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The band Black Flag probably made the biggest impact on me in terms of the intensity of their music, lyrics, art, and DIY ethos. Black Flag scared me but also transfixed me. Listening to the Let Them Eat Jellybeans comp as a 13-year-old featured Black Flag’s “Police Story,” with its anti-authority hostility, electrified every hair on my body. The lyrics “This fuckin’ city is run by pigs… they take the rights away from all the kids” hit home with me because the cops were already hassling me for skateboarding.
“Police Story” made me want more music by Black Flag, and a friend loaned me their Damaged album. Damaged is a perfect slab of condensed anger, but there is a ton of other great Black Flag material. I’ve collaborated with my friend Glen E. Friedman on many projects. I’m especially excited about these “Your Rules My War” prints coinciding with his latest book release, “What I See,” which features an epic collection of the most iconic photographs ever made of Black Flag and tons of never-before-seen photos.
These prints are based on Glen’s fisheye angles from Black Flag’s show at the Los Angeles Federal Building on July 4, 1983, with Chuck Dukowski & Henry Rollins. Notably, it is the last show original bassist Chuck Dukowski played with Black Flag and in fact the last time Glen shot them live. The prints are all signed by Henry, Chuck, Glen, and me. Glen will be here at my gallery, Subliminal Projects, on March 26 from 6-9 pm, releasing and signing his books. The prints will be available first only at the book signing. Hope to see you there!
–Shepard
Join us Saturday, March 26th for the launch event and book signing of Glen E. Friedman’s new book “WHAT I SEE: THE BLACK FLAG PHOTOGRAPHS OF GLEN E. FRIEDMAN.” In conjunction with the event, to celebrate the release of the book, Shepard Fairey will release a new limited edition print in two colorways (Blue & Red), in collaboration with Glen E. Friedman, available in-store at Subliminal Projects. Signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman, Chuck Dukowski and Henry Rollins. To attend the event RSVP to rsvp@subliminalprojects.com.
**ALL IMAGES © GLEN E. FRIEDMAN
Excerpted from What I See: The Black Flag Photographs of Glen E. Friedman, copyright 2022 by Glen E. Friedman, images used with permission of Friedman and Akashic Books (akashicbooks.com).
