Who created the distinctive four-bar Black Flag logo?

Raymond Pettibon created the distinctive four-bar Black Flag logo.

Pettibon, born Raymond Ginn, designed the image for Black Flag, the influential American hardcore punk band founded by his brother Greg Ginn. The logo consists of four vertical black bars that resemble a waving flag, making it especially effective on flyers, records, shirts, and other inexpensive DIY materials.

Pettibon also created much of Black Flag’s early visual artwork and contributed drawings and comics to punk culture more broadly. His images often combine stark black-and-white lines with literary or unsettling text, giving the band’s presentation a style that extended beyond ordinary concert promotion.

A common mix-up is identifying Greg Ginn as the logo’s designer. Ginn founded Black Flag and played guitar, but Pettibon was responsible for the iconic graphic identity. Pettibon later became known internationally as an artist independent of the band.