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Harley Flanagan

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Harley Flanagan
Flanagan performing with Cro-Mags in 2022
Flanagan performing with Cro-Mags in 2022
Background information
Birth nameHarley Francis Flanagan
Born (1967-03-08) March 8, 1967 (age 57)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
GenresHardcore punk, crossover thrash, punk rock
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Bass, vocals
Years active1978–present
Member ofCro-Mags
Formerly of
Websiteharleyflanagan.com

Harley Francis Flanagan (born March 8, 1967) is an American musician. Harley Flanagan founded the hardcore punk band the Cro-Mags. He is currently the bassist, vocalist, and sole remaining founding member of the band. Flanagan began his musical career at age 11 in 1978, drumming for the New York punk band the Stimulators alongside his aunt Denise Mercedes. By the early 1980s, he was a prominent figure in the developing New York hardcore, helping to found the Cro-Mags in 1981 and Murphy's Law in 1982.

Early life

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Flanagan is the son of Tex Flanagan and Rose "Rosebud" Feliu-Pettet. His father was a petty criminal and his mother was a memoirist, actress and prominent figure in Greenwich Village's bohemian culture, being featured in films such as Piero Heliczer's Dirt (1963) and Harry Everett Smith's Mahagonny (1980). Feliu-Pettet was featured in various works by Andy Warhol and was the muse for a number of the poets in the Beat Generation.[1]

When he was nine years old, Flanagan published a book of poetry and drawings written when he was seven years old, with a foreword written by family friend Allen Ginsberg.[2] At age 11, Flanagan was the drummer for New York punk band the Stimulators.[3]

Solo-ventures

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Flanagan's autobiography, Hard-Core: Life of My Own, published by Feral House in 2016, contains an introduction by Steven Blush. Once published, the book spent over six months as the No. 1 seller in martial arts biographies on Amazon.[4][5]

On May 19, 2018, Flanagan's band was one of four classic punk/hardcore acts to play the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, along with Murphy's Law, Suicidal Tendencies, and the Original Misfits.[6] Flanagan also released two recordings: The Dr. Know EP, proceeds of which benefit the titular Bad Brains member, who has medical expenses; and, released on July 6, 2018, The Original Cro-Mags Demos, 1982/83, which documents Flanagan's work writing the songs, playing all instruments and singing early versions of the songs that are blueprint for the Cro-Mags sound.[7] On June 28, 2019, Flanagan's Cro-Mags released their first new music in twenty years, three new songs "Don't Give In," "Drag You Under" and "No One's Victim."[8] They were the opening act for the original Misfits for four shows in 2019.

Personal life

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Flanagan performing live in 2019

Flanagan is the father of two sons and is married to Laura Lee Flanagan, who is an attorney and serves as Flanagan's business manager and also works as general counsel and CCO to investment advisory firms.[9]

Flanagan is a black-belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and once worked as a professor for Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City. His students included the daughter of Anthony Bourdain, who coincidentally attended NYC Stimulators concerts in the early 1980s, and was a fan of the then preteen drummer.[9]

Flanagan has been a vegetarian since 1982.[10]

Flanagan cited Darryl Jenifer, Geezer Butler, and Lemmy as his biggest bass influences. He also stated that Cronos of Venom, Jaco Pastorius (Flanagan owns one of his basses), and Stanley Clarke inspired him, trying to "bring all that stuff together" in his own music, mixed with hardcore's intensity.[11]

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On July 6, 2012, Flanagan was arrested for allegedly stabbing two current members of Cro-Mags, and biting one of them, backstage at the Webster Hall in New York City. Allegedly, Flanagan had been attacked in the dressing room.[12][13] Flanagan was stabbed in the leg.[14][15][16] He stated he drew the knife to defend himself and that the wound to his leg required 30 stitches.[17] Charges were dropped in December 2012, due to a lack of cooperating witnesses. Flanagan was later sued in a civil action over the incident, but this suit was also dropped.

In 2018, Flanagan filed a lawsuit in federal court charging former band members John McGowan and Maxwell Jayson with trademark infringement. Flanagan won the lawsuit in April 2019, giving ownership and exclusive rights to the Cro-Mags band name.[18] In April 2019 Flanagan announced a settlement where he would own exclusive use of the name "Cro-Mags"; simultaneously, Joseph announced his recognition of the settlement, and that he and his band would instead perform as Cro-Mags "JM", beginning in August 2019.[19]

Discography

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with the Stimulators

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  • Loud, Fast Rules!/Run Run Run (studio single, 1980)
  • Loud, Fast Rules! (live concert recording, 1982)
  • New York Thrash (various artists compilation, 1982)

with Cro-Mags

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with White Devil

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  • Reincarnation (1995)

with Harley's War

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  • Cro-Mag (2003)
  • Hardcore All-Stars (2009)
  • 2012 (2012)

Harley Flanagan solo work

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  • Cro-Mags (2016)
  • Hard Core Dr. Know EP (2018)
  • Cro Mags Demos (2018; recorded 1982–1983)

References

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  1. ^ "Rose "Rosebud" Feliu-Pettet (1946-2015)" (PDF). University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "New York City Hardcore Poetry « Vol. 1 Brooklyn". Vol1brooklyn.com. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  3. ^ Bishop, Moe (July 12, 2012). "The Sensitive Family | VICE | United States". VICE. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  4. ^ "Hard-Core". Feralhouse.com. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Flanagan, Harley (December 12, 2023). Hard-Core: Life of My Own. Feral House. ISBN 978-1627310338.
  6. ^ "Harley Flanagan added to Misfits NJ show (and has other tour dates)". Brooklynvegan.com. February 7, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  7. ^ "HARLEY FLANAGAN To Release 'Cro-Mag Demos' And 'Hard Core Dr. Know' EP". Blabbermouth.net. May 10, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  8. ^ Rollingstone.com (June 28, 2019). "Hear Hardcore Heroes Cro-Mags Return With First New Songs in 20 Years". www.rollingstone.com. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Curkin, Charles (August 31, 2016). "Harley Flanagan, Original New York Punker, Finds His Mellower Side". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  10. ^ Hutch (April 19, 2016). "Harley Flanagan Reflects The Grit of His New York Story With New Album 'Cro-Mags'". newnoisemagazine.com. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  11. ^ Stone, Drew (July 13, 2015). "The New York Hardcore Chronicles 10 Questions w/ Harley Flanagan (The Stimulators / Cro-Mags)" (video). YouTube. Event occurs at 2:58. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  12. ^ "Harley Flanagan's Revenge Stabbing". Nymn.com. July 27, 2012. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  13. ^ Moynihan, Colin (July 7, 2012). "A Stabbing, and a Feud About a Band". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  14. ^ Lemoine, Ray (July 12, 2012). "Former Cro-Mags Bassist Accused of Stabbing at New York Show". The Local East Village. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  15. ^ Celona, Larry (July 7, 2012). "Cro-Mags founder accused of stabbing, biting band members at Webster Hall". New York Post. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  16. ^ Tartar, Andre (July 7, 2012). "A Knife-Wielding Former Band Member Canceled the Cro-Mags' Webster Hall Show". New York Magazine. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "Former Cro-Mags Bassist Defends Himself Over Webster Hall Fight". Rolling Stone. July 26, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  18. ^ "Cro-Mags Lawsuit: Harley Flanagan Wins Band Name". Rolling Stone. April 23, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  19. ^ Punknews.org (April 22, 2019). "Harley Flanagan and John Joseph settle Cro-Mags lawsuit". www.punknews.org. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
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