Black Flag's initial run was nothing if not volatile. First was the hardcore punk pioneers' legendarily violent shows. Then there was the group's ranks of former members, which seemed to swell each year. But from '78 to '85, the chaos spawned one stone-cold classic after another, with the band frequently breaking new ground even as they purposely alienated chunks of their audience along the way.
Last year, a reanimated Black Flag released What The ..., the band's first album in 28 years. The record featured Ron Reyes on vocals, whose original tenure in the band ended with him being credited as "Chavo Pederast" on the 1980 EP Jealous Again after the singer quit in the middle of a set. This go-round he was booted from the band while touring Australia. He was replaced by pro skater Mike Vallely, who also sings in another band with Ginn called Good for You. This version of Black Flag will play Exit/In tonight. The Cream sent Vallely a few questions via email. See his answers after the jump.
How did you and Greg Ginn first meet and start working together?
Greg and I met in early 2003 when the band I was in at the time, Mike V and the Rats, was doing some shows supporting Greg. That led to me doing guest vocal spot at the 2003 BLACK FLAG benefit shows at the Hollywood Palladium, and Greg and I eventually working together on new music which became the band Good for You.
You've talked about Greg and Ron Reyes having different philosophies in their approaches to Black Flag. Can you elaborate on that? What was the source of conflict between them?
Nothing really to elaborate on. It just didn’t work out. With the wheels rolling now on our tour, I’m pretty much done with discussing this issue. I’ve said all I’ve had to say. It’s in the rear-view mirror… Shrinking daily.
In the interview with Rolling Stone you talked about What The ... being a sub-par record. Is the band disappointed with how that album turned out? If so, how do you think it fell short?
It is what it is. What I think about the record at this point doesn’t really matter. My focus is on the music we're working on now.
Is there a specific new element that you've tried to introduce to the band as the vocalist?
No. I’m just continuing to do what I’ve been doing. Bringing the same energy and presence to this band as I’ve brought to the other bands I’ve been in.
Have you been working on new Black Flag material? If so, has the writing process differed from when you played with Ginn on the Good for You record?
We are always working on music. None of it is designated as BLACK FLAG at this point. We don’t want to hinder the creative process by designating anything as such and such. The process is more important than the destination. Everything sorts itself out. The way we work has continued to evolve in many ways, but really is basically the same as when we started the Good for You stuff.
With the Black Flag/Flag/Rollins lawsuit settled, are you allowed to talk about it? Any comments?
At this point there’s really nothing further to say. It’s over and everything has come out in the wash as it usually does. It’s too bad Greg had to take such a course of action to protect his trade marks and creative output, but that’s the hand that those guys chose to play.
Do you have a favorite Black Flag record?
My War.
