Anti-Flag has enjoyed a 35-year extensive career in the punk rock scene, dedicating their music to activism and left-wing politics since forming in Pittsburgh during 1988. If their name didn’t give it away already, their songs are focused on political discourse and the horrors of war, governmental overreach, corporate greed, and animal cruelty (all members of the band are practicing vegans). Over their career the band has put their money where their mouth is, supporting causes and organizations such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International both financially and verbally.
For Blood and Empire is probably their best known album and features everything you’d expect from the band— overdriven guitars, gang vocals aplenty, and hook-filled choruses that are anthemic in nature.
The band unexpectedly broke up a few weeks ago, deleting their social media accounts and website abruptly while offering no explanation outside of a terse and brief statement on their Patreon page. It’s unclear as of this point what caused the breakup, but considering their expansive history and fanbase (as well as the fact they were just set to embark on a world tour with The Bouncing Souls), probably comprises something more serious than something as simple as artistic differences. The band has been composed of lead singer Justin Sane, guitarist Chris Head, bassist Chris Barker, and drummer Pat Thetic for nearly the entirety of their 35-year career, so the way this went down probably has some significant legal reason behind it.
Ed. Note: More details have come out on Anti-Flag’s breakup. There was an accusation of sexual assault against lead singer Justin Sane on a podcast in July, which the lead singer denies, but as the band’s collective statement says, “A core tenet of the band Anti-Flag is to listen to and believe all survivors of sexual violence and abuse. The recent allegations about Justin are in direct contradiction to that tenet. Therefore, we felt the only immediate option was to disband.” You can read the full statement from the band as well as Sane here.
Standout Songs: “I’d Tell You But…”, “The Press Corpse”, “Hymn For The Dead”
