Vagando a ritroso nel tempo, "dopo il lavoro, il tempo libero, il tempo passa e i passa-tempi", mi ricordai di un biascicante quanto cencioso pezzo di vetro. Lo notai ieri, per terra, frantumato da tempo immemore, mentre mi accingevo pensoso lungo le cervellotiche vie di Milano, vicino San Babila, fresco-fresco di multa "by" A. T. M. (34 euro: sempre Sia lodato...). Quelle frantumazioni, quelle crepe di recondita memoria: furono loro a portare a galla il tutto. Su questo non v'è dubbio alcuno. Offeso e umiliato (oppure suona meglio al plurale, invertendo i termini?), giunsi arrancante alla fine del tunnel: BLACK FLAG, "Damaged". Ecco cosa. Sarà stata la mia condizione di puro rancore, o il mio percepir male il danno subitaneamente inflittomi, ma convenni con me medesimo di essere stato ingiusto con questa band anni ed anni or sono...
Rifacendomi a quello che Sum41, i 182esimi battiti di ciglia, quantochè i linea 77 mi trasmisero in età in-adolescenziale (ovvero una abnegazione di assoluto nulla), convenni nuovamente che questo "accesso", proprio, non potevo lasciarmelo scappare. Ma passiamo ai fatti or' dunque: i Black Flag furono LA band, che seppe interpretare al meglio quello che era l'unico approccio possibile che il punk inglese potesse avere nelle metropoli "Fritz-Langhiane" della California e degli Stati Uniti post-post-post e nuovamente post crisi del '29. Metropoli che cominciavano a vedersi iniettare emersioni di massa di adolescenti alienati ed alienanti, perennemnte alla canna del gas, in lotta continua contro chi, coetaneo (possibilmente alto-borghese), tentava di imitarne invano le gesta, e contro una società che faceva dei mass-media lo zucchero filato degli anni '80.
Cosa furono i Black Flag con "Damaged"? Furono un sonoro, sudaticcio e denudante Vaffanculo, a quella che si prospettava misticizzare l'America del Golden-Boy laureato, carrierista, sessista (ed aggiungerei, apri-"pista"...). Analizzandoli, memore del mio "accesso", scoprii curiosità tali da interdire, inerenti alla loro vita ed alla loro musica. La formazione, fondata da un "laureato" tutt'altro che carrierista Greg Ginn (lead guitar della band) conobbe differenti momenti difficili durante i suoi primordiali albori. Vuoi una vita sregolata da neo-laureato dimentico, anti/societarista per nascita, vuoi la droga, vuoi quel che vuoi... ma la bandiera nera mancava ancora di essere correttamente issata. A questo ci pensò Henry Rollins, durante un concerto fatto a New York, durante il quale il Ragazzaccio ancora farcito di penombra, demoni e completamente sconosciuto, salì sul palco e cominciò ad urlare in un modo tale, da destare lo sgomento più imprevedibile per il genere di serata. E qui finisce la prima metà della leggenda.
Al seguito di Rollins i membri della band non ebbero dubbi e lo proclamarono loro guru di pura disaffezione audio-verbale. Poesia rancida quella sua. Poesia la cui metrica trovò sfogo longevo ed eterno in ognuno dei corroboranti brani in questione: dalla epocale "Rise Above", fino alla supersonica "Thirtsty And Miserable" si respira aria rarefatta, come già espresso, sudaticcia e massacrante sino alla palpitazione cardiaca più parossistica. "Police Story", è una ode all'ebbrezza che porta ironicamente a vincere la battaglia verso non tanto le "istituzioni" di per sè, ma contro il timore di una società claustrofobica e pagliaccesca che uccide mediante burocratizzazione ordinaria. Tutto scorre acido, colmo di pura iprite chitarristica, ed altezzosamente miserabile, sino a pezzi dalla catarsi espressiva di "Depression", "No More" e la mitica "Life Of Pain" che per un minuto circa sembra voler ascendere a parabole Sabbathiane, scivolando successivamente in un punk'n'roll da brividi sconnessi. Una colazione a base di “Damaged II“ e penso si possa terminare l'ascolto, fieri di essere stati umili e colpevoli di aver riso sopra quel poco di buono che in apparenza si riteneva irreversibilmente risibile. Ovviamente senza dimenticarsi di "No More". Terminando l'ascolto ci si pone in uno stadio di pieno dubbio. Un'incertezza quasi mortale. Concetti come auto-produzione, arresto, locali silenti ed attoniti, odore di birra e di gin-lemon ultra distillato sui vestiti, mal di testa reminescente inneggiato a divinità per superare il freddo, quello fuori dalla porta, di pieno Gennaio o Marzo che sia...
Dove diavolo sono finiti? La risposta, la so da me, e credo che sia meglio ch'io la neghi alla vostra lettura. Frattanto, cercatevelo, scaricatelo e confrontatelo con l'attualità, se vi volete crucciare un poco, si intende... E' forse cambiato qualche cosa da allora? No, così io penso. E allora solo una cosa si può asserire: il "Danno" è tratto. Tutt'ora. E da un pezzo, fra l'altro...
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Rise Above (02:28)
Jealous cowards try to control
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
They distort what we say
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
Try and stop what we do
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
When they can't do it themselves
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
We are tired of your abuse
Try to stop us; it's no use!
Society's arms of control
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
Think they're smart; can't think for themselves
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
Laugh at us behind our backs
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
I find satisfaction in what they lack
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
We are tired of your abuse
Try to stop us; it's no use!
We are tired of your abuse
Try to stop us; it's no use!
We are born with a chance
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
I am gonna have my chance
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
We are born with a chance
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
And I am gonna have my chance
Rise above! We're gonna rise above!
We are tired of your abuse
Try to stop us; it's no use!
Rise above!
Rise above!
Rise above!
We're gonna rise above!
We're gonna rise above!
We're gonna rise above!
02 Spray Paint (00:35)
it feels good to say what i want. it feels good to knock things down. it feels good to see the disgust in their eyes. it feels good and i'm gonna go wild. spray paint the walls. i don't want to see the plan succeed. there won't be room for people like me. my life is their disease. it feels good and i'm gonna go wild. spray paint the walls. it feels good to say what i want. it feels good to knock things down. it feels good to see the disgust in their eyes. it feels good and i'm gonna go wild. spray paint the walls. if feels good and i'm gonna go wild.
03 Six Pack (02:22)
''I got a six pack and nothing to do
I got a six pack and I don't need you''
$35 and a six pack to my name
SIX PACK!
Spent the rest on beer so who's to blame
SIX PACK!
They say I'm fucked up all the time
SIX PACK!
What they do is a waste of time
SIX PACK!
I know it'll be OK
I get a six pack in me, alright!
My girlfriend asked me which one I like better
SIX PACK!
I hope the answer won't upset her
SIX PACK!
I was born with a bottle in my mouth
SIX PACK!
Now I got a six so I'll never run out
SIX PACK!
I know it'll be OK
I get a six pack in me, alright!
$35 and a six pack to my name
SIX PACK!
Spent the rest on beer so who's to blame
SIX PACK!
They say I'm fucked up all the time
SIX PACK!
What they do is a waste of time
SIX PACK!
SIX PACK!
SIX PACK!
SIX PACK!
''What do they know about partying
Or anything else''
05 TV Party (03:33)
TV party tonight,
TV party tonight,
TV party tonight,
TV party tonight!
We're gonna have a TV party tonight... Alright!
We're gonna have a TV party... Tonight!
We've got nothing better to do,
Than watch TV
And have a couple of brews.
Everybody's gonna hang out here tonight... Alright!
We'll pass out on the couch alright... Tonight!
We've got nothing better to do,
Than watch TV
And have a couple of brews.
Don't talk about anything else...
We don't want to know.
We're dedicated to our favorite shows.
We sit glued to the TV all night...
And every night!
Why go into the outside world at all...
It's such a fright!
We've got nothing better to do
Than watch TV
And have a couple of brews.
TV news shows
What it's like out there...
It's a scare!
You can go out...
If you want...
We wouldn't dare!
We've got nothing better to do
Than watch TV
And have a couple of brews.
Don't talk about anything else...
We don't want to know.
We're dedicated to our favorite shows.
I wouldn't be
Without my TV for a day...
Or even a minute!
I don't bother to use my brain anymore...
There's nothing left in it!
We've got nothing better to do
Than watch TV
And have a couple of brews.
Wait a minute,
My TV set doesn't work.
It's broken!!!
What are we gonna do tonight.
This isn't fair.
We're hurtin'!
We've got nothing left to do.
Left with no TV,
Just a couple of brews.
What are we gonna talk about... I don't know!
We're gonna miss our favorite shows.
No TV party tonight...
06 Thirsty and Miserable (02:07)
THIRSTY AND MISERABLE
YOU DROP TO THE FLOOR
YOU DRINK 'TIL YOU CAN'T
EVEN SEE ANY MORE
THIRSTY AND MISERABLE
ALWAYS WANTING MORE
THIRSTY AND MISERABLE
ALWAYS WANTING MORE
MY BROTHER WANTS A RIDE
TO THE LIQUOR STORE
YOU PITY HIM
FOR WHAT HE WANTS IT FOR
THIRSTY AND MISERABLE
ALWAYS WANTING MORE
THIRSTY AND MISERABLE
ALWAYS WANTING MORE
IT'S 1:30
AND WE'RE ALL GETTING NERVOUS
THE STORE CLOSES AT TWO
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO LAST US
THIRSTY AND MISERABLE
ALWAYS WANTING MORE
THIRSTY AND MISERABLE
ALWAYS WANTING MORE
07 Police Story (01:34)
This fucking city
Is run by pigs
They take the rights
Away from all the kids
Understand
We're fighting a war
We can't win
They hate us
We hate them
We can't win, no way!
Walk down the street
I flip them off
They hit me across the head
With a billy club
Understand
We're fighting a war
We can't win
They hate us
We hate them
We can't win, no way!
Nothing I do,
Nothing I say
I tell them to go get fucked
They put me away
Understand
We're fighting a war
We can't win
They hate us
We hate them
We can't win, no way!
I go to court,
For my crime,
Stand in line pay bail,
I waste my time
Understand
We're fighting a war
We can't win
They hate us
We hate them
We can't win, no way!
08 Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie (01:49)
GIMME GIMME GIMME
I NEED SOME MORE
GIMME GIMME GIMME
DON'T ASK WHAT FOR
SITTING HERE I'M A LOADED GUN
WAITING TO GO OFF
I'VE GOT NOTHING TO DO
BUT SHOOT MY MOUTH OFF
GIMME GIMME GIMME
I NEED SOME MORE
GIMME GIMME GIMME
DON'T ASK WHAT FOR
YOU KNOW I'M GONNA GO OUT
GET SOMETHING FOR MY HEAD
IF I KEEP ON DOING THIS
I'M GONNA END UP DEAD
GIMME GIMME GIMME
I NEED SOME MORE
GIMME GIMME GIMME
DON'T ASK WHAT FOR
I KNOW THE WORLD'S GOT PROBLEMS
I'VE GOT PROBLEMS OF MY OWN
NOT THE KIND THAT CAN'T BE SOLVED
WITH AN ATOM BOMB
GIMME GIMME GIMME
I NEED SOME MORE
GIMME GIMME GIMME
DON'T ASK WHAT FOR
09 Depression (02:30)
Right here, all by myself
I ain't got no one else
The situation is bleeding me
There's no relief for a person like me
Depression's got a hold of me
Depression! I gotta break free
Depression's got a hold of me
Depression's gonna kill me
I ain't got no friends to call my own
I just sit here all alone
There's no girls that want to touch me
I don't need your goddamn sympathy
Depression's got a hold of me
Depression! I gotta break free
Depression's got a hold of me
Depression's gonna kill me
Everybody, just get away
I'm gonna boil over inside today
They say-- They say, things are gonna get better
All I know is, they fucking better
Depression's got a hold of me
Depression! I gotta break free
Depression's got a hold of me
Depression's gonna kill me
10 Room 13 (02:06)
KEEP ME ALIVE
ONLY YOU CAN DO IT
IF NOT YOU'LL DIE TOO
AND I'LL SEE TO IT
IT'S HARD TO SURVIVE
DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT
KEEP ME ALIVE
I CAN'T ACCEPT MY FATE
I NEED HELP
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
IT'S HARD TO SURVIVE, DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT
I NEED TO BELONG, I NEED TO HANG ON
I NEED, NEED
KEEP ME ALIVE FEELINGS I MUST OBEY
CAN'T TURN MY EYES FROM THE PAST
THIS CRISIS IS THE LAST
KEEP ME ALIVE
I RELY ON YOUR JUDGEMENT
I'VE GOT NONE LEFT OF MY OWN
DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING
IT'S HARD TO SURVIVE, DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT
I NEED TO BELONG, I NEED TO HANG ON
I NEED, NEED
KEEP ME ALIVE
ONLY YOU CAN DO IT
KEEP ME ALIVE
ONLY YOU CAN DO IT
IT'S HARD TO SURVIVE, DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT
KEEP ME ALIVE
KEEP ME ALIVE
KEEP ME ALIVE
KEEP ME ALIVE
IT'S HARD TO SURVIVE, DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT
I NEED TO BELONG, I NEED TO HANG ON
I NEED, NEED
13 Padded Cell (01:49)
EARTH'S A PADDED CELL
DEFANGED AND DECLAWED
I'M LIVING IN HELL IT'S A PARADISE FRAUD
STRAIGHT JACKET MINDS IN LINE TO BE OLD
TELLING ME TO WANT,
LET TIME SLIP THROUGH MY TEETH
WELL I'M NOT THE FOOL,
I'M GOING TO TOWN
MANIC REACTIONS ARE ALWAYS A BUZZ
I'M SUSPECT, THE STRANGER IN DISGUISE
IT'S FORCED ITSELF UPON ME,
SOMETHING I CAN'T HIDE
SEE IT IN - MANIACS
THEIR EYES - MANIACS
MANIACS, MANIACS
LOOKING AT YOU INSIDE OF YOU
BEHIND YOUR EYES, THROUGH YOUR MIND
LOOKING AT YOU, INSIDE OF YOU
I'M INVISIBLE, NOWHERE TO HIDE
I'M OBSCENE THE LIVING DEAD
SEE THE FLYS FEED OFF YOUR HEAD
LOOKING AT YOU I'M INSIDE OF YOU
IT'S WALDEN TWO BUT THE FLOWER'S DEAD
SEE IT IN - MANIACS
THEIR EYES - MANIACS
MANIACS, MANIACS
EARTH'S A PADDED CELL
DEFANGED AND DECLAWED
I'M LIVING IN HELL IT'S A PARADISE FRAUD
STRAIGHT JACKET MINDS IN LINE TO BE OLD
TELLING ME TO WANT,
LET TIME SLIP THROUGH MY TEETH
WELL I'M NOT THE FOOL,
I'M GOING TO TOWN
MANIC REACTIONS ARE ALWAYS A BUZZ
I'M SUSPECT, THE STRANGER IN DISGUISE
IT'S FORCED ITSELF UPON ME,
SOMETHING I CAN'T HIDE
SEE IT IN - MANIACS
THEIR EYES - MANIACS
MANIACS, MANIACS
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Altre recensioni
Di lexus
'Damaged' è un ottimo lavoro, ma storicamente non ha influenzato il mondo della musica come 'My War'.
Kurt Cobain ha sempre detto che 'Damaged' lo aveva ispirato, ma forse quel disco era 'My War'...
