Former Member Harley Flanagan Suing Cro-Mags Over Name Usage

The Cro-Mags are facing a legal challenge to their band name from former member Harley Flanagan. Flanagan is credited as the founding member of the group and he claims that despite leaving the group in 2002, the band's members have continued to use the name without his consent.

According to the New York Post, Flanagan exited the group in 2002 around the time his son was about to be born and he left the group to be with his family. In his lawsuit, he claims that around 2002 the other members of the group took over the band and continued to use the name without his permission. They then continued to tour and the group is currently in the midst of a trek that takes them to Europe in June.

Flanagan is claiming copyright infringement, saying that he trademarked the name for merchandise in 2009, for recording in 2010 and then again in 2017.

There is a history of bad blood between Flanagan and the band as the onetime singer-bassist showed up at the group's 2012 performance at New York's Webster Hall where he allegedly attacked two people, including one band member, with a hunting knife, causing the group to cancel the show. Assault and weapons charges against Flanagan were eventually dismissed.