Anti-flag

Making their debut at a local Pittsburgh radio station in 1993, Anti-Flag formed together for the sake of responding to their disgust at nationalism, religion, and fascism. Justin Sane (vocals/guitar), Andy Flag (bass/vocals), and Pat Thetic (drums) hung around their hometown much to the dismay of skinheads while recruiting a following who proudly wore torn-up upside-down flags as patches. In 1997, after releasing a various singles, opening for their idols the Circle Jerks, the U.K. Subs, and the Exploited, and briefly touring the East Coast - which led to the departure of Andy Flag - Die for the Government was released, and 20,000 copies, four bassists, and four North American tours later, Anti-Flag gained their reputation for recapturing the old-school ethics of punk: fast, loud, obnoxious, and anti-everything that ends with 'ism'.