About Chuck Dukowski
Born 1954. Chuck Dukowski is an American musician.
Gary Arthur McDaniel (born February 1, 1954), better known by his stage name Chuck Dukowski, is an American punk rock musician. He is most well-known for being the bass player and an occasional songwriter for Black Flag.
Early life Gary Arthur McDaniel was born on February 1, 1954 in Los Angeles County, California to an American father and German mother. McDaniel spent the first few years of his life living in Germany, before his family eventually moved back to Southern California. The family would first reside in the Holly Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, before settling in San Pedro. McDaniel was raised in a self-described middle-class family in San Pedro, where his father worked for the industrial company TRW, though McDaniel would temporarily move back to Germany with his family while his father worked on the Telstar satellite project, where he attended a year of elementary school.
Dukowski attended San Pedro High School and later Chadwick School, where he played football. After graduation, he went to college to study psychobiology. By 1977, the band had moved to Hermosa Beach and lived in a communal house called "the Würmhole" but Würm broke up later that year. Dukowski left the band in 1983 before the recording of My War, and afterward served as Black Flag's manager. He was responsible for booking nationwide and worldwide tours until 1986. Dukowski wrote or co-wrote some of Black Flag's most popular songs, including "My War," "The Bars," "I Love You," and "Modern Man". Dukowski started SST Records with Ginn in 1978 and was a co-owner until 1989. which continued until guitarist Ed Danky died. and SWA, formed in 1985 with Merrill Ward of Overkill. They released their debut album, Eat My Life, on Dukowski's own Nice & Friendly Records in 2006. In 2013 Chuck launched Flag with former Black Flag members Keith Morris, Bill Stevenson, Dez Cadena, and Descendents/All guitarist Stephen Egerton to perform the music of Black Flag.
He appeared in the documentaries The Decline of Western Civilization, Open Your Mouth And Say... Mr. Chi Pig, We Jam Econo, Urban Struggle: The Battle of the Cuckoo's Nest, and We Were Feared (Clockwork Orange County).
FLAG
In 2013, Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Dez Cadena, Bill Stevenson, and Descendents member Stephen Egerton created FLAG as an offshoot of Black Flag. , they are only touring. No plans for an album have been announced.
Stage name "Chuck Dukowski" is a stage name, originating from a Zippo lighter with "Chuck the Duke" inscribed on it that he found while searching for change. Feeling that the name "Chuck the Duke" sounded macho, he wanted to add a Polish sounding last name, as Poles were frequently picked on. He turned "Chuck the Duke" into "Chuck Dukowski". Dukowski was credited under his real name on original pressings of Black Flag's Nervous Breakdown EP, as well as in the documentary film The Decline of Western Civilization and its companion soundtrack album. He is credited as "Charles Dukowski" on Black Flag's Damaged LP.
Discography
Black Flag Nervous Breakdown EP (1979) – bass Jealous Again EP (1980) – bass/vocals "Louie Louie" single (1981) – bass Six Pack EP (1981) – bass Damaged LP (1981) – bass TV Party EP (1982) – bass Everything Went Black double LP (1983) – bass Slip It In LP (1984) – guest backing vocals
SWA Your Future (If You Have One) (1985) – bass Sex Dr. (1986) – bass XCIII (1987) – bass Evolution 85–87 (1988) – bass Winter (1989) – bass Volume (1991) – bass/vocals
Chuck Dukowski Sextet Eat My Life (2006) – bass/guitars Reverse the Polarity (2007) – bass Haunted (2012) – bass
Other Wurm – I'm Dead EP (1982) – bass/vocals Wurm – Feast LP (1985) – bass October Faction – October Faction (1985) – bass/vocals October Faction – Second Factionalization (1986) – bass/vocals Chuck Dukowski/Paul Cutler/Bill Stinson – United Gang Members CD (1994) – bass/vocals Black Face – "I Want to Kill You / Monster" 7" (2011) Bl'ast – For Those Who've Graced The Fire! single (2015) – bass (as guest)
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Important facts
People in Chuck Dukowski's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Chuck Dukowski's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Chuck Dukowski?
American musician
When was Chuck Dukowski born?
Chuck Dukowski was born on 1 February 1954 in Long Beach.
What is Chuck Dukowski's occupation?
Chuck Dukowski is a musician.
What nationality is Chuck Dukowski?
Chuck Dukowski is American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Chuck Dukowski. https://biography.guide/chuck-dukowski/
MLA: "Chuck Dukowski." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/chuck-dukowski/.
Chicago: "Chuck Dukowski." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/chuck-dukowski/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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