This is certainly up for debate, but in most fans’
estimation hardcore punk’s ground zero can be found in October of 1978. That
month, an inauspicious Southern California electronics company called Solid
State Transmitters morphed into SST Records and released the first salvo from
what would make up one of the best runs of any record label in any genre ever:
Black Flag’s debut EP Nervous Breakdown.
With SST founder Greg Ginn on guitar and Chuck Dukowski and Brian Migdol
filling out the rhythm section, the young band proved themselves an immediate
and exciting force in the world of punk. Frontman Keith Morris found the
perfect balance of snotty and intimidating, fashioning his own gritty style out
of the remains of Johnny Rotten.[1]
It isn’t too surprising that his charisma and amazing voice have allowed him to
sustain the most satisfying post-Black Flag career of any member.
