Former Cro-Mags bassist Harley Flanagan has opened up about the stabbing incident that took place at the CBGB Festival last weekend, which left two current Cro-Mags in the hospital over their wounds. Giving his side of the story to NY Natives, Flanagan, who was charged with two counts of second degree assault and a weapons charge, claimed he acted in self-defence after he was allegedly jumped in a Webster Hall dressing room.
While reports claim Flanagan stormed the backstage area, the musician said he went to the concert with good intentions, and had even planned to bring his children to the show. He was caught off-guard, however, when he was allegedly yanked into the dressing room and locked in with some apparently violent assailants.
"When I saw that door get pulled shut I was literally fighting for my life. I was afraid these guys were going to kick me half to death, roll me down the back steps and that no one would see it... and there would be no witnesses and that would be that," he said. "All I could think about was getting home safe to my kids...I wanted to save my life, to protect myself and these guys were trying to do me in."
Flanagan likened the experience to an "old fashion biker beat down," which eventually led him to stab William Berario and Michael Couls with a hunting knife. "Fuck, these dudes, their intention is to fuck me up, they don't want no one to see it they're trying to beat the shit out of me," Flanagan explained. "So what I did was defend my life."
He said the situation got confused once security arrived, with one guard stepping on Flanagan's back to hold him down, and another employee choking him out. While it was previously reported that Flanagan suffered a broken leg in an attempted escape, the hardcore vet insists it is also a stab wound (you can see photos of Flanagan's wounds here at NY Natives).
"[It] was just grotesque… the blood was bubbling out of it... the tendons was literally hanging out of my leg… That's why people started saying that's a compound fracture… It was until I got cleaned up in the ambulance they realized it was more of a stab wound. And that's when the cops put me on the chair. And they put me in the ambulance."
The bassist went on to add that he had hoped the concert would have brought him closer to his former band, and could have quashed the longstanding beef with singer John Joseph. Apparently, he thought they could unite under the Cro-Mags banner once again.
"We don't have to be in love with each other to get along, and be respectful and chill and put things back the way they should be instead of the way they are now. Well evidently I'm the only one that felt that way which is kind of sad."
Fundraisers for both Couls's medical bills and Flanagan's legal woes are still active. You can Paypal funds to MikeAndKrisCouls@gmail.com or head to Flanagan's defence fund over here.
While reports claim Flanagan stormed the backstage area, the musician said he went to the concert with good intentions, and had even planned to bring his children to the show. He was caught off-guard, however, when he was allegedly yanked into the dressing room and locked in with some apparently violent assailants.
"When I saw that door get pulled shut I was literally fighting for my life. I was afraid these guys were going to kick me half to death, roll me down the back steps and that no one would see it... and there would be no witnesses and that would be that," he said. "All I could think about was getting home safe to my kids...I wanted to save my life, to protect myself and these guys were trying to do me in."
Flanagan likened the experience to an "old fashion biker beat down," which eventually led him to stab William Berario and Michael Couls with a hunting knife. "Fuck, these dudes, their intention is to fuck me up, they don't want no one to see it they're trying to beat the shit out of me," Flanagan explained. "So what I did was defend my life."
He said the situation got confused once security arrived, with one guard stepping on Flanagan's back to hold him down, and another employee choking him out. While it was previously reported that Flanagan suffered a broken leg in an attempted escape, the hardcore vet insists it is also a stab wound (you can see photos of Flanagan's wounds here at NY Natives).
"[It] was just grotesque… the blood was bubbling out of it... the tendons was literally hanging out of my leg… That's why people started saying that's a compound fracture… It was until I got cleaned up in the ambulance they realized it was more of a stab wound. And that's when the cops put me on the chair. And they put me in the ambulance."
The bassist went on to add that he had hoped the concert would have brought him closer to his former band, and could have quashed the longstanding beef with singer John Joseph. Apparently, he thought they could unite under the Cro-Mags banner once again.
"We don't have to be in love with each other to get along, and be respectful and chill and put things back the way they should be instead of the way they are now. Well evidently I'm the only one that felt that way which is kind of sad."
Fundraisers for both Couls's medical bills and Flanagan's legal woes are still active. You can Paypal funds to MikeAndKrisCouls@gmail.com or head to Flanagan's defence fund over here.