Former Cro-Mags vocalist John Joseph has firmly rejected any possibility of a reunion while sharply criticizing band founder Harley Flanagan over the decision to re-record the group’s 1986 debut album The Age Of Quarrel.
Flanagan’s newly recorded version of the album is set to appear in the documentary “Harley Flanagan: Wired For Chaos,” with a full standalone release expected later this year to coincide with the record’s 40th anniversary. Joseph, however, has made it clear that he is neither involved nor supportive of the project.
Speaking during a recent appearance on “The T&F Podcast,” Joseph addressed the re-recording directly, stating (as transcribed by Blabbermouth):
“It’s already recorded. None of the original members that played on the record are involved. I guess my former bass player feels — whatever. I don’t know why he did it. I don’t know. Who cares, dude? I’m doing new music. I mean, the dude put out a five-CD box set — I don’t know — three or four years ago, and without our permission of live performances. [He] didn’t take care of anybody in the band, so whatever, dude. If you need money, I don’t know. Who cares? I’m doing new music. And as far as I’m concerned, that’s a classic record. And I think a lot of people are kind of sounding a similar vibe to the whole thing. Why do that? Go write some new music, dude. So, whatever.”
When the interviewer suggested that remastering the original recording might have been a more appropriate option, Joseph explained why that route was not viable.
“He doesn’t own the masters. Steve Plotnicki from [the defunct record label] Profile owns the masters. We were talking with Joe Nelson [co-founder of Trust Records], who I trust, and they just did the Bad Brains catalog. He’s been trying to get the rights from Steve Plotnicki, but apparently the old bass player threatened him online or whatever, and the guy was, like, ‘Well, now I’m never giving you the masters. And you can sue me. I got millions of dollars’ and whatever the hell. I told Joe anyway, if he puts that record out, I don’t want nothing to do with the re-release. It’s a dead issue at this point for me. I got another Bloodclot record coming out, and I’m doing some other music.”
Joseph also questioned the artistic intent behind re-recording an album so closely associated with his own vocal performances.
“What are you gonna do? You actually think you’re gonna do a better job? And as raw and hardcore as it was… I mean, a lot of people don’t know, I sang that record straight through. I did one song after another after another after another. Is that my vocal ability now? I should hope not. But, anyway, it is what it is. It was a classic time. I came out of the temple and injected … teachings. That’s why I named it The Age Of Quarrel, Kali Yuga, all of that.”
Addressing repeated speculation about a reunion of the classic Cro-Mags lineup, Joseph was unequivocal.
“That dude [Harley] was reaching out to me all the last couple years to do the 40-year reunion. Nobody wants to be involved. That’s where it’s at. And I learned my lesson, after giving somebody multiple chances and just pulling the same old bulls**t over and over and over. Money missing, f**king just treating people like s**t. That’s why G-Man [drummer Garry Sullivan] and all of them just quit. He’s [Harley] got a documentary out. How come none of the original members that were in the Mags are in it? You gotta ask yourself that. I don’t think Kevin [Parris Mayhew] or Doug [Holland] or Mackie [Jayson] or myself would have really anything good to say. So that’s the end of that issue.”
He added plainly:
“There will be no reunion shows. There will be no record. He can go do whatever he wants. I could care less.”
Joseph also responded to comments suggesting that Agnostic Front frontman Roger Miret could have replaced him prior to the recording of The Age Of Quarrel.
“Homeboy [Harley] had the audacity to say, like, ‘I wonder what would’ve happened if we would’ve got Roger instead of [John],’” Joseph said. “It’s, like, you wouldn’t have gotten The Age Of Quarrel. That’s what would’ve happened. And that’s no disrespect to Roger. He’s done great with Agnostic Front. It’s a different vocal style. I got respect for Roger and everything he’s done over the years in Agnostic Front. That’s not a dig at him. But it’s my f**king band. I was in there since day one.”
Joseph went on to challenge claims surrounding Cro-Mags’ early lineup history.
“The original lineup wasn’t even Mackie and Parris. It was me, him on bass, Dave Stein and Dave Hahn, the Bad Brains manager. We rehearsed for months. I mean, it’s in The Big Takeover magazine. There’s the proof. All this s**t, I’m not the original singer and all this, is nonsense. It’s always been to try to discredit me for whatever reason. I could care less.”
Later the same day, Joseph issued a lengthy statement on Facebook clarifying his role in the band’s early years and formally closing the door on any future involvement. He wrote:
“I was the original [Cro-Mags] singer in 1981. When the band broke up in August of 1981 after months of rehearsals — due to reasons the late Dave Hahn gave in The Big Takeover magazine (in the comments). The bass player then formed a cover song band called, ‘THE DISCO SMOOTHIES’ which I wanted nothing to do with. John Berry (RIP), who was a friend, sang at that one show at the Peppermint Lounge. it was not billed as the Cro-Mags.”
“I was glad to be a part of that band over the years, write lyrics, and sing on The Age Of Quarrel as well as other records,” he continued.
“The Age Of Quarrel has stood the test of time because it came from a good place. We were all 100% invested. It was never about money or ego. We were on a mission, and that translated to the live performances as well.”
Joseph concluded:
“I’ve moved on for good from anything involving the Cro-Mags, as I feel its far better to let the legacy of what once was, remain a part of the history that can never be re-lived, re-written, imitated, RE-RECORDED, or erased by anyone.”
