Black Flag play first show with new lineup, shortly after FLAG’s first show in 6 years (watch both)

The two competing versions of Black Flag are both back at it, including Greg Ginn’s band with three members who look about 50 years younger than him.

Jun 11, 2025 - 20:05

Black Flag play first show with new lineup, shortly after FLAG’s first show in 6 years (watch both)

Back in April, Greg Ginn revealed a new lineup of Black Flag that features vocalist Max Zanelly, bassist David Rodriguez, and drummer Bryce Weston–three members who weren’t born until many years after Black Flag first broke up. The band then announced a 30+ city European tour, and last night (6/10) they played their first show at Sofia, Bulgaria venue Mixtape 5.

YouTube user Andy Kay posted a video of the band’s full 80-minute set, and it’s a very strange thing to see the 71-year-old Ginn playing classics like “Six Pack” and “Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie” with a lineup of kids who might actually be younger than Ginn was when he wrote those songs. It’s also… not as bad as I assumed it’d be? Maybe? Judge for yourself below.

Greg Ginn brought Black Flag back from the dead in 2013 with vocalist Ron Reyes (from 1980’s classic Jealous Again EP), and they released the divisive album What The… that same year. Reyes’ time in the band was short-lived and his split was not amicable, and he ended up being replaced by pro skater Mike Vallely (who also sang with Black Flag during a brief 2003 reunion), who left the band earlier this year. Ginn also sued FLAG–the Black Flag offshoot featuring Keith Morris, Dez Cadena, Stephen Egerton, and Bill Stevenson–in 2013, but lost. The following year, he was accused of child abuse by his ex-wife.

FLAG meanwhile played their first show in six years at Punk Rock Bowling last month. If you’d like to compare and contrast the two competing versions of Black Flag, you can watch a full-set video of their PRB set by Geoffrey Gardner below as well.