Seminal tattooed New York Hardcore Thrash Crossover act dating back to 1981, noted for plying aggressive music whilst professing peaceful Hare Krishna beliefs. CRO-MAGS founder vocalist / bassist Harley Flanagan started out whilst a young teenager in Punk band THE STIMULATORS prior to forming MODE OF IGNORANCE ('M.O.I.') with guitarist Doug Holland and drummer Petey Hines. The inaugural CRO-MAGS line-up featured Flanagan, Holland, who had also had a previous stint in KRAUT, vocalist John 'Bloodclot' Joseph McGeown, guitarist Dave Stein and drummer Dave Hahn ('The Mad').

McGeown soon exited and in 1982 Eric J. Casanova was adopted as lead vocalist, Maxwell Mackie Jayson took over on drums whilst Kevin 'Parris' Mitchel Mayhew assumed guitar duties from Stein. McGeown rejoined the ranks in 1984, replacing Casanova. The following year Flanagan's erstwhile MODE OF IGNORANCE colleague guitarist Doug Holland joined the band. CRO-MAGS underwent further membership tribulations in 1986 as MODE OF IGNORANCE's Petey Hines took on the drummer's role. Former drummer Maxwell Mackie Jason was subsequently found in a variety of bands including BAD BRAINS, ICEMAN, URBAN BLIGHT and BLITZSPEER as the CRO-MAGS debuted officially for Rock Hotel Records with the album 'The Age Of Quarrel'.

John Joseph McGeown departed in 1987 and Flanagan took over on lead vocal. 1989 witnessed an album 'Best Wishes' for the Profile label and yet more turbulent times for the band as drummer Petey Hines decamped in favour of the returning Mackie. Before long however Mackie was out, turning up in BAD BRAINS once more. Further flux followed when long standing guitarist Doug Holland was replaced with Rob Buckley. German imprint Century Media Records took the band on for a third album set, 'Alpha Omega' recorded at Normandy Sound in Rhode Island with engineer Tom Soares and released in May 1991.

A 1992 album was crafted again at Normandy Sound by a line-up of consisting Flanagan, Holland, McGeown and new blood guitarist Gabby Abularach and drummer Dave DiCenso. However, the stability was not to last and by the issue of the 'Near Death Experience' album that August CRO-MAGS had effectively become a duo of Flanagan and McGeown. Rob Buckley returned to the ranks the following year. Worse was to come though and Flanagan, keeper of the flame for so long, quit just prior to the album release.

1994's live album release, 'Hard Times In An Age Of Quarrel', provided fans with an overview of the band's recent history with a two disc set comprising of a 1991 show from the Hollywood Palladium and a 1994 gig from Studio One in New Jersey.

Flanagan created WHITE DEVIL, issuing a solitary 1995 EP, and was to produce and perform on the debut 1997 album from STIGMATA 'Hymns For An Unknown God'. Meantime, CRO-MAGS had re-formulated once again, having drawn in the veteran figure of Craig Setari, from SICK OF IT ALL and AGNOSTIC FRONT amongst others, on bass.

Joseph founded a fresh act BOTH WORLDS with ex-LEEWAY members for a 1998 album 'Memory Rendered Visible' Mayhew reunited with Flanagan the following year to create SAMSARA with ex-SUICIDAL TENENCIES guitarist Rocky George. The CRO-MAGS was reformed by Harley Flanagan in 1999, now seeing Rocky George on guitar and Ryan Krieger on drums, for a 2000 album 'Revenge' for Cargo Records and European festival dates. Rob Buckley joined CRO-MAGS for a third term of duty in 2001.

By early 2002 Flanagan had re-emerged touting a fresh act HARLEY'S WAR in union with ex-SUICIDAL TENDENCIES guitarist Rocky George and former WARZONE guitarist Jay Vento. Guitarist Scott Roberts temped for BIOHAZARD's European dates that year.

Australian dates for February of 2003 witnessed a CRO-MAGS line up incorporating vocalist John Joseph, Rocky George on guitar, LEEWAY's A.J. Novello second guitar, Franklin Rhi from CROWN OF THORNZ and SHELTER on bass along with SMOKESCREEN, PARLIAMENT and FUNKEDELIC man Gary "G-man" Sullivan manning the drums. Founder member Harley Flanagan, excluded from this line-up, slammed the Rocky George led band as "the NO-MAGS".

In early January 2006 two former CRO-MAGS members, vocalist John Joseph and guitarist Scott Roberts announced the formation of BLOODCLOT in union with former BIOHAZARD drummer Danny Schuler and bassist Craig Setari.

Garry Sharpe-Young