Keith Morris was their original lead singer. He left the band suddenly in 1979 to form the well-known band, Circle Jerks. Ron Reyes was the second singer for the band, but decided to leave the band not too long after. Dez Cadena would be their next singer, but switched to second guitar when they found fourth and final singer Henry Rollins in Washington D.C. in 1981.
While Black Flag were - and remain - very respected among their underground culture, their music has not been the stylistic model one might expect, in spite of their formidable reputation. Rather, their influence was seen primarily in their tireless promotion of a self-controlled DIY aesthetic. They're often regarded as pioneers in the movement of underground do-it-yourself record labels that flourished among the 1980s' punk rock bands.
Over the course of the 1980s, Black Flag's sound, as well as their notoriety, evolved in ways that alienated much of their early punk audience. They were part of the first wave of American West Coast punk rock, are considered a key influence on Punk culture band, and are especially important in the creation of hardcore punk. Their later sound, however, was often reminiscent of proto-heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath.
The band broke up in August 1986, when Greg Ginn decided to quit.
Through seemingly-constant touring throughout the USA and Canada, and occasionally Europe, Black Flag established an extremely dedicated fan base. Many other musicians would follow Black Flag's lead and book their own tours, utilizing a word-of-mouth, grass-roots network.
On January 25, 2013, it was announced that guitarist Greg Ginn and vocalist Ron Reyes would reform Black Flag, joined by Gregory Moore on drums, and 'Dale Nixon' on bass (Dale Nixon is a pseudonym sometimes used by Ginn, most prominently as the bassist on My War). The band will tour as well as release a new album, their first since 1985's In My Head. In March of that year, it was announced that Screeching Weasel bassist Dave Klein joined the band. On May 2, 2013, the band released a new song entitled "Down in the Dirt" through their website.
Around the same time, it was announced that the lineup that played at GV 30, Morris, Dukowski, Stevenson and Egerton, would tour performing Black Flag songs, under the name FLAG. It was later announced that the lineup would be joined by Dez Cadena.
No Deposit
Black Flag Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I look out my window at the hot crowded street above
I notice I feel cold and alone
Used up like an old bottle
No deposit, no return
People live and die in these apartment compartments
No deposit, no return
Dust falls silently
No deposit, no return
The song "No Deposit" by Black Flag is a melancholic reflection on the sense of isolation and disconnection experienced by many people living in crowded urban areas. The lyrics describe the singer's feeling of being "cold and alone" despite being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a "hot crowded street." They compare themselves to an "old bottle" that has been used up and discarded, without any value or worth to those around them. The phrase "no deposit, no return" is used as a kind of refrain, suggesting that the singer feels like they have nothing left to offer the world and that their life has no real purpose or meaning.
Through the imagery of "apartment compartments" and "dust falls silently," the song suggests that the singer is one of many people living in cramped and impersonal conditions, cut off from each other and from any sense of community or belonging. The overall mood of the song is one of desperation and hopelessness, with the singer seeming to resign themselves to their fate and asking why they can't just fade away like the dust around them.
Overall, "No Deposit" is a powerful expression of the sense of dislocation and despair that many people experience in modern urban life. By using vivid imagery and spare, poetic language, Black Flag captures the feeling of being lost and alone in a world that values productivity and conformity above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
It's 3:29 AM
The time is very late at night, indicating a sense of loneliness and isolation.
I look out my window at the hot crowded street above
The singer observes the world outside their window with a sense of detachment and distance, suggesting a lack of connection to their surroundings.
I notice I feel cold and alone
The singer becomes aware of their own emotions of loneliness and isolation, perhaps brought on by their observations of the world outside.
Used up like an old bottle
The artist feels exhausted and worn out, like an object that has been used and discarded.
No deposit, no return
This refrain symbolizes the idea of a lack of investment or commitment. The artist feels this way about their life and the world around them, leading to a sense of nihilism or apathy.
People live and die in these apartment compartments
The singer comments on the transience and impermanence of human existence. The cramped and impersonal living conditions suggest a lack of individuality and meaning.
Dust falls silently
This line is a metaphorical reflection on the passage of time and the ultimate futility of human existence. Dust is a universal symbol of impermanence and decay, highlighting the transience of life.
Why can't I?
The artist seems to be struggling with their own sense of purposelessness and detachment, asking a rhetorical question that suggests a lack of direction or motivation.
No deposit, no return
This refrain repeats at the end of the song, hammering home the artist's sense of disillusionment and disconnection from the world around them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HENRY LAWRENCE GARFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind