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Keith Morris
Actor

Keith Morris

18 Sep 1955Born
71Age
14Credits
Hermosa Beach, CaliforniaBirthplace

Biography

Keith Brian Morris (born September 18, 1955) is a European-American singer and songwriter known for his role as frontman of the hardcore punk bands Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and Off!. Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, he formed Black Flag at the age of 21 with guitarist Greg Ginn and performed on the band's 1979 debut EP Nervous Breakdown. Shortly after leaving Black Flag in 1979, he formed the Circle Jerks with guitarist Greg Hetson; the band released seven albums between 1980 and 1995 and have broken up and reformed on numerous occasions. In 2009 Morris formed the supergroup Off! with guitarist Dimitri Coats, bassist Steven Shane McDonald, and drummer Mario Rubalcaba.

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Morris has also appeared as a guest vocalist on several albums by other artists.

In 1976, Morris co-founded Black Flag (then-known as Panic) along with guitarist Greg Ginn. Their work ethic proved too challenging for some early members; Ginn and Morris had an especially hard time finding a reliable bass guitarist, and often rehearsed without a bassist, a factor that contributed to the development of Ginn's distinctive, often low-pitched guitar sound. The band went through three bass players before Chuck Dukowski joined and then Robo answered a Pennysaver ad and became their drummer.

After a number of line-up changes, Morris recorded vocals for the first Black Flag EP Nervous Breakdown. After two years in the band, Morris left the band citing, among other reasons, creative differences with Ginn and Dukowski and his own "freaking out on cocaine and speed." Morris stated in his autobiography he had also become disillusioned with what he saw as Black Flag's "militaristic" approach to practicing, despite not getting many shows at the time, and being left "out of the loop" on decisions for the band

After leaving Black Flag in 1979, Morris founded the Circle Jerks, along with former Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. They were soon joined by Roger Rogerson (bass) and Lucky Lehrer (drums). In contrast to the top-down decision-making of Black Flag, the Circle Jerks agreed on collective decisions for material and performances. Morris and the band increased their global popularity after being featured in the Penelope Spheeris 1981 documentary The Decline of Western Civilization. Cited as one of the most important hardcore punk groups, the Circle Jerks were active until 1990, when Hetson left the band to continue playing guitar and release a number of albums with Bad Religion.

Known for

Filmography

  1. TBAFlipside Video Fanzine Number 1Film
  2. TBAI'd Rather Be Turned Into Cat FoodFilm: Officer Rational (voice)
  3. 202540 Watts from NowhereFilm
  4. 2023Free LSDFilm: Keith
  5. 2018The Icarus Line Must DieFilm: Keith
  6. 2017The Outhouse: The Film 1985-1997Film
  7. 2017ScumbagFilm: John Stevens
  8. 2012Circle Jerks: My Career as a JerkFilm
  9. 2007Plate o' Shrimp: Punk Rock, Sci-Fi and the Making of Repo ManFilm
  10. 2001The Best of Flipside Video Vol. 1Film: Performers (as Circle Jerks)
  11. 1996Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the HoodFilm: Dave the Crackhead
  12. 1984Repo ManFilm: Nightclub Band Member
  13. 1983Flipside Video Fanzine Number TwoFilm
  14. 1982The Slog MovieFilm

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.