Which American punk band released the 1981 album 'Damaged'?

The American punk band that released the 1981 album Damaged was Black Flag. Formed in Hermosa Beach, California, Black Flag became one of the central forces in American hardcore punk, known for fast songs, abrasive guitar, relentless touring, and a fiercely independent approach to recording and distribution.

Damaged was the band’s debut studio album and was released by SST Records in November 1981. It marked the arrival of Henry Rollins as lead vocalist, following earlier singers including Keith Morris, Ron Reyes, and Dez Cadena. Key songs such as “Rise Above,” “Six Pack,” “TV Party,” and “Nervous Breakdown” made the record a lasting hardcore landmark.

The album’s release was complicated by a dispute involving Unicorn Records and MCA, which initially refused to distribute it. Black Flag and SST eventually issued the record independently, reinforcing the do-it-yourself ethos that shaped the American hardcore scene. Circle Jerks, Minor Threat, and Dead Kennedys were important punk bands, but none released this album.