
Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos directed by Rex Miller is a raw and unfiltered documentary that explores the tumultuous life of Harley Flanagan, the founder of the hardcore punk band Cro-Mags. The film traces Flanagan’s journey from a chaotic childhood in New York City’s Lower East Side to his rise in the punk scene at age 11 as the drummer for his aunt’s band, the Stimulators. Through candid interviews with Flea, Henry Rollins, Ice T, Michael Imperioli, Matt Serra, the Late Anthony Bourdain and more, the documentary looks at Flanagan’s transformation from a life of violence and trauma.
The film had its world premiere at DOC NYC and was also featured at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival. Directed and Produced by Emmy and Peabody Award-winner Rex Miller (Citizen Ashe), produced by Laura Flanagan, it will be released in theaters beginning June 20, 2025.
According to the official synopsis: Founder of the pioneering band Cro-Mags, Harley Flanagan is a punk rock/hardcore legend who’s defied the odds – along with neglect, sexual abuse, drugs, violence and PTSD — and lived to tell the tale. The feature-length documentary, Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos, dives headfirst into the wild life and times of this larger-than-life icon and is a no-holds-barred ride, that isn’t just about the music; it’s about a man forged in fire who’s lived to tell the tale.
Raised by a Warhol Factory “it” girl, Harley was thrown into the Lower East Side’s underground scene in the ’70s. Left to fend for himself, by his teens, he was squatting in Alphabet City, stealing food, dodging gangs, and living in a world that he describes as “some serious Lord of the Flies shit.” But, as his life descended into a hellish day-to-day, he was simultaneously becoming a punk rock legend: at the age of 11, he was drumming at CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City with his aunt’s band, the Stimulators. Sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll weren’t a choice – they were survival. But Harley was a fighter. Whether on stage, in the streets, or in the Jiu-Jitsu gym with Renzo Gracie, he never backed down. As the ferocious frontman of the Cro-Mags, he pushed NYC Hardcore into uncharted territory. But violence, addiction and a traumatic past left deep scars. The streets made him, but they also nearly destroyed him.
Critics have praised the film for its unfiltered portrayal of Flanagan’s life. The Hudsonian describes it as “a new and refreshing watch, with no filter every viewer is entitled to a raw, grunge-esc, and serendipitous experience” and commends the depth added by interviews with Flanagan’s friends, including Flea, Ice-T, Henry Rollins, members of the Bad Brains, Jocko Willink.
Watch the official trailer for Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos.