What I See: The Black Flag Photographs of Glen E. Friedman

About the Author\nGlen E. Friedman, one of the most important photographers of his generation, is known for his influential and iconic images of rebellious artists from classic skateboarding, punk, and hip-hop cultures. As a true artist his process was much more incendiary than it was documentary. Friedman, first published at the age of fourteen, has produced over one hundred record covers, countless magazine pages, and almost a dozen books, including DogTown: The Legend of the Z-Boys, Keep Your Eyes Open, The Idealist, Recognize, My Rules, and Together Forever: The Run-DMC and Beastie Boys Photographs. His work is now included in a number of notable international collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution\nChuck Dukowski (born Gary Arthur McDaniel; February 1, 1954) is a Californian punk rock musician, best known as a founding member and bass player for Black Flag. Dukowski wrote some of Black Flag's most popular songs, including "My War," "What I See," "I've Heard It Before" and "Spray Paint." He left the band before the release of My War, and afterward served as Black Flag's manager. Dukowski was also the co-owner of SST Records until 1990, after which he served as head of sales until leaving the label in the late 1990s. After Black Flag, Dukowski continued to play in Würm, SST supergroup October Faction, and formed his own band SWA in 1985 with Merrill Ward of Overkill. Dukowski has a new band with artist and musician (and his wife) Lora Norton called The Chuck Dukowski Sextet. They released their debut album, Eat My Life, on Dukowski's own Nice & Friendly Records in 2006. In 2013, Chuck launched Flag with former Black Flag members Keith Morris, Bill Stevenson, Dez Cadena, and Descendents/All guitarist Stephen Egerton to perform the music of Black Flag. He appeared in the documentaries The Decline of Western Civilization, Open Your Mouth And Say . . . Mr. Chi Pig, We Jam Econo, Urban Struggle: The Battle of the Cuckoo's Nest, and Clockwork Orange County (also known as We Were Feared).\nA stunning collection of the most iconic photographs ever taken of Black Flag, along with never-before-seen shots and a foreword by Chuck Dukowski. 256 jam-packed pages, over 300 photographs, and over 70% of the photos have never been seen.
"[A] lively, lavishly assembled collection of Black Flag photos . . . Fury is palpable throughout the book—even rehearsals look like barnburners."
—Los Angeles Times
"This gorgeous book collects [Friedman’s] photographs chronologically, while capturing the full intensity, drama, and ethos of the group . . . For those of us who were too young to be there, this is the next best thing. These still images come to life with every turn of the page, so put on Damaged and dig in."
—The Big Takeover
"Many of Friedman's photos of the band midperformance include, critically, galvanized audience members, which reinforces the idea that early punk was a social movement. Friedman . . . has been fighting the good fight with his lens for decades. What I See documents a band standing in for any artist committed to questioning rules and living with integrity."
—Shelf Awareness, STARRED Review
What I See: The Black Flag Photographs of Glen E. Friedman is an incredible compilation of all of Friedman's most iconic and recognizable images (from 1980 to 1983), of this seminal American punk band, as well as over one hundred never-before-seen photos made during those phenomenal peak years in the group’s history.
The book includes a foreword by Chuck Dukowski, a cofounder and bass player of Black Flag. Friedman’s own introduction to the book takes readers through his journey with the group, from the very first time he heard their music, to his perspectives on the music of the era, to the how, why, and what Black Flag were doing at the time. His words provide additional context to the imagery, explaining what drove him to create his art alongside the band.
From the stre