Flag of Democracy

Flag of Democracy (often abbreviated F.O.D.) is an American hardcore punk band formed in 1982 and originally from Ambler, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. The group plays a mixture of melodic punk, frequently with two-part vocal lines, and noisy, dissonant hardcore, often at extreme speeds – many F.O.D. songs push past 200 beats-per-minute. The band never attained commercial success, but enjoys popularity in certain underground circuits, particularly in Europe.^{[citation needed]} They were referenced in lyric by fellow Philadelphia-area rock group the Dead Milkmen in the songs "Nutrition" and "Milkmen Stomp."

History

Formed in 1982, the band played its first show with Minor Threat and Agnostic Front, and would go on to share the stage with thousands of other groups.^{[citation needed]} Singer and guitarist Jim McMongale first formed the band with bassist Zeke Zagar and drummer Mike Giannone, although Zagar was replaced after a few months by Dave Rochon. Zagar would go on to form the Philadelphia skate punk band McRad.

Flag of Democracy's debut 7" Love Songs was released in 1984 on Philadelphia's Speed Of Sound Records. It was followed two years later with the debut LP, Shatter Your Day. In this same year Giannone was replaced by Michigan-based drummer Bob Walker, completing the group's lineup that has lasted over 25 years.

This was followed by extensive touring and the release of the 23, Down with People, Schneller! (a live record), Hate Rock and Everything Sucks albums, the latter four on the German label Bitzcore Records. Several European tours saw Rochon substituted with temporary bassists. For their 2000 album FOD World, the band worked with Philadelphia-area label Creep Records. Their most recently recorded album, Home Lobotomy Kit, had been tied up in complications and awaiting release since 2005, but finally saw the light of day on Mother Box records in 2010.

On November 30, 2007, F.O.D. played their 25th Anniversary Show in Philadelphia at the First Unitarian Church.^[1]

In 2012 the band started reissuing and remastering their back catalog on SRA Records. The first installment is Shatter Your Day, which has been expanded to a double LP containing their entire output from Giannone's four-year tenure.

Band members

Current members

• Jim McMonagle – guitar, lead vocals (1982–present)
• Dave Rochon – bass guitar, backing vocals (1983–present)
• Bob Walker – drums (1986–present)

Former members

• Zeke Zagar – bass guitar (1982–1983)
• Mike Giannone – drums (1982–1986)

Discography

Full-length albums

• Shatter Your Day LP (1986, Buy Our Records. Remastered & reissued, 2013 SRA as 2xLP/2xCD)
• 23 LP (1988, Buy Our Records. Remastered & Reissued, 2013 SRA)
• Down With People CD/LP (1990, Bitzcore Records)
• Schneller! CD/LP (1993, Bitzcore Records)
• Hate Rock CD (1994, Bitzcore Records)
• Everything Sucks CD (1996, Bitzcore Records)
• FOD World CD (2000, Creep Records)
• Home Lobotomy Kit CD/LP (2010, Motherbox Records)

Singles and EPs

• Love Songs 7" (1984 Speed Of Sound Records; re-released in 1990 as Eight Love Songs, Bitzcore Records, re-released in 2013 on cassette and download on SRA Records with unreleased versions included)
• Split 7" w/ Ninefinger (1994)

Compilation appearances

• Get Off My Back compilation LP (1983, Red Music - "Murder Castle", "Suburban Cowboy")
• Flipside Vinyl Fanzine Vol. 1 compilation LP (1984, Gasatanka Records -"Madhouse")
• Another Shot For Bracken compilation LP (1986, Positive Force Records - "The Family Knows")
• Nothing Lasts 7" compilation (1991 Flex Records/Bitzcore - "Shatter Your Day")
• The Best Of Flipside Vinyl Fanzines 2xCD compilation (1993, Flipside Records - "Madhouse")
• For A Fistful Of Yen CD compilation (1994, Bitzcore Records - "Powerload")
• Fuck Loud Music CD compilation (1994, Ox Fanzine - "Gasoline Suit")
• A Joint Effort Between / Uno Sforzo Comune Fra Dynamo Magazine E Audioglobe Records Flexi 7" promo compilation (1995, Dynamo! - "Bleaurgh")
• More Kaos CD compilation (1997, Motherbox Records - "Punk Gun")
• Philly Shreds Volume 1 compilation LP (1999, Schuylkill Records - "Razor Wire")
• Tomorrow Will Be Worse Vol. 3 compilation LP (2002, Sound Pollution Records - "Umi Heto", "#1", "Majin Go")^[2]

References

External links

• F.O.D. MySpace
• Kill From The Heart
• Official F.O.D. website
• SRA Records (reissuing Shatter Your Day and 23)