I started working with a new client at the end of 2016. His name is Harley Flanagan and to me he is an American idol. To me he has always represented the FUCK YOU New Yorker who could be an anyone, but defiantly is a someone. To me his sense of urgency defined the rage of my youth. And I think he is my last hope at something I longed to be as a young adult; a music manage, but well.. was raped, left for dead, thrown out of, stollen from, collided against or never got the whole ride ticket.
For the last many years my music business success has been as a hired gun, consultant mercenary. I love the work. I am good at it and frankly it has saved me the heartache of caring.
Harley, if you do not know, is the founder of the Cro-Mags. This legendary band's chaos is arguably the most important East Coast archetype for what the sounds and image is of not Punk...but HARDCORE. His life story literally reads like a screenplay to the birth of the Lower East Side music and art revolution of the 70's and 80's. Playing drums at Max's Kansas City with in a band by 10. Cavorting with the likes of Joe Strummer, Blondie, Warhol and Allen Ginsberg all before 15. Fighting the Latin LES gangs and the ravages of drugs of the early 80's. Touring the world playing stadiums packed with legions of fans and fighting to near death with the people you loved the most so can hate even more. Here is what The New York Times has to say about Harley.
Back to the point....This last year, I have been recharged to work with talent. I'd sworn this off as I just couldn't get excited enough to trust running naked into a burning building was a good idea anymore. That is what talent is to me. You know the fuse is lit and the embers are burning, since YOU see and/or smell smoke. You think YOU have the right plan to harness this flame in a way the world will feel the heat, but more likely you'll burn off all your hair...eyebrows to schmeckle and be laughed at instead as a scared freak. (jaded much?)
So, Harley got me back in the game... We have a book out on Feral Press, a Graphic novel and TV show in the works and a tour of the UK and Europe in the works with some new music.
Hard-Core, Life of My Own, Anthony Bourdain writes
“Harley Flanagan’s incredible story is not just the history of New York Hardcore, of which he is a founding father, but a history of New York itself. It’s all here, an amazing series of unlikely coincidences, catastrophes, accomplishments and associations. Chances are if it happened in New York and it was important and interesting, Harley Flanagan was somewhere in the room. If you care anything about music history, punk rock, hardcore or just a ripping good story, this book is the punch in the face you want and need.”
New York Natives - Interview with Anthony Bourdain - Part 1
https://nyti.ms/2lt46mP
VICE
https://tinylink.net/buNkk
ART NEWS
https://tinylink.net/U56bC
VICE/Noisy
https://tinylink.net/kdvlL
Feral House book trailer:
https://tinylink.net/LmiQh
SO...Here is what I've finally learned after years of struggling trying to do be passionate about my career and balance making the money I need to be an adult. It all has to excite me. If I cant get excited enough to want to chance burning my self beyond recognition that I don't want to do it any more. My "For Hire" service business is one that I am very proud of but it is less and less relevant to me now I think. One more time into the breach maybe, maybe not as far as music goes but that FUCK YOU mentality I once truly did idolize not for the curtness of it but for the Freedom is brings has found a new energized corner in my mind and that is all about passion...
