Take a deep dive – and a stage dive – into the incredible life of the godfather of NYC Hardcore.
It’s kind of incredible that there hasn’t been a documentary on Harley Flanagan until now. The founder (and now sole remaining original member) of the Cro-Mags has had one of those lives – so packed with danger, drama, chaos, and the pure, brutal power of punk that it’s a wonder he made it this far. Now, director Rex Miller, himself a veteran of the NYC punk scene of the ’70s, is telling the whole torrid tale in this must-see doco.
Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos Trailer
What’s the plot?
Let’s go to the press kit:
Founder of the pioneering band Cro-Mags and a legend of the NYC Hardcore scene, Harley Flanagan is a punk rock icon who has battled chaos, defied the odds, and come out the other side.
But while his career has been a no-holds-barred ride, Wired for Chaos isn’t just about the music, it’s about a man forged in fire – a survivor of neglect, sexual abuse, drugs, violence and PTSD – who’s lived to tell the tale.
Raised by a Warhol Factory “it” girl, Harley was thrown into the Lower East Side’s underground scene in the ’70s. Left to fend for himself, by his teens, he was squatting in Alphabet City, stealing food, dodging gangs, and living in a world that he describes as “some serious Lord of the Flies shit.”
But, as his life descended into a hellish day-to-day, he was simultaneously becoming a punk rock legend: at the age of 11, he was drumming at CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City with his aunt’s band, the Stimulators. Sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll weren’t a choice – they were survival.
But Harley was a fighter. Whether on stage, in the streets, or in the Jiu-Jitsu gym with Renzo Gracie, he never backed down. As the ferocious frontman of the Cro-Mags, he pushed NYC Hardcore into uncharted territory.
But violence, addiction and a traumatic past left deep scars. The streets made him, but they also nearly
destroyed him.
This film dives deep into Harley’s past, but it’s not just war stories. It’s about what happens after. Friends
like Flea, Henry Rollins, Roger Miret, Keith Morris, Michael Imperioli, Matt Sera, Jocko Willink, and the late
Anthony Bourdain reveal the man behind the legend – confronting demons, raising a family, and sharing the knowledge of his experience to help others.
Harley Flanagan didn’t just live hardcore – he is hardcore. Wired for Chaos is his story – loud, unfiltered, and real as hell.
Who’s in it?
Why, Harley Flanagan, of course, plus an incredible roster of interview subjects and commentators, including:
- Flea, Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Henry Rollins, Black Flag / Henry Rollins Band
- Ice T, Actor and Frontman, Body Count
- Ian Mackaye, Minor Threat / Fugazi / Dischord Records
- Keith Morris, Black Flag / Circle Jerks/ OFF
- Michael Imperioli, Actor (The Sopranos, White Lotus)
- Lucy Sante, Author
- Anthony Bourdain, Author / Raconteur
- Matt Serra, MMA / BJJ / UFC World Champion
- Renzo Gracie, BJJ World Champion / Gracie Family
- Sacha Jenkins, Writer, Musician, Filmmaker
- Jocko Willink, Navy Seal / Best-selling Author
- Denise Mercedes, Stimulators
- Darryl Jenifer, Bad Brains
- Kate Schellenbach, Beastie Boys / Luscious Jackson
- Glenn Danzig, The Misfits / Danzig
- Scott Ian, Anthrax
- Brooke Smith, Actress (The Silence of the Lambs, Grey’s Anatomy)
When’s it out?
Word on an Australian release date is imminent, we’re told. But if you’re in the US, Wired for Chaos is rolling out in June and July. To wit:
June 15 | New York | Roxy Cinema
June 18 | Portland, OR | Hollywood Theatre
June 25 | Santa Ana | The Frida Cinema
June 26 | Los Angeles | American Cinematheque at Los Feliz 3
June 27 | Los Angeles | Laemmle Glendale
June 29 | San Francisco | Roxie Cinema
June 30 | Seattle | Grand Illusion Cinema
July 1 | Tempe | Harkins Theatre Tempe Marketplace 16
July 2 | Austin | Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
July 5 | Philadelphia | PhilaMOCA
July 9 | Minneapolis | Trylon Cinema
July 11 | Chicago | Patio Theater
July 17 | Somerville | Somerville Theatre
What’s the vibe?
We’re keen as hell for this one.
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