Harley Flanagan is a Punk Rock/ Hardcore legend, known as the father of New York City Hardcore and the founder of the pioneering band Cro-Mags. He has had a cult following since the 80s. While Harley’s journey as a musician is certainly explored, Wired for Chaos centers on the lasting effects of neglect, sexual abuse, drugs, violence and the integration of PTSD into his present-day life. This is a film about an extraordinary life, and the survival of astounding circumstances against crazy odds. Harley was a child prodigy musician, forced to raise himself in the very adult world of Rock ‘n Roll. He was born to a Warhol Factory “it” girl, enmeshed in the Lower East Side artist sub-culture of the late 70s and 80s, surrounded by “sex, drugs and rock n roll.” Harley was brought to the Lower East Side as a child and left to fend for himself, eventually living in squats in Alphabet City, stealing food and battling local gangs to survive. He descended into the depths of Hell with drugs and violence (as victim and later perpetrator), simultaneously achieving Punk Rock legend status at iconic venues like CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City, first as an 11-year-old drummer in the Stimulators and later touring the world as founder and frontman of the groundbreaking NYC Hardcore/ crossover group Cro-Mags. As Harley visits his friends throughout the film (Flea, Henry Rollins, Roger Miret, Keith Morris, Daryl Jennifer, Michael Imperioli, Matt Sera, Jocko Willink, Renzo Gracie the late Anthony Bourdain – to name a few), a layered, complex portrait of life in the late 70s/80s Punk and Hardcore scene set in the violent, drug-filled Lower East side emerges.
What We Thought:
I’ll be honest I was not familiar with Harley Flanagan so Harley Flanagan: Wired For Chaos was an eye-opening look into the man. I have heard of the band Cro-Mags, but can’t name you one of their songs. I know other musicians in the documentary like Flea and Henry Rollins, but Harley’s story was all brand new to me.
And what a story it is. From his father leaving early on, his mother and him traveling around for a while including her knowing Andy Warhol, heading to Europe and then settling down in New York where he would eventually grow up and get into music, stability was never an option. His life was full of street people and he started playing music early on to escape that life. School became secondary as he soon found himself as the drummer for the band The Stimulators which was his first real escape.
A trip to Northern Ireland got him into the skinhead/hardcore scene and he left that band to start making his own music. He once again found himself traveling and living wherever he could. From the West Coast to Canada and other places, soon girls, drugs and violence were staples in life. He would eventually find some success with Cro-Mags, but violence and heroin had a big hold on him. He’d get sober, have some kids and turned to Jiu-jitsu to find peace. He had one more incident with the law that also helped him find love. He definitely lived the life.
Now obviously if you are familiar with him then Harley Flanagan: Wired For Chaos is for you. If you like 70s punk and 70s/80s hardcore music it’s for you as well. The cameos are pretty wild with musicians like Flea and Henry Rollins, but also the late Anthony Bourdain and Navy SEAL turned writer/podcaster Jocko Willink. Even though I wasn’t familiar with the music I found the story interesting and was curious to see how it all turned out. If you like rock docs then it is…
Recommended!
Bonus Materials
- Cro-Mags Live at Hellfest 2022
- Flea: Extended Conversation
- Anthony Bourdain: Extended Scene
- Henry Rollins on Hardcore
- Michael Imperioli on Harley
- Drawn to Hardcore
- Lamont: The Subway Cellist
- 40-minute interview with Carlos Ramirez
Cast & Crew
Actors:
- Harley Flanagan
- Anthony Bourdain
- Michael Imperioli
- Erica James Bradel
- Flea
- Glen E. Friedman
- Scott Ian
- Ice-T
- Glenn Danzig
- Laura Lee Flanagan
- Sacha Jenkins
- Nefertiti Jones
Director: Rex Miller
The Nerds Templar 