Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: No known aliases

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Hermosa Beach, California

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 14

TV Involvements: 1


Most Famous Work

Biography

Keith Morris (born September 18, 1955) is an 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. 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.

Most Famous Work

The Decline of Western Civilization
Average
7
Punk
Average
8

Punk

(2019) Self
Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All
Average
8
American Hardcore
Average
7

American Hardcore

(2006) himself
Sticky: A (Self) Love Story
Average
5
Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt
Average
0
The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead
Average
8
25 Years of Punk
Average
6

25 Years of Punk

(2001) Self

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2023 Keith
2019 Self
2018 Keith
2017 Himself
N/A
John Stevens
2016 Self
2015 Self
Himself
2013 Self
N/A
2012 N/A
2011 Self
2010 Himself
2007 Self
N/A
2006 himself
2005 Himself
Self
2001 Self
Himself (as Circle Jerks)
Performers (as Circle Jerks)
1996 Dave the Crackhead
1984 Nightclub Band Member (as The Circle Jerks)
Himself
1983 N/A
1982 N/A
1981 Self
Himself
Self
N/A
Year Character Movie/Tv

Production

Year Role Movie/Tv
2023 Producer
Year Role Movie/Tv

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