--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After I left D.C. to join Black Flag, I…" description: "\"After I left D.C. to join Black Flag, I felt I was in a band.\" — Henry Rollins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/henry-rollins-170_band_after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-fe_748320.png" --- # After I left D.C. to join Black Flag, I felt I was in a… ![“After I left D.C. to join Black Flag, I felt I was in a band.” quote by Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/henry-rollins-170_band_after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-fe_748320.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/henry-rollins-170_band_after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-fe_748320.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/henry-rollins-170_band_after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-fe_748320.png) > “After I left D.C. to join Black Flag, I felt I was in a band.” [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He compares moving from politics to punk as joining a collective, emphasizing the sense of belonging and shared purpose in a band. **In simple terms:** Leaving politics felt like joining a group with a common cause. Key Takeaway Seek community where you feel aligned. Themes identity belonging music politics community Mood reflective energetic Type personal musical cultural When to use this quote - starting a new job - joining a team - entering a subculture - career change Key Concepts subculture collective identity personal transformation Questions to Reflect On - How does group identity shape personal values? - When does belonging become conformity? A Different Perspective May overlook individual autonomy within group dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flag/) [Flags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flags/) ## Related quotes > [I mean Black Flag happened. I was lucky. I don't think I could have put together something with one percent of that oomph on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-mean-black-flag-happened-i-was-lucky-i-don-t-think-i-could-have-put/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Black Flag was formed in 1977. We first recorded in 1978.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/black-flag-was-formed-in-1977-we-first-recorded-in-1978/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [When Black Flag and DOA and all those bands were touring in the early 80s, it was kind of a forest and you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/when-black-flag-and-doa-and-all-those-bands-were-touring-in-the-early/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [As soon as slavery fired upon the flag it was felt, we all felt, even those who did not object to slaves, that slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/as-soon-as-slavery-fired-upon-the-flag-it-was-felt-we-all-felt-even/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [What kind of motivated me to join the Black Panther Party was that I, along with some of the comrades that I was working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sekou-odinga/what-kind-of-motivated-me-to-join-the-black-panther-party-was-that-i/) [Sekou Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sekou-odinga/) > [I always felt in my band and in the pop-rock format that I wasn't weird enough, that I wasn't standing out enough. Wearing things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassadee-pope/i-always-felt-in-my-band-and-in-the-pop-rock-format-that-i-wasn-t/) [Cassadee Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassadee-pope/) > [I think I've always felt as a band and as a musician and a music business person, I've always felt like an outsider, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/i-think-i-ve-always-felt-as-a-band-and-as-a-musician-and-a-music/) [Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/) > [My dad has totally taken my Cat Stevens T-shirt, but it's OK; I have his Black Flag one, and that's amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/my-dad-has-totally-taken-my-cat-stevens-t-shirt-but-it-s-ok-i-have/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [People from major labels were afraid to go to Black Flag gigs throughout most of the bands existence. They treated our gigs as something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/people-from-major-labels-were-afraid-to-go-to-black-flag-gigs/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [“I am cool with people. I am not the one at the top of the water tower with the rifle at all. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-am-cool-with-people-i-am-not-the-one-at-the-top-of-the-water-tower/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [A flag translates into everything, from tacky souvenirs to the names of organizations and the way that flags function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-baker/a-flag-translates-into-everything-from-tacky-souvenirs-to-the-names/) [Gilbert Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-baker/) > [When I think of the flag… I see alternate strips of parchment upon which are written the rights of liberty and justice, and stripes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/when-i-think-of-the-flag-i-see-alternate-strips-of-parchment-upon/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The flag represents all the values and the liberties Americans have and enjoy everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shuster/the-flag-represents-all-the-values-and-the-liberties-americans-have/) [Bill Shuster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shuster/) > [We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle, Our Flag will be recognized throughout the World as a symbol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/we-are-determined-that-before-the-sun-sets-on-this-terrible-struggle/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) ## More by Henry Rollins > [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In the summer of '84, you just couldn't escape the Born in the USA record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/in-the-summer-of-84-you-just-couldn-t-escape-the-born-in-the-usa/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [We spend millions of dollars to remove pain from our lives. It's why so many people get hooked on painkillers. The body becomes addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/we-spend-millions-of-dollars-to-remove-pain-from-our-lives-it-s-why/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Sleep is for squares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/sleep-is-for-squares/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's a lot of mountain climbers trapped inside of bodies of people behind the counter at Kinko's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-a-lot-of-mountain-climbers-trapped-inside-of-bodies-of-people/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-i-lose-the-light-of-the-sun-i-will-write-by-candlelight-moonlight/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was raised in Washington, DC, very violent place. I grew up with violence. My introduction to music was violent. The years I've spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-raised-in-washington-dc-very-violent-place-i-grew-up-with/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel pain everyday of my life. When you see me perform, it's that pain you're seeing coming out. I put all my emotions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-pain-everyday-of-my-life-when-you-see-me-perform-it-s-that/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel close to people like Jimi Hendrix because I connect with his music. Not the man but what he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-close-to-people-like-jimi-hendrix-because-i-connect-with-his/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe in various degrees of hatred, paranoia, and abandonment. However much of that gets heaped upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-or-destiny-i-believe-in-various-degrees-of/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Young, gay and stuck in Arkansas? Sounds like a horror flick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/young-gay-and-stuck-in-arkansas-sounds-like-a-horror-flick/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was never told to "Get up, get out there, get a job." It was never a thing either parent ever said I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-never-told-to-get-up-get-out-there-get-a-job-it-was-never-a/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's no retirement, there's just a few years of non-work by the fire with someone bringing you some tea and relative peace and playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-no-retirement-there-s-just-a-few-years-of-non-work-by-the/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I love being a storyteller. I love telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-love-being-a-storyteller-i-love-telling-stories/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) [Explore all 1,006 Henry Rollins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/) [Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) Browse all 6,497 Band quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After I left D.C. to join Black Flag, I felt I was in a band.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Rollins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-felt-i-was-in-a-band/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Band" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-felt-i-was-in-a-band/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/henry-rollins-170_band_after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-fe_748320.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/henry-rollins-170_band_after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-fe_748320.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/henry-rollins-170_band_after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-fe_748320.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After I left D.C. to join Black Flag, I felt I was in a band.” — Henry Rollins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Rollins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "After I left D.C. to join...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-felt-i-was-in-a-band/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-felt-i-was-in-a-band/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```