You might have missed this over the weekend, but at a Cro-Mags show this past Friday at Webster Hall, founding (and former) Cro-Mags bassist Harley Flanagan showed up to the show, uninvited, obtained a press pass, and snuck upstairs to the backstage area where he stabbed and bit current members of the band. Flanagan was upset that other people were playing music that he helped write. Six members of security immediately grabbed him, but Flannagan put up a fight (having a black belt in jiu jitsu) having to break his leg to subdue him. Flannagan was taken away and the show was cancelled. People were bummed. The scene had another black eye on it's reputation. And now, we experience the fallout.
First off, Cro-Mags released a statement as a band collectively to apologize for the incident:
"We as a band are truly sorry for the way it all turned out in every regard, even the ex-member whose family is now affected by his choices. Our prayers go out to them as well as Mike C. [Michael 'The Gook' Couls], and the others who were hurt, but it was 'his' choice to come to our concert with a hunting knife, standing by our dressing door. Who knows what his actual intent was?! Obviously he wasn't there with it to cut bread for a peace offering as he was heard saying outside he was putting an end to us playing without him. Let's move on now and stop the trash-talking. Keep that PMA — that's what we are all."
Cro-Mags frontman John Joseph gave an interview to the New York Post once the dust settled saying he was not surprised by Flanagan's actions:
“Nobody in the band likes him,” Joseph said — especially victims William Berario and Michael Couls, who had to be stitched up at Bellevue Hospital.
To the Cro-Mags, Joseph claims, Flanagan is nothing more than a thief who’s stolen “tens of thousands of dollars” from the band and an agitator who causes problems wherever he went.
The band toured in 1986, and Flanagan pocketed every cent, Joseph claimed. “That caused me to lose my apartment and be homeless in 1987,” he said. “I lived hand to mouth.”
According to the write up, Joseph was warning security not to let the former bassist into the venue, as Flanagan was making threats on Facebook that he'd be there (sidenote: really?! Facebook?! So punk rawk!). The meatiest part of the interview is when Joseph is asked if he ever wants to see Flanagan again:
“You could offer me $100,000; I wouldn’t do it. I hope his ass goes to Rikers with his swastika tattoo,” Joseph said.
Ouch! With that said, Flanagan does seem to have his supporters. A fund has been set up to help Flanagan pay his ever-mounting legal fees. Unlike with the Randy Blythe situation, where the band could afford to pay the legal fees and it was setup as an answer to fans constantly asking LOG where they could donate, this is quite the opposite. Flanagan is not a rich man, and if he ever wants to see the sunlight again, it's going to require some good lawyers. The fund website tries to defend Harley's actions:
All of the details aren't going to get out,or get presented properly in a court of law if Harley doesn't get top notch legal representation. And he's going to have a nightmare mounting a defense rotting in the Tombs or Ricker's Island in lieu of bail.
C'mon people,everybody knows Harley,he doesnt react short of reason.So he didnt just show up and do things because it was a dull Friday and he was bored. When I last heard anything from him,he's was exceedingly happy about passing his black belt test,and wasnt even discussing the Cro Mags.
I'm sure the many eyewitnesses will have something to say about this. The saddest part of the story is Flanagan has two children who are unable to see their father because he acted irrationally, and pointlessly went out looking for trouble.
