Gary Arthur McDaniel (born February 1, 1954), better known by his stage name Chuck Dukowski, is an American

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

musician. He is most well-known for being the bass player and an occasional songwriter for Black Flag.

Career

Early years

Dukowski was born on February 1, 1954, and raised in a self-described middle-class family in

San Pedro, Los Angeles San Pedro ( ; ) is a neighborhood located within the South Bay (Los Angeles County), South Bay and Los Angeles Harbor Region, Harbor region of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los ...

, California, where his father worked for the industrial company TRW. Dukowski's mother was German, and her family lineage had many musicians and composers. Dukowski attended San Pedro High School and later Chadwick School, where he played football. After graduation, he went to college to study psychobiology.

Würm

Dukowski's first band was Würm, which started in 1973. By 1977, the band had moved to

Hermosa Beach Hermosa Beach (, Spanish language, Spanish for "Beautiful") is a beachfront city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its population was 19,728 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census. The city is located in the South Ba ...

and lived in a communal house called "the Würmhole" but Würm broke up later that year.

Black Flag

Keith Morris and Greg Ginn were regulars at Würmhole parties. in 1977, Dukowski joined their Morris and Ginn's band, Panic, before they played their first show. Panic changed their name to Black Flag after discovering another band using the name "Panic". Dukowski left the band in 1983 before the recording of '' My War'', and afterward served as Black Flag's manager. He was responsible for booking nationwide and worldwide tours until 1986. Dukowski wrote or co-wrote some of Black Flag's most popular songs, including "My War," "The Bars," "I Love You," and "Modern Man". Dukowski started SST Records with Ginn in 1978 and was a co-owner until 1989. During Black Flag's appearance in '' The Decline of Western Civilization'', he is credited as Gary McDaniel.

Later projects

After Black Flag, Dukowski reformed Würm, which continued until guitarist Ed Danky died. Other bands Dukowski formed include SST "supergroup" October Faction, and SWA, formed in 1985 with Merrill Ward of Overkill. Dukowski has a new band with his wife, artist and musician Lora Norton, and son Milo called The Chuck Dukowski Sextet. They released their debut album, '' Eat My Life'', on Dukowski's own Nice & Friendly Records in 2006. In 2013 Chuck launched Flag with former Black Flag members Keith Morris, Bill Stevenson, Dez Cadena, and

Descendents The Descendents are an American punk rock band formed in Manhattan Beach, California, in 1977, by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson (musician), Bill Stevenson as a power pop/surf music, surf punk band. I ...

/ All guitarist Stephen Egerton to perform the music of Black Flag. He appeared in the documentaries '' The Decline of Western Civilization'', ''Open Your Mouth And Say... Mr. Chi Pig'', '' We Jam Econo'', ''Urban Struggle: The Battle of the Cuckoo's Nest,'' and ''We Were Feared (Clockwork Orange County)''.

FLAG

In 2013, Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Dez Cadena, Bill Stevenson, and

member Stephen Egerton created FLAG as an offshoot of Black Flag. , they are only touring. No plans for an album have been announced.

Stage name

"Chuck Dukowski" is a stage name, originating from a Zippo lighter with "Chuck the Duke" inscribed on it that he found while searching for change. Feeling that the name "Chuck the Duke" sounded macho, he wanted to add a Polish sounding last name, as Poles were frequently picked on. He turned "Chuck the Duke" into "Chuck Dukowski". Dukowski was credited under his real name on original pressings of Black Flag's ''

Nervous Breakdown A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness, a mental health condition, or a psychiatric disability, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. A mental disorder is ...

'' EP, as well as in the documentary film '' The Decline of Western Civilization'' and its companion soundtrack album. He is credited as "Charles Dukowski" on Black Flag's '' Damaged'' LP.

Discography

Black Flag

* ''

'' EP (1979) – bass * '' Jealous Again'' EP (1980) – bass/vocals * " Louie Louie" single (1981) – bass * '' Six Pack'' EP (1981) – bass * '' Damaged'' LP (1981) – bass * '' TV Party'' EP (1982) – bass * '' Everything Went Black'' double LP (1983) – bass * '' Slip It In'' LP (1984) – guest backing vocals

SWA

* ''Your Future (If You Have One)'' (1985) – bass * ''Sex Dr.'' (1986) – bass * ''XCIII'' (1987) – bass * ''Evolution 85–87'' (1988) – bass * ''Winter'' (1989) – bass * ''Volume'' (1991) – bass/vocals

Chuck Dukowski Sextet

* '' Eat My Life'' (2006) – bass/guitars * ''Reverse the Polarity'' (2007) – bass * ''Haunted'' (2012) – bass

Other

* Wurm – ''I'm Dead'' EP (1982) – bass/vocals * Wurm – ''Feast'' LP (1985) – bass * October Faction – ''October Faction'' (1985) – bass/vocals * October Faction – ''Second Factionalization'' (1986) – bass/vocals * Chuck Dukowski/Paul Cutler/Bill Stinson – ''United Gang Members'' CD (1994) – bass/vocals * Black Face – "I Want to Kill You / Monster" 7" (2011) * Bl'ast – ''For Those Who've Graced The Fire!'' single (2015) – bass (as guest)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dukowski, Chuck 1954 births Living people American punk rock bass guitarists American male bass guitarists Black Flag (band) members Hardcore punk musicians American male guitarists 20th-century American bass guitarists