The Black Flag logo is one of punk’s most iconic images. It’s four simple bars that any drunk punk could quickly spray paint on a cop car. But behind those bars is a secret that not many people know. The original Black Flag logo featured five bars, not four.
After years of loose ends, sleepless nights, and ruined marriages, we finally tracked down the fifth bar. To protect its anonymity, let’s call it “Ricky.”
The Black Flag logo was created by Raymond Pettibone, a prolific graphic artist and brother of guitar player Greg Ginn. “Ricky” had collaborated with him on previous art installations, mostly as parts of letters with long straight pieces. Pettibone hired Ricky for the new logo, apparently, Ricky was never on board with the band’s iconography.
The Hard Times: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. You’re not an easy bar to track down.
Ricky: No problem. No problem. It’s about time I tell my story.
Okay, so what exactly happened with you and the rest of the logo?
Back then you to be fucking hardcore to hang out with the ‘Flag, you know? I wasn’t about any of that weak shit, unlike bars two and four.
Was is that simple? Just a difference in lifestyle?
Hell yeah, brother. Lifestyle is everything in hardcore. What’d you think it was about, the music?Posers.
So what have you been doing since the split?
Same thing as always. Living real. I ain’t no theater kid who wants to jump around a stage playing rockstar. I’m real art.
Do you ever speak to any of the bars anymore?
I saw bar three a few years back. He’s in bad shape since they replaced him with some generic vector. Fuckin’ scab.
Thanks again for the time. Any plans for the future?
Hell yeah. Word has it that Bad Religion is looking to hire a new cross part of their logo, so you might not have seen the last of old Ricky after all!