the pen name of Andrew London. The book's title is A Man Out Of Season, which chronicled the disgusting poaching industry in Africa. I was hoping to get it made into a major Hollywood motion picture; I was wanting it to do to the poaching industry what Blood Diamond did to the conflict diamond industry. But something happened. About a month after the book was published my publisher took it out of print and dropped me from their roster. I love your music (I'm a Cro Mags fan from way back, as well as having been a Vaishnava as well; at 52 years old, I still consider myself straightedge, although I don't have anything to do with religion these days). Maybe you could get the book back in print and get a film made? I don't care about the money end of things. I just want the message out there. We gotta end the killing!

[@angrywhitemale9097]

The greatest music to ever be played

[@creepe4119]

Drew Great interview

[@FlashframeFilms]

Finally an honest answer to the "Is Hardcore Dead?" question. Everyone else drops the pablum of "Hardcore will never die" bullshit but nobody realizes the social or communal reality that was so integral to hardcore. The gathering of individuals spit out onto the street every day because where they lived was a tiny hell hole, so people would need places to gather like CB's matinees or St Marks, Ave A, Thompkins, etc. it was in those social gatherings and interactions where the essence of hardcore grew. Now those communities have moved on line and are virtual and also because NYC has turned to a playground for the rich that deprives everyone of those communal experiences. Shows still exist but it's what happened when the music wasn't blasting that gave Hardcore it's real foundations and that is gone.

[@damirosmic1426]

HardCore is not only in NY,keep that in mind

[@alexapoli9304]

Excellent!

[@jimmymurray4500]

Reading his book at the mo, a great read so far, he's had some life

[@skinheadyouth66]

He's still putting out new great music. Glad he got the Cro Mags. name back.

[@joseperez4460]

Cro-mags is band , not a only one person

[@TheDmanMA]

this man rules.

[@ronnieslogun]

Show some respect, people. Don't judge by the account of some other people you've never met or what's posted on Facebook or whatever. This guy was out there being the part of hardcore punk scene back when most of you weren't even alive. He doesn't deserve the shit to be said about him.

[@Yourmom-dd3fh]

so just because he lived when then punk and hardcore scene was on top, he deserve respect ?

[@delvallo9652]

He was a major part of that scene dummy, get a clue. You don't have to like him, but don't base your opinions on shit you read.

[@Dangerous2099]

what do people give him shit for?

[@erickh82082]

Your mom duh

[@danydevito8853]

@@Dangerous2099 "Harley Flanagan entered the club, went into the backstage area and in a matter of moments, two current members of the band were stabbed, and Flanagan's leg was busted by security."

[@retardant8039]

his Bass and the drums in we gotta know is the classic perfect combo of punk and hardcore.

[@xxxwhoknowsxxx]

Been writing and deleting. It all comes to an end. Harley is real. The kind of man who understood what’s important. His humility is something we need to imitate. On a side a note: sorry for my grammar. English is not my native language.

[@niknarg8150]

this guy is the REAL DEAL!

[@iamthedude4321]

This guy!😎 cool interview!

[@oleksiistri8429]

This is what i call interview, very interesting info

[@scipioafricanus1346]

Legend!!!

[@eddyspagetti9899]

Dang.. what he said about the internet is so dead on. Harley's mind is sharp as a tack

[@samuelblinne6040]

I love Harley Flanagan he is a nice guy I read his book

[@MrDev1ls]

the true hardcore OG

[@johnmcaulay5938]

Hardcore Legend.

[@enginesdown]

Great guy.

[@borkug1566]

He made a good point about how tattoos are nothing but a hip accessory nowadays.

[@tomconner5067]

Everyone used to mistake me for Harley, I never saw the resemblance back then, but looking at my old pictures, and his from back in the day, I get it now.

[@neindochoohh7955]

Interesting guy. I first heard them on MTV sports and bought the Album the next day. He talks about the 70s and still looks young. :)

[@auschwitzu]

brilliant

[@TheGentleman1968]

I was part of the Old School D.C. Skinhead hardcore scene back in the days. Now living in the lower Maryland Eastern Shore since 2005 there isnt no scene here at all. Sure wished I was still living in the city again. I do and always will luv the Cro-Mags for life. Harley is a Hardcore God. )O(

[@TheGentleman1968]

I've seen alot of Hardcore shows mainly at the Old 930 club in D.C. if anyone remembers that club.

[@lukeshort9313]

+Douglas Swanson hell yes!!..dc. and baltimore is my old stomping grounds too.....seen alot of shows at 9:30 club..miss them dayz like crazy..last show i seen there was circle jerks..

[@chogokin666]

+Douglas Swanson did you ever see Rites of Spring or Teen Idles? Bad Brains. How was it?

[@dougswanson1288]

I seen Bad Brains and I met H.R. the lead singer of Bad Brains and he was a cool guy with dreadlocks. Bad Brain shows were wild and crazy and I luved all their shows. )O(

[@dougswanson1288]

I seen the Circle Jerks at the SuperBowl of Hardcore at the Nation/Capital Ballroom before the concert dancehall was shutdown. )O(

[@deadpaddyoriordan8146]

Always keeping it real..

[@krystianluniewicz3881]

what a fucking decent, genuine lad! all my respect to You, Herr Flanagan!

[@diegooo163]

Una leyenda y pionero del Hardcore,

[@stonefilmsnyc]

absolutamente

[@smartalec8855]

Going to CBGBs in 1973, who the hell else can say that?

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

Yes the Bad Brains were that good. Even better. The greatest live rock band?

[@schmidtwill58]

I think the first hardcore show I saw was at CBGB in late 84. It opened my eyes. I can't remember the opening bands, I think Armed Citizens were one, but Murphy's Law were the headliners. Jimmy Gestapo was already an amazing front man. Harley was on drums and he seemed like a kid possessed! The atmosphere was pure chaos and pure joy.

[@schmidtwill58]

Reagan Youth was always amazing!

[@nidgeontour257]

Harley is hard core! He’s likes Lemmy, he’s ultra cool! ♠️💪🤘

[@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987]

Saw Cro Mags with Motorhead Destruction at Roseland in 86

[@erickh82082]

@@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987 how was the show?

[@R0GUER0CK]

the riff of all riffs. reminds me of metal church. I think this came after.

[@MrCelistaskin]

Legend

[@redshaftedflicker]

As a young fuckin' kid Harley, Bloodclot and Roger Miret were the ones that blew my mind, still do. Nobody was even close at that time to being that fucking raw. I got into Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, Miles Davis etc. through Bad Brains, love the fusion and the freedoms that it offers, akin to hardcore in its own way.

[@TormentNJ-BlastedNJ]

Cool !!!

[@TheRedtaz]

edwin and hector danced harder than minus, and they were in the same crew, but edwin and hector was tuffer than minus, they hit like tyson, they were very strong!

[@OldSchoolFilm1930]

Hardcore is the blues of a the white-80's-industrial-complex!

[@cjstroked]

mike d beasties boys would be a good one

[@jamesturner8000]

I saw you ,cro mags, at ruthies inn, with g.b.h. you blew them out of the water when age of quarrel was touring

[@ggreene7411]

no Harley no cro mags

[@thomassterrett1905]

"Good times"

[@QuestionKnife]

Hahahah. Well said. Perfect ending to the interview. What a legend. John Joseph in my opinion is still a better singer but doesn’t matter. I’m 20 years old and respect all the legends. Cro-Mags are also the band that got me into punk/metal/hardcore/anything that’s heavy or fast. Should have asked him what he thinks of Power Trip!

[@jumpfart666]

gross Power Trip is audial diarrea

[@FlukeTog]

Down but not out. Man the memory's , I was across the street at vaselkas most of the time. Hey frenchie get off the bench . RIP memory lane .

[@Trentr94]

the real cro mag

[@gspiggity]

man would have loved to be there in the pit for the early hardcore shows...just seen gorilla biscuits first time live killa

[@PatrikCostaGobbi]

a stick of Brazilian jiu jitsu on his Bass COOL.

[@Dr.Thirteen]

I was in the scene back then met Harley and hung out when they played here (we had a mutual friend) I saw Bad Brains a few times they were GREAT live ! he's right about outsiders at the shows. saw MANY Jock /frat guy show up being dumb at a show and FOAF lol he's also 100 about being able to walk around looking different. especially in the south. I was jumped many times by cowboys, Frat Jocks, bikers, black guys,etc. my GF and I got jumped by some cowboys once because they though she was a boy. I had been carrying a blade by then. it didn't go as they planned lol

[@Checky0Headd]

Love an interview with Adrock and mike d

[@roastbeefdinner]

saw the bad brains a dozen times...have seen over 200 or more (probably way more) hardcore bands and no one even remotely came close to the energy that band delivered.

[@nomanejane5766]

❤

[@JFP69]

This is why I like this guy - Vat Rat & NYC hardcore dude that gives props to Venom. That’s a real mutherfer right there. Legit.

[@HareKrsnaHareRama]

Anyone who was hardcover lived the life pf Harley, I was there in the 80's when we squatted the old beer vats in San Francisco, we had to survive if you wanted to play punk.

[@Genkimark]

He's actually pretty coherent and healthy-looking, despite decades of living such a hardcore lifestyle. Good for him!

[@mcbrodz1663]

He keeps healthy clearly works out

[@pinkyblackwell3613]

He's a Professor of Jiu-Jitsu and has been a vegetarian since 1982

[@deadlegification]

Good Lad

[@hateEdge83]

This guy is cool

[@DanGenia]

The real deal

[@777Eliyahu]

Cro-mags rule!

[@ahale926]

Fucking Harley Flanagan!! HELL YEAH!! I saw the Cro Mags for the best wishes tour.. fuckin AWESOME! Got to talk to Pete Hines (cool dude) He & Harley sighed my ticket stub. Didn't really get to talk to Harley though. If memory serves me right someone had tried or actually did steal one of his bass guitars.. So he wasn't really in a chatty mood (understandably so) He STILL took a second to shake my hand, thanked me for coming to the show. Cool dude as far as I'm concerned!!

[@WindsOfNeptune]

I'm so frustrated that there are no live videos or footage from Best Wishes era anywhere?!?

[@dendisuprayogi5632]

Yes punk rock is our root

[@antoniogoncalves8288]

Harley is the real deal. No bullshit coming from this guy

[@craigdiniz3891]

Harley looks like one of the monsters from that Scooby-Doo movie where they are on the island.

[@redmenace1135]

Totally agree that the Internet is fucking killing music. And not only music.

[@randitaylor-habib7170]

Harley you know the best slam dancer of all time was Danze who came from PA on rumspringa and stayed way to long. With his graphitied vans, but most importantly, mix of mixed martial arts and true aerodynamics, he was by far the best, he could spring from one side to the other and hold himself up with only a few points of contact, yet was rarely violent, although he could hold his own.

[@xisotopex]

really really really need to interview Parris Mayhew

[@desg4381]

xisotopex you have a photo of joachim pieper as your profile pic so you can stick your opinions up your hole

[@Sluj666]

Wasn't there a dispute btw him and Danny Diablo?

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

Harley is a Jaco fan? never would have guessed.