1. Does Anti-Flag mean anti-American?
When they started out in 1988, Justin Sane and Pat Thetic named the band partly in reaction to local bands who touted the slogan "Freedom Not Fascism," wore American flag patches and beat up on people who were different than them. The band explained in the liner notes of "A New Kind of Army" that "Anti-Flag does not mean anti-American. Anti-Flag means anti-war. Anti-Flag means the common people of the world are better off living in unity and peace."
2. What are Anti-Flag's causes?
In a nutshell, "ending racism, ending sexism, ending homophobia, ending militarism," according to Chris #2. The band aligns itself with Amnesty International, ACLU, World Can't Wait, Code Pink, Axis of Justice, Student Peace Action, the African Well Fund, Music for America, Center for Victims of Violence and Crime, Planned Parenthood and PETA. It also started the nonprofit Military Free Zone (www.militaryfreezone.org) to combat the aggressive tactics of military recruitment in schools.
3. Will Anti-Flag be on the Warped Tour this year?
No. The band has decided to play festivals in Europe this summer. Says #2, "We definitely don't want to come off as we're dissing the Warped Tour, because it's been great for us and it has helped our band. At the same time, it's a gut check when you have to go into a tour that has military recruiters there and is sponsored by a shoe company and has essentially become a name. We're open with the organizers about that. The answer to us is, 'That's why you're here. You're the balance to that. Go balance that.' "
4. How did the major label album do?
According to SoundScan, "The Terror State" on Fat Wreck Chords outsold the RCA debut, "For Blood and Empire," by 106,000 to 97,000. But that might not include sales at shows and smaller stores. Either way, those are pretty good numbers for a punk band in 2008.
5. Clinton or Obama?
It's safe to say that none of the candidates in the coming election will be looking for an endorsement from a band called Anti-Flag. Pat Thetic says, "If either Hillary or Barack wins, those are two good options." Chris # 2 says, "For me, Barack Obama is the only candidate that has a chance of making a difference." He adds, "If Obama gets elected on the platform of shutting down Guantanamo Bay and ending the war in Iraq and universal health care and aid to Darfur, then on day one we're out there saying get [stuff] done, because the accountability of these politicians is at an all-time low."
-- Scott Mervis
First Published: April 3, 2008, 8:00 a.m.
