Keith Morris#FLAG

File:Punk icon Keith Morris in Los Angeles 2017 photograph by Ithaka Darin Pappas.jpg

Morris was born September 18, 1955, and grew up in Hermosa Beach, California.{{sfn|Chick|2009|p=10}} Morris is Jewish.{{cite web |last1=Brannon |first1=Bella |title=Keith Morris- A Jewish Perspective from the Punk Rock Legend |url=https://haam.org/keith-morris-a-jewish-perspective-from-the-punk-rock-legend/ |website=Ha'Am: UCLA's Jewish Newsmagazine |access-date=21 March 2024 |archive-date=21 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321185808/https://haam.org/keith-morris-a-jewish-perspective-from-the-punk-rock-legend/ |url-status=live }} His father, Jerry, had been a budding jazz drummer in his youth and practiced with visiting jazz groups at the Lighthouse Café. Jerry later opened a bait shop in the 1970s and struck up a friendship with jazz record producer Ozzie Cadena (both men's sons, Keith and Dez, later became singers in Black Flag).{{sfn|Chick|2009|pp=9–10}} Keith attended Mira Costa High School, where brothers Greg and Raymond Ginn were also students, and graduated in 1973.{{sfn|Chick|2009|p=10}}{{sfn|Chick|2009|pp=14—15}} He then studied fine art and painting at the Pasadena Arts Center while working at his father's bait shop.{{sfn|Chick|2009|p=11}} One of his co-workers at the shop was Bill Stevenson, a Mira Costa student eight years Morris' junior who would also go on to be a member of Black Flag.{{sfn|Chick|2009|p=13}}

Morris and his friends spent their spare time hanging out by the Strand under Hermosa Beach pier, where they took drugs: "I'd get off work, and we'd get up to trouble," he later recalled, "smoking angel dust, snorting elephant tranquilizers. Just real goofy, 'why-would-you-want-to-do-that?' kinda stuff, the kind of thing you get up to when you're young, and into experimenting. If it was a good experience, then cool; if not, well, then it was just a real hard lesson learned."{{sfn|Chick|2009|p=12}} His early musical tastes included various rock acts such as Bob Seger, Foreigner, Montrose, Styx, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Queen, Ten Years After, Status Quo, Uriah Heep, UFO, the Scorpions, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, and the MC5, "any kind of fist-pumping, 'flick-your-bic' rock. I was into anything that was loud".{{sfn|Chick|2009|pp=12—13}} He became a freely opinionated and passionate fan of heavy rock and protopunk, and took a job working at local record store Rubicon Records.{{sfn|Chick|2009|p=14}}

In 1976, Morris co-founded Black Flag (then-known as Panic) along with guitarist Greg Ginn. Their work ethic proved too challenging for some early members; Ginn and Morris had an especially hard time finding a reliable bass guitarist, and often rehearsed without a bassist, a factor that contributed to the development of Ginn's distinctive, often low-pitched guitar sound. The band went through three bass players before Chuck Dukowski joined and then Robo answered a Pennysaver ad and became their drummer.{{Cite web|last=McNeil|first=Legs|author-link=Legs McNeil|title=Keith Morris: Black Flag!|url=https://pleasekillme.com/keith-morris-black-flag/|work=Please Kill Me|date=August 11, 2015|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320173408/https://pleasekillme.com/keith-morris-black-flag/|url-status=live}}

After a number of line-up changes, Morris recorded vocals for the first Black Flag EP Nervous Breakdown. After two years in the band, Morris left the band citing, among other reasons, creative differences with Ginn and Dukowski and his own "freaking out on cocaine and speed."{{Cite web|last=Comaratta|first=Lee|title=Interview: Keith Morris (of OFF!)|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2012/05/interview-keith-morris-of-off/2/|work=Consequence of Sound|date=May 14, 2012|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=October 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006211623/https://consequence.net/2012/05/interview-keith-morris-of-off/2/|url-status=live}} Morris stated in his autobiography he had also become disillusioned with what he saw as Black Flag's "militaristic" approach to practicing, despite not getting many shows at the time, and being left "out of the loop" on decisions for the band.{{sfn|Morris|Ruland|2017|pp=84-87}}

After leaving Black Flag in 1979, Morris founded the Circle Jerks, along with former Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. They were soon joined by Roger Rogerson (bass) and Lucky Lehrer (drums). In contrast to the top-down decision-making of Black Flag, the Circle Jerks agreed on collective decisions for material and performances.{{sfn|Morris|Ruland|2017|pp=96-97}} Morris and the band increased their global popularity after being featured in the Penelope Spheeris 1981 documentary The Decline of Western Civilization.{{sfn|Morris|Ruland|2017|pp=118-119}}

Cited as one of the most important hardcore punk groups, the Circle Jerks were active until 1990, when Hetson left the band to continue playing guitar and release a number of albums with Bad Religion.

The Circle Jerks reunited in 1994 and released their last studio album to date in 1995. The group performed on and off until 2011, when they went back on hiatus. In November 2019, plans were announced for a 2020 reunion tour in support of the 40th anniversary of their 1980 album, Group Sex,{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/circle-jerks-reforming-for-40th-anniversary-of-group-sex-playing-punk-rock-bowling/|title=Circle Jerks reforming for 40th anniversary of 'Group Sex,' playing Punk Rock Bowling|work=Brooklyn Vegan|date=November 22, 2019|access-date=November 22, 2019|archive-date=November 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123004735/http://www.brooklynvegan.com/circle-jerks-reforming-for-40th-anniversary-of-group-sex-playing-punk-rock-bowling/|url-status=live}} however the tour was postponed until September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/circle_jerks_unveil_rescheduled_40th_anniversary_tour|title=Circle Jerks Unveil Rescheduled 40th Anniversary Tour|work=Exclaim!|date=July 19, 2021|access-date=April 13, 2022|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403070254/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/circle_jerks_unveil_rescheduled_40th_anniversary_tour|url-status=live}}

The band continued touring North & South America with the Descendents in 2023 and 2024 and Europe in 2025.{{cite web |last1=Biagiotti |first1=James |title=Concert Review: Descendents at Revolution Live |url=https://bocamag.com/concert-review-descendents-at-revolution-live/ |website=Boca Magazine |access-date=October 5, 2024 |date=April 3, 2024 |archive-date=October 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006211623/https://bocamag.com/concert-review-descendents-at-revolution-live/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Hatfield |first1=Amanda |title=Descendents & Circle Jerks announce fall co-headlining tour |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/descendents-circle-jerks-announce-fall-co-headlining-tour/ |website=Brooklyn Vegan |access-date=October 5, 2024 |date=April 16, 2024 |archive-date=May 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511064519/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/descendents-circle-jerks-announce-fall-co-headlining-tour/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Pilley |first1=Max |title=Descendents and Circle Jerks announce 2025 UK and European co-headline tour |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/descendents-and-circle-jerks-announce-2025-uk-and-european-co-headline-tour-3813811 |website=NME |access-date=April 15, 2025 |date=November 18, 2024}}

In 2010, Morris formed Off! with Dimitri Coats from Burning Brides when the Circle Jerks could not agree on material for a new album.{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/38470 |title=Keith Morris (OFF!, Black Flag, Circle Jerks) |date=May 31, 2010 |publisher=Punknews.org |access-date=2011-10-21 |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829232225/http://www.punknews.org/article/38470/interviews-keith-morris-off-black-flag-circle-jerks |url-status=live }} They were soon joined by bassist Steven Shane McDonald from Redd Kross and drummer Mario Rubalcaba from Earthless/Rocket From The Crypt/Hot Snakes.{{Cite news|last=Hann|first=Michael|title=Black Flag's Keith Morris: why I formed Off!|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/05/black-flag-keith-morris-formed-off|newspaper=The Guardian|date=July 5, 2012|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=October 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006211623/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/05/black-flag-keith-morris-formed-off|url-status=live}}

Morris stated in a 2011 interview that Off! was asked to open future dates for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and were agreeable despite potential criticism from their fans.{{cite web |url=http://mercercluster.com/?p=3106 |title=Getting "Off!" with Keith Morris | The Cluster |publisher=Mercercluster.com |date=2013-06-16 |access-date=2013-08-01 |archive-date=2014-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204214735/http://mercercluster.com/?p=3106 |url-status=live }} Ultimately, Off! ended up not touring with Red Hot Chili Peppers, though singer Anthony Kiedis wore an Off! hat at every show of the band's I'm with You World Tour, as well as some of their music videos.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bigdayout.com/2012/off/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615182836/http://www.bigdayout.com/2012/off/|url-status=dead|title=OFF! | Summer 2013|website=Bigdayout.com|archive-date=15 June 2013}} Morris had performed in place of Kiedis in 1984 when the latter was a no-show for an early RHCP concert in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |last=Schimkowitz |first=Matt |date=2023-10-26 |title=Flea explains how Keith Morris fronted the Red Hot Chili Peppers for one hot minute |url=https://www.avclub.com/flea-keith-morris-red-hot-chili-peppers-hot-ones-1850963603 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=2024-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214161738/https://www.avclub.com/flea-keith-morris-red-hot-chili-peppers-hot-ones-1850963603 |url-status=live }}{{sfn|Sloman|Kiedis|2004|pp=219–225}}

Off! released a compilation of their first years' work on Vice Records, followed by three studio albums. Their final album, Free LSD, released in 2022, is to be used as the soundtrack to a science fiction film of the same name due for release in 2024. The film was written and directed by guitarist Dimitri Coats, with band members in starring roles.{{cite web |last1=Appleford |first1=Steve |title=OFF!’s Cosmic Comeback |url=https://www.spin.com/2022/07/off-free-lsd-interview/ |website=SPIN |access-date=November 1, 2024 |date=July 22, 2022}} The band announced their breakup in 2024, performing three farewell shows in July of that year to promote the film and album.{{cite web |last1=Appleford |first1=Steve |title=Off!’s final act: Punk legend Keith Morris and company go out with a bang onstage and on film |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-07-26/off-final-show-keith-morris-belasco-theater-free-lsd-film |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 1, 2024 |date=July 26, 2024}}

In 2013, Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Dez Cadena, Bill Stevenson and Descendents member Stephen Egerton, created FLAG as an offshoot of Black Flag.{{cite web |last1=Woodhead |first1=Adam |title=Capture the FLAG: Keith Morris on growing up in punk, and his autobiography ‘My Damage’ |url=https://www.metrotimes.com/music/capture-the-flag-keith-morris-on-growing-up-in-punk-and-his-autobiography-my-damage-2448407 |website=Metro Times |access-date=October 8, 2024 |date=June 8, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001174250/https://www.metrotimes.com/music/capture-the-flag-keith-morris-on-growing-up-in-punk-and-his-autobiography-my-damage-2448407 |url-status=live }} As of 2013, they were only touring. No plans for an album have been announced.{{cite web |author=Greg Prato |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/black-flag-reunites-for-album-live-dates-20130128 |title=Black Flag Reunite for Album, Live Dates | Music News |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2013-01-28 |access-date=2013-08-01 |archive-date=2017-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016173840/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/black-flag-reunites-for-album-live-dates-20130128 |url-status=live }}{{Infobox musical artist

| background = group_or_band

| name = FLAG

| genre = {{hlist|Hardcore punk|Sludge metal|Cover}}

| years_active = 2013-

| spinoff_of = Black Flag

| current_members = *Keith Morris

• Chuck Dukowski
• Dez Cadena
• Bill Stevenson
• Stephen Egerton

}}

After the Circle Jerks' first break-up in 1990, Morris led the bands Bug Lamp{{cite web |author=BILL LOCEY |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-11-vl-305-story.html |title=MUSIC BUG LAMP : A Jerk No More : Keith Morris' new band will hit Santa Barbara tonight. It might be a good idea to bring along some earplugs |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1991-04-11 |access-date=2013-08-01 |archive-date=2020-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130065844/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-11-vl-305-story.html |url-status=live }} and Midget Handjob.{{cite magazine |author=John D. Luerssen |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/keith-morris-comes-full-circle-with-midget-handjob-20000927 |title=Keith Morris Comes Full Circle with Midget Handjob |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2000-09-27 |access-date=2013-08-01 |archive-date=2017-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603224308/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/keith-morris-comes-full-circle-with-midget-handjob-20000927 |url-status=live }} He also provided backing vocals on "Operation Rescue", from Bad Religion's album Against the Grain (1990).

Morris also narrated Chris Fuller's 2007 Gotham Award-nominated independent film Loren Cass.

Morris appeared as the DJ for the West Coast Punk Rock station Channel X in the video game Grand Theft Auto V released on September 17, 2013.{{cite web |last1=Stutz |first1=Colin |title=Rockstar Music Head on ‘Grand Theft Auto V’: We’ve Topped What’s Come Before |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/rockstar-music-head-grand-theft-649258/ |website=Hollywood Reporter |access-date=April 15, 2025 |date=October 26, 2013}}

In 2016, Morris released an autobiography called My Damage: The Story of a Punk Rock Survivor.{{cite web|last=Young|first=Simon|title=14 things we learned from punk legend Keith Morris' new book|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/keith-morris-black-flag-circle-jerks-off-punk-la-my-damage-book|work=Louder Sound|date=September 1, 2016|access-date=June 27, 2020|archive-date=October 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006211624/https://www.loudersound.com/features/keith-morris-black-flag-circle-jerks-off-punk-la-my-damage-book|url-status=live}}

After years of addiction to drugs and alcohol, Morris has been sober since 1988.{{Cite web|last=Norton|first=Justin|title=Q&A: Keith Morris (Black Flag/Circle Jerks) on His New Memoir|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2016/09/15/q-a-keith-morris-black-flag-circle-jerks-on-his-new-memoir/|work=Decibel|date=September 15, 2016|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923001759/https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2016/09/15/q-a-keith-morris-black-flag-circle-jerks-on-his-new-memoir/|url-status=live}}

In 1999, he was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes.{{Cite web|last=Sellers|first=John|title=Tough Questions for Keith Morris of OFF!|url=https://www.spin.com/2010/11/tough-questions-keith-morris/|work=Spin|date=November 22, 2010|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320173410/https://www.spin.com/2010/11/tough-questions-keith-morris/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Prindle|first=Mark|title=Keith Morris – 2003|url=http://www.markprindle.com/morris-i.htm|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304074114/http://www.markprindle.com/morris-i.htm|url-status=live}}

On April 13, 2022, it was revealed on the Circle Jerks' Facebook page that Morris had contracted and was recovering from COVID-19.{{cite web |title=CIRCLE JERKS Postpone Shows After Singer KEITH MORRIS Tests Positive For COVID-19 |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/circle-jerks-postpone-shows-after-singer-keith-morris-tests-positive-for-covid-19/ |website=Blabbermouth |access-date=16 April 2022 |date=13 April 2022 |archive-date=14 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414010909/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/circle-jerks-postpone-shows-after-singer-keith-morris-tests-positive-for-covid-19/ |url-status=live }}

• Nervous Breakdown (1979)
• Tracks 1-9 Everything Went Black (1982)

{{main article|Circle Jerks discography}}

• Group Sex (1980)
• Wild in the Streets (1982)
• Golden Shower of Hits (1983)
• Wonderful (1985)
• VI (1987)
• Gig (1992)
• Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities (1995)

• "Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)" on Gabba Gabba Hey: A Tribute to the Ramones (1991)
• "El Dorado" on Roadside Prophets soundtrack (1992)
• "The Ballad of Dwight Fry" on Welcome to Our Nightmare: A Tribute to Alice Cooper (1993)

• Midnight Snack Break at the Poodle Factory (2000)

• 1st EP (2010){{Cite web |url=http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=186554 |title=Off! – 1st EP |publisher=Interpunk.com |access-date=2014-03-25 |archive-date=2015-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227123124/http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=186554 |url-status=live }}
• First Four EPs (2010)
• "Compared to What" (2011)
• Live at Generation Records (2011)
• Sugar Daddy Live Split Series Vol. 3 (split with the Taylor's) (2012)
• Off! (2012)
• The Music of Grand Theft Auto V ("What's Next) (2013)
• Live at 9:30 Club (2013)
• Wasted Years (2014)
• "Learn to Obey" (2014){{cite web |url=http://www.theblotsays.com/2014/03/rsd-2014-exclusive-off-x-obey-giant.html |title=RSD 2014 Exclusive Off! x Obey Giant "Learn To Obey" 7" Single Vinyl Record |publisher=The Blot Says.com |date=March 21, 2014 |access-date=2014-03-25 |archive-date=2014-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325173639/http://www.theblotsays.com/2014/03/rsd-2014-exclusive-off-x-obey-giant.html |url-status=live }}
• Live From the BBC (2015)
• The Metallica Blacklist ("Holier than Thou") (2021)
• Free LSD (2022)

;Footnotes

{{reflist|2}}

;Bibliography

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Chick |first=Stevie |title=Spray Paint the Walls: The Story of Black Flag |publisher=Omnibus Press |year=2009 |location=London |isbn=978-1-84772-620-9 }}
• {{cite book|last1=Morris|first1=Keith|last2=Ruland|first2=Jim|title=My Damage: The Story of a Punk Rock Survivor |year=2017 |publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn=978-0306825804}}
• {{cite book |last1=Sloman |first1=Larry |author-link=Larry Sloman |last2=Kiedis |first2=Anthony |author-link2=Anthony Kiedis|year=2004 |title=Scar Tissue |publisher=Hachette Books|isbn= 978-1401301019 |title-link=Scar Tissue (autobiography) }}

{{Refend}}

• {{IMDb name|0606704}}

{{Black Flag}}

{{Circle Jerks}}

{{Off!}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Keith}}

Category:1955 births

Category:Living people

Category:American male singer-songwriters

Category:American punk rock singers

Category:People from Hermosa Beach, California

Category:American rock songwriters

Category:Hardcore punk musicians

Category:Black Flag (band) members

Category:Circle Jerks members

Category:Rollins Band members

Category:Off! members

Category:Singer-songwriters from California