Anti-Flag
From Conservapedia
Anti-Flag is an American punk band from the United States. The lyrics of the band often criticize the perceived irresponsible capitalistic actions of large corporations, as well as other social and political issues such as police brutality, nationalism, militarism, and various world leaders. The band vociferously opposes the pro-life (anti-abortion) movement, [1] Other issues the band supports include animal rights, immigration rights, and world peace.
The four present members are Justin Sane, Pat Thetic, Chris Head, and Chris #2 (Chris Barker). Justin and Pat are the two original members; previous band members include Anne Flag, Andy Flag, and Jamie Cock.
The band has been criticized and sometimes discredited for their propaganda-like lyrics and accusations of many government leaders, for example, critiquing the American Invasion of Iraq by questioning the motives of the Bush Administration. However, they also have a large fan base who share similar political and social ideologies. These fans appreciate the band for not being afraid to speak out about controversial issues while so many other groups are being scared into silence by the corporate media and music industry. This fear of being scared into silence has not prevented the band from signing to R.C.A Records, one of the large labels in the world which happens to belong to one of the world's largest corporations. Many fans accept this move as a way of being able to spread the message of Anti-Flag across the world through a larger distributing network than their previous label, Fat Wreck Chords, was able to do. It should also be noted that, although the band had been approached by major labels several times before R.C.A Records, they refused because they would not have been given complete rights to the music. When signing to R.C.A, Anti-Flag made sure that the contract would leave the music rights to the band, and that R.C.A would not try to censor the music.
Anti-Flag has been the center of much controversy over the years. Starting with the obvious fact of the name Anti-Flag. Many people often view this as anti-American or anarchist. However, according to the band, Anti-Flag comes from their experiences in Pittsburg, where they saw flags, and other nationalistic means, to keep the working class down and to excuse many actions that the U.S. was taking that were controvesial at the time. The lyrics are often against those in power, earning the band the scorn of its (the current power) supporters. The band also is against consumerism, something that some critics claim is anti-capitalism, and by extention, anti-American. While signing to Sony, many fans claimed Anti-Flag sold out, even if they kept the rights to their music.
Discography
- Die for the Government
- North America Sucks (split with Canadian punk band D.B.S)
- Their System Doesn't Work for You
- A New Kind of Army
- Underground Network
- Mobilize
- The Terror State
- For Blood and Empire
Anti-Flag is currently in the process of writing their next album titled The Bright lights of America.[2]
