Barred For Life: How Black Flag's Iconic Logo became Punk Rock's Secret Handshake

(Paperback)

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Description

In this fascinating and brutal photographic exploration, the legacy of American Punk Rock pioneers Black Flag is examined through stories, interviews and photographs of diehard fans who wear their iconic logo, The Bars, conspicuously tattooed upon their skin. Stewart Ebersole provides a personal narrative describing what made the existence of Punk Rock such an important facet in his and many other people's lives, as well as the role that Black Flag's actions and music played in sound tracking the ups-and-downs of living as self-imposed cultural outsiders.

Reviews

"Barred for Life is a book with heart. It also avoids the trap that similar single-subject photo books fall into. There's actually a narrative arc, thanks to a series of interviews with former band members interspersed throughout, telling the story of the band and its fans."
--BlackBook

"Most band tattoos look like complete shit. But Black Flag transcends this rule because even the shoddiest stick 'n' poke versions of the punk band's logo, four rectangular bars, somehow always look great. Having a crooked and faded set of the bars myself, this compilation reminds me of how meeting others who've defaced themselves similarly often means meeting your new best friend or future wife."
--VICE

"While the book is packed with insightful interviews and tales from inked fans and band members, it's Castaldi and Ebersole's beautiful black and white photos that are most impressive, and leap kicking and screaming from the pages."
--Bizarre

Author Bio

Stewart Ebersole is a writer, photographer, freelance designer, and builder who dedicated much of his time to punk rock culture between 1982 and 2002. Jared Castaldi is a professional photographer. They both live in Philadelphia.