Introduce yourself…
I am Coop..the vocals, Jason Dissent on guitar, Ryan Cox on drums, and Ian Down on bass.
How did the band start?
The band was started by myself, Coop, and Jason out of a desire to create the kind of punk we want to hear in LA. Not much was going on in the way of Oi! influenced punk rock, so we set out to make music we'd want to hear.
How did you come up with the name?
White Flag Down, means never surrender, never give up. So whether it be keeping an Oi! influenced band going in LA, surviving in this economy, or just plain keeping your fists up... we never surrender.
Who would you say are your influences?
CockSparrer, The Glory, The Blood, The Business, Betrayed, 4Skins, Rose Tattoo, Johnny Thunders, The Ejected, etc..
What was the punk scene like in California?
We started this band after the end of a large boom in the punk scene. When all the "big" punk bands started coming around less and less and when many of the young upstarts had out grown punk and moved on to college or decided they were done wearing bondage belts. Pay to play had some how become the standard here in the LA area. Which meant that only rich kids bands or bands that had already achieved a decent following were able to play the larger venues here in LA with the legendary bands of old that were still going. Now the scene has thinned out even more and is just the bands that really want to play and fans that really want to be here. It's back to the core now.
Describe the song writing process...
Either I say that I have a new song written, write me some riffs for it or Jason comes up with a riff and I form lyrics around what's in my head. It all starts from there and then is brought to the rest of the band for completion and fine tuning.
You released the 'Malcontent Killing Machine' album, tell us about the album...
Most of it was recorded on Halloween Night 2009 in Hollywood at Riot Riot Studios. Each song was completed in 1 to 3 takes because we knew those songs well but mostly because that's all the time we could afford with the money we borrowed from drug dealers, bookies and other criminals. No joke. True story.
Have you released anything else?
No, but we are currently recording an album at Downtown Sound Studio with Phillip "Philco" Raves of Mystic Records fame.
Tell us about the lineup...
The line up was formed by Coop and Jason Dissent in 2008, the band has seen line up changes with talented musicians borrowed from various L.A bands. We've been through more drummers than Spinal Tap. However, the line up was solidified over the past year with Ian Down on bass and Ryan Cox on drums.
Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
We've played with some national touring acts but we'd rather mention the bands here in the LA trenches keeping the scene going with us: A Pretty Mess, Dirty Eyes, Symbol Six, The UV's and Rodents of Unusual Size are some of the bands we cross paths with most.
Where have you toured?
We concentrate on the west coast.
Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
Dirty Eyes and A Pretty Mess
Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
The Redwood, Three Clubs and The Troubadour was a really fun show. But not the Cobalt... ever.
What do you see is the future of White Flag Down?
Never Surrender!!!
How can people contact the band?
www.punkrockers.com/whiteflagdown
www.facebook.com/whiteflagdown
the website is in the works, and for cute little punk rock girls 867-5309.
good band, but they would do a lot better if they had a better drummer, his bass drum is always off
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