Die Kreuzen “Pink Flag” b/w “Land of Treason” 1990. Touch and Go Records, produced by Butch Vig. Die Kreuzen’s cover of Wire’s “Pink Flag” seemed appropriate for today; its refrain is “how many dead or alive?” set to a dirge-tempo (which of course eventually speeds up to a more Die Kreuzen breakneck speed). Wire’s original appeared on their 1977 debut Pink Flag, an influential, innovative and amazing first wave punk release. “Land of Treason” is a cover of the Germs’ track from the 1979 LP G.I. and one of my favorites from that album. I love love love the Germs and am admittedly heavily biased, but Die Kreuzen does an adequate job, at least musically. Danny Kubinski is a great guy but his high range punk scream just can’t match Darby Crash’s menacing growl.