Black Flag’s Final Breakup: Exhaustion, Politics and DIY Pressure in Late 80s Hardcore

In this episode we dig into why Black Flag—an icon of American hardcore—disbanded in 1986 after a decade of touring, creative clashes and mounting financial strain. We trace the band’s rotating lineup, the tension between guitarist‑label founder Greg Ginn and vocalist Henry Rollins, the pressures from SST Records’ limited pressings and the physical toll that ultimately broke the band apart.

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