Anti-Flag is a political punk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The band was formed by Justin Sane (lead guitar, lead vocals), Chris # 2 (bass, vocals), Chris Head (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), and Pat Thetic (drums). The thing that makes them agreed to form Anti-Flag is "the only punk rockers in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania", so said Justine Sane and Pat Thetic. When they were given the choice to play "a walk in the mall, smoke drugs, or playing punk rock", then prefer the latter and that's the reason they gave birth to the Anti-Flag. Although the band's line-up floater, choose intersect with political ideology, and their status as an independent band, Anti-Flag became a popular band in the punk community, as evidenced by the success they released six albums with a variety of independent record labels (from AF Records, Fat Wreck Chords, to Go Kart Records). In 2006 they went to RCA Records.
Anti Flag campaign supports animal rights and PETA. The band has also become a vegetarian or vegan. Anti-Flag was officially formed in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania in 1988. Band name was chosen based on the experience of its founders in their hometown. When two members will witness local pertujukan Hardcore Punk, they often see the show organizers chanted "freedom not fascism" while waving the American flag and a cross member on the flag that they put on their jackets. But they also participated in violent attacks against people who disagree with their views. Justin and Pat saw the diversion of the U.S. flag and use it as a tool to attack each other and this is a form of fascism.
During this period, a guitarist and bassist and out of turns in the band, including Justin's sister, Lucy Fester. Anti-Flag failed to form a unity, and they broke after playing in a show.
In 1993, Justin and Pat formed a new band with Andy Flag (bass). The band returned they called Anti-Flag. In 1996, they released their first album, Die for the Government. Andy Flag and went out in the summer of 1996 because of personal conflicts with Justin. For a time after the departure of Andy, Sean Whelan of Pittsburgh band called the Bad Genes filled in on bass. At the same time Sean is also playing in another band that is 57 defective with guitarist Chris Head, who he introduced to the band.
In early 1997 guitarist Chris Head began to play bass. In late 1997, Jamie Cock took over as bassist, a guitarist second shift Head. Current personnel was formed in 1999 when Chris Barker aka Chris # 2 replaced Jamie Cock.
In 1999, Anti-Flag released the album A New Kind of Army (Go Kart Records / AF Records). AF Records indie label itself is owned by Anti-Flag. Album contains many themes as a matter of political corruption, racism, fascism, the young mother msalah, police brutality, and the particulars of unity young American children.
Front cover of this album and made a poster that displays the phrase "too smart to fight. Too smart to die. Join now. Anew kind of army ". In 2000, Anti-Flag invited to perform in the Vans Warped tour. At this moment the members of Anti-Flag met with Fat Mike (NOFX), owner of Fat Wreck Chords label. This meeting resulted in agreement Anti-Flag will be releasing two albums for the label.
In 2001, Anti-Flag to work with legendary punk producer, Mass Giorgini to record the album Underground Network, released by Fat Wrick Chords. The release of this album is regarded as an important marker of the shift Anti-Flag from the environment into the mainstream hardcore underground. This album is themed issues of fascism (especially about the entry of neo-Nazi circles to circles Hardcore scene) and U.S. foreign policy. This album comes with a booklet containing essays of history and political observers, including Professor Howward Zinn.
On February 2002, Anti-Flag released the album Mobilize (AF Records). The album featured new songs and eight tracks recorded live from the previous albums. The existence of peritiwa tragedy 11 September 2001 in the U.S. push for Anti-Flag who campaigned against the war by the U.S. government. At the time it took a lot of the lower cassette and CD albums of Anti-Flag display cases because they are considered anti-American music.
In 2003, Anti-Flag released the album The Terror State (Fat Wreck Chords). This album is more of the George W. mengktitik Bush is waging the War on Terrorism. The album also contains a booklet containing essays such as dlu band conducted by a number of political observers. This album even contains a song whose lyrics were written by Woody Guthrie deangan title Post-War Breakout. Music in this song arranged by the members of Anti-Flag for Guthrie never wrote aransemennyua. Even the CD's first 15 000 copies of this album also contains a bonus track called Fuck the Flag.
On October 8, 2004, members of the House of Representatives, Jim McDermott, speaking, and hope that Anti-Flag also encourage young people to register and participate in elections. In 2005, Anti-Flag signed a two albums by major label RCA Records is. His first album is For Blood and Empirea which was released on March 21, 2006. The main focus of this album is a critique of the Anti-Flag the wrong way of handling the terrorism war the U.S. government. This song is The End (For You My Friend) from album For Blood and Empire appeared in a video game, Madden NFL 2007 and NHL 07. They ended the tour of "War Sucks, Let's Party in the U.S. in April 2007 and then worked on several side projects like African Well Fund and Start to Finish MS.
Throughout his career, Anti-Flag also helped other bands through their record label owned by the AF Records. Bands include The Code, Much the Same, The Vacancy, The Unseen, Modey Lemon, and others. Anti-Flag back on tour after Thanksgiving Day in 2007 and held a show in a few places in the U.S., the band toured to support Alexis on Fire in Canada in December 2007, support Rage Against the Machine tour in Australia and New Zealand (January 2008) and will hold own tour in Europe in February and March 2008 (including their first concert in Finland and Russia). On 25 November 2007, the Anti-Flkag said on their website that they will release a new album titled The Bright Lights of America and will be released in April 2008.
Anti-Flag's decision to enter into the major label RCA Records has been criticized by critics and fans for RCA under Sony BMG. Some fans think the decision is contrary to the lyrics-capitalist enthusiasm voiced by Anti-Flag before. But in an interview with The Guardian newspaper of Britain, Justin Sane said:
"We have been approached by a major label or dealapan seven years, but we felt it was comfortable at our place so far. They will never give the stolen our full control over the album. This time they meberi at our discretion to control exactly what we were recording, artwork, and with Saipa we will do the tour. We will not be censored. If there is an opportunity to be heard by the wider public it's time. I feel we have too long been limited voice. "
"We have been approached by a major label or dealapan seven years, but we felt it was comfortable at our place so far. They will never give the stolen our full control over the album. This time they meberi at our discretion to control exactly what we were recording, artwork, and with Saipa we will do the tour. We will not be censored. If there is an opportunity to be heard by the wider public it's time. I feel we have too long been limited voice. "
The fans who defended the decision to join Anti-Flag with major labels consider that the decision was a practical solution to deliver the message to the band audense the potential and established in the central U.S.. Some bands debgan similar anti-establishment sentiment Anti-Flag has entered a major label for years, including the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Bad Religion, RGE Against the Machine, Rise Againtst, and Against Me!.
Anti-Flag's own name has often been criticized, some maintain that the name of the band's anti-American sentiment indicated, but refers to the method of submitting artwork via sampulalbum like the album A New Kind of Army. "Anti-Flag Anti-American is not meaningful. Anti-Flag means the anti-war. Anti Flag had a sense that ordinary people around the world oorang better to live in peace and unity. That is, Anti-Flag is a stand against big corporations that take advantage of the ways to achieve wealth in extremism. Anti-Flag also has meaning serempangan opposed nationalism. Anti-Flag is a unity. "
Looking at the history of the early formation of the band, guitarist Justin SAane once said that he and drummer Pat Thetic chose the name "Anti-Flag" by reference to a local band called Freedom Not Fascism. When the band tersenut campaign themes of loyalty by using the American flag is a symbol of the two founders of Anti-Flag believe that the Freedom Not Fascism is a hypocritical band that included "stupid jokes to a neighborhood punk". To oppose the themes of American nationalism, the two men chose the name Anti-Flag from the beginning until now.
