One of the surprises to come out of my research for the book
I’m collaborating on with Keith Morris is this little gem: In 1979 Black Flag
played a show at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach, CA. They got the gig by
telling the promoter they were a light jazz band that played Fleetwood Mac
covers. Naturally the crowd hated them and the stories of the near-riot that
broke out are legendary, especially in Manhattan Beach where I lived for a
number of years. I didn’t realize until very recently that this show took place
on July 22—my birthday.  Rip it up while
you can, brothers and sisters. AS my friend JJ used to say, we’re here for a good time, not for a long time.