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Ron Reyes 

Interviewed
by Gerry-Jenn Wilson

RON REYES

"It is a thrill to have the luxury & opportunity to aid one of the coolest Black Flag singers -- Ron Reyes -- out of his R&R coma! It has been decades since Reyes was featured in the punk rock classic documentary "The Decline Of The Western Civilization." Ron has made R&R history in countless ways, and he continues to inspire bands of the present and the near future! With all that in mind... let us see what this legendary trailblazer of cool has to say to PUNK GLOBE readers today in this NO HOLDS BARRED interview with Gerry-Jenn Wilson!!! I am sure that once RON REYES' tale is out of the bag that Big Daddy Reyes will not remain "VANCOUVER'S BEST KEPT SECRET!!!" for very much longer!!!!!!...CHECK IT OUT!.......

Punk Globe: It's been along time since you've kicked some ass & took some names with Black Flag! What inspired you to join the band originally?

Ron: My inspiration was an ever-transformative love of music and the incredibly massive guitar sound that was Greg Ginn. When I was 12 or 13 years old, I would hang out at my buddies' house where they would sniff glue and listen to Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple all bloody day long. I wasn't into smoking pot and no way was I gonna sniff glue so I would just kick back and listen to their records while they were zoning out. One day as I was flipping through the stack of records I came across David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" album.

I was totally hooked! So that led to some T Rex, Elton John especially the "Don't Shoot Me I'm only the Piano Player" album. Another favourite album was "Never a Dull Moment," by Rod Stewart. Every time "Twisting the Night Away" would come on, I would grab whatever I could find that resembled drumsticks and beat the living crap out of anything that was near. I still go mad every time I hear that song. Then came "Queen" and especially "Queen 2 (one of my top ten faves for sure!!!)." So the heaviness of Sabbath, the glam of Bowie, Elton John's pop, Stewart's R&B, and the outlandish theatrics of Queen laid the foundation of my musical roots.

But when I first heard Kiss around the "Hotter then Hell" album I was placed on the alley way to hell sorta speaking, from a typical teenage music fan to a full blown ok "I JUST GOTTA DO THIS" rock star wannabe! So I would ride to my preppy high school on my skateboard or silver unicycle wearing my custom-made silver lame Ace Frehley space suit and 12' silver and black polka dot platforms I made in wood shop. I would get soooooo harassed for this, nobody thought it was cool, believe me! See what happens when your coach makes you sit at the side of the football field in full Kiss outfit, your makeup melting in the hot California sun while the jocks yell obscenities at you! Never the less I tried putting a band together with a couple of other outcasts but it went nowhere. Then I started to catch glimpses of a small group of glam punk girls who would light up the halls like a breath of fresh air with their spiky hair and colourful clothes and black vinyl lipstick all over the place.

All the preppies and jocks hated them but they got my attention! Something wonderfully strange was brewing. Around the same time, I heard "God Save the Queen," by the Sex Pistols for the first time. A friend of mine gave me the single and that one song totally obliterated everything that had come before' PUNK ROCK KILLED everything in its path. Debby would also introduce me to the Hollywood punk scene that was gathering at the infamous Masque. That's when I became fans of the Germs, the Weirdos, the Screamers, and X. She had a car and would drive into Hollywood to go see long hair rocker bands and drop me off at the Masque and the Whisky for me to see punk bands, we would meet at the end of the night at the after hour parking lot parties at the Rainbow Bar and Grill.

When I couldn't get a ride I would ride my bike twenty-plus miles to go to gigs 'cause I was hooked. Many of the LA-Hollywood-New York and even English Punk bands I loved had at least a little glam/art school damage going on. And at the time I would dress up in colourful pink, green, or orange suits and stuff that resembled the Weirdos with definitely more plastic then leather if you know what I mean.

Then I heard Black Flag!

My best buddy Dez Cadena lived a couple houses down in Redondo Beach. We would hang out in his garage all day and night listing to punk albums and Rodney on the Roq on the Radio Station. Our favourite two bands were Wire and Eater. We knew all of their songs so we started the "Happy Tampons!" It was just Dez on guitar and me on bass and we both sang.

Around this time we heard of a band down the road in Hermosa Beach called Black Flag. We would crash their rehearsals and got to know them a little bit. But when I first saw them live at a gig at Moose Lodge I was intensely shaken to the core. Really, nothing could have prepared me for the sonic onslaught of Greg Ginn's guitar, Chuck's manic bass plying, Robo's debonair almost graceful upright posture and molestation of his drums and Keith's sassy ass, snot-faced, beer-drenched, in-your-face vocals.

They were utterly and terrifyingly undignified. They did not have one single cell of art school damage or 'cool' between them all (except maybe Robo but he was so cool he didn't know it). Totally unrestrained intensity. Greg's guitar playing wasn't constrained or pretentious at all and from that moment on every other band no mater how I appreciated them, sounded so very small in comparison.

Black Flag ruined Punk Rock music for me.

So after a while they were having problems with Keith and I don't know if he quit or was given the boot but he didn't show up for practice one night and that was all it took for Greg to ask me if I wanted to join. What a stupid question. I mean I was Keith's friend and a big fan but it didn't faze me at all it just seemed totally natural that a punk band would change and would not be constrained to any set membership or anything for that matter. What happened next was a total blur.

We started touring and recording almost immediately. And you know it was so punk rock 'cause I didn't have any real experience but we just did it. Greg was a big encouragement and even prompted me to pick up a guitar and write lyrics and songs for the band. He was very open to my input so that was very cool. We got in all sorts of trouble with the clubs banning us from just about every place we played. I had a terrible habit of throwing my heavy cast metal based microphone stand out in the crowd and breaking microphones and PA gear, which usually belonged to the club (and probably a few heads and teeth as well).

So you know sometimes we had to pack up quickly and head out the back door without getting paid. Somehow we would have enough gas money to make it to the next gig. One night we were all arrested and thrown in jail after a particularly chaotic gig at Blackies in LA. I remember some of the guys being so nervous behind bars and I think Robo was worried about being deported ... I just curled up and went ta sleep saying, "Wake me when it's over." I guess I didn't notice it yet but the crowds were changing and it all seemed to emanate from our gigs. Something wasn't sitting well with me.

Touring was just the diversion I needed and it eventually led to a couple trips north to Vancouver, B.C. I completely fell in love with the folks and bands in Vancouver. Back in LA there were divisions and unhealthy rivalries between Hollywood and South Bay bands. Drugs were really taking its toll on many of the Hollywood bands so the music and live performances started to suffer. The Germs were falling apart at the seams and as much as I admired Darby it was increasingly difficult to see him 'perform' live. And as Darby went so went the scene at least that's how I saw it. But up in Vancouver things were moving a little slower. There was an organic pure creative and diverse spirit going on. And even without a record other then the "Nervous Breakdown" 7', the crowds were insanely supportive of us.

The Vancouver bands like DOA, Subhumans, The Rabid, Young Canadians, Pointed Sticks, Modernettes, Dishrags, Bludgeoned Pigs, the Braineaters and No Exit were soooooooo fresh. There was far more unity in diversity then what was emerging back in LA. And even though I was never fan of mixing politics and music, I respected Joey Shithead as having integrity beyond the normal lets fuckin' destroy everything and bail.
Punk Globe: What lead to your departure from Black Flag?
Ron: I absolutely loved playing in Black Flag while it lasted and would not have traded it for the world. The best part was the times on stage and after the shows winding down with friends/fans. That was really fun. But I hated recording because it was not spontaneous. And most of all I hated anything to do with the industry or the 'music machine' dealing with managers booking gigs talking to media etc...

Sometimes I think there is a little dumb fun blond deep inside me cause when it came to music I was like a young Cindy Lauper who just wanted to have fun. And like I said I really started to notice a change in the scenery.

One night at the Fleetwood in Redondo Beach in-between bands a bunch of us went up the street to wet our whistle, on the way back we got jumped by a bunch of jocko homeboys who hated us 'freaks'. I took a pretty good beating at the bottom of a dog pile that night. And if that wasn't bad enough, it was the same inside the clubs!!! But there it was sort of like 'friendly fire' from the new breed of O.C. Marine Corps. drop out Jarhead "punks."

I just hated the vibe these guys were bringing to the gigs. By this time I had already been up and down the coast a couple of times and noticed the farther up you went the more creative and less self destructive it got. One night again back at the Fleetwood, I was on stage and after a song or two max, I just sort of stood there and realized I could have been singing about pink elephants or preaching a sermon and it would not have made any difference at all. I felt like we were just a convenient backdrop to a huge Teenage Anger Mismanagement Group Therapy Session. What was the point of that?

So I just walked off the stage. And you know what? The rest of the guys in the band didn't seem to care either 'cause they just went on as if they didn't even notice I had left. So you know what is the point of busting your ass if no one cares? But I never had any regrets and continue to feel grateful for the tone of fun and opportunities that came after.
Punk Globe: Did you enjoy being involved & appearing in "The Decline of Western Civilization?"
Ron: Yeah I guess so but really I didn't care much at the time. None of us had any expectations that anything would come out of it. It was just another gig and possibly some free publicity. It was fun playing with the Germs!!! During the interview portion, I was totally nervous and way out of my comfort zone in front of cameras.

In retrospect, Penelope Spheeris did a grand job and most of the footage stands up really well. But I haven't seen the whole move in over 20 years. I've just seen a couple clips on youtube. I here she is working on a DVD release that will be cool. I had quit the band and moved up to Vancouver by the time it was released. I came down for the premiere and really noticed how much the scene had changed. I couldn't wait to get back to Vancouver.
Punk Globe: What was it like drumming for Redd Kross' How long were you with the band?
Ron: I first saw Redd Kross when they were the Tourists at the infamous Pollywog Park Concert with Black Flag. And I was living at the Church in Hermosa Beach which turned out to be a great gathering place for the emerging South Bay Punk crowd.

Dez
and I were jamming and playing parties as the "Happy Tampons" and one of our friends was leaving town and wanted to sell her drum set. I thought it would be cool to have one so anyone who wanted to play could so I stuck it in the corner and that was it.

So like I said the Church and more specifically my room in the basement where I lived was a party house, which was cool most of the time but when too many kids refused to leave I had two tactics that would clear a room in a mater of minuets.

#1 was to play side 4 of Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" album as loud as I could.

Most folks would leave before it would reach the end and if they didn't' side 4 had a loop at the end where the record would just go on forever and ever and ever. It was excruciating and only the hardest of core would survive that.

After everyone left, I would shut off the record player and go ta sleep. My backup tactic was a little more interactive. I would quietly roam over to that drum set and beat to the rhythm of 'My Sharona' by the Knack! God that was just horrible and after 15 or 20 minuets of that crap everyone would bail no problem!! Then I would put the sticks down and go ta bed.

So anyway The Tourists were having problems with their drummer and somehow got it in their little 12 year old heads that I was 'a drummer'. I had no intention or desire to play drums at all but wouldn't pass up the offer and it was so punk rock to do something like that with zero talent and or experience. Within a couple of weeks we were in the studio recording for Posh Boy Records.

The producer just hated working with me cause I had no finesse, coordination or ability at all to use the high hat cymbals properly. I would just bang at them wide open with all my might and it sounded awful so he came over and stole it from me and forced me to use only the ride cymbal. I recorded most of the songs with no hi hat cymbals and my bastardized "My Sharona" surf beat which was still the only beat I knew.

It was classic and by far the best overall recording session I have ever been in cause it was over as soon as we started, very spontaneous and mostly live. Very Punk Rock!!! And within a mater of days we were hearing our songs on Rodney on the Roq. That was so cool!!!.

We went on to play a bunch of gigs. And become one of Hollywood's 'darlings.' I would stuff the bass drum with a big huge teddy bear I called Seizure. The kids would pull Seizure out of the bass drum and toss him around the hall but he always survived and would find his way back to me.

After most gigs I would do my pathetic Keith Moon imitation and demolish my drum set. Tooo much fun! Steve and Jeff and Greg were great guys to play with and be around but then it was over as quick as it began and really to tell you the truth I don't remember what happened!!! T
hen I started spending a lot of time in Hollywood at the Hollywood Western Building with bands like the Chiefs and had joined "The Tracks" when Black Flag came a-calling.
Punk Globe: What inspired you to move from California to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada?
Ron: A cute girl and short brown bottles of Canadian Black Label Lager. A loss of interest in the LA scene, and a Vancouver scene that seemed fresher and more inviting. But to be honest it was mostly the girl and the beer.

It wasn't easy because I couldn't legally work and I refused to get welfare. So with a little help from my Guru (Jim Cummins) and my landlord (Dave Greg/Gore Street), I renewed my interest in graphics and my screen printing hobby.

I survived by making and selling DOA and Subhuman T-shirts and that grew to a small but self-sufficient screen-printing empire I called Kill City Graphics. I would make t-shirts for all the bands it was fun! But I would eventually move back to California and around 1986.

I started laying the foundation for "Crash Bang Crunch Pop." One day I got a call from my old buddy Duff who had just moved down to Hollywood and wanted to start a band so we started jamming on punk and glam rock classics and a bunch of songs I had written. We named the band "Funhouse" which was the third band I would form that was named after a Stooges album.

But I could not do it without Steven Douglas LaViolette, so I begged him to move down and join us. Steve and I were in the Braineaters together and then we formed Kill City and other fuck bands. We were best buddies and I really wish we could have gone on and on and on together. But he did not like LA and missed his girl friend so he returned to Vancouver and left me stranded in LA, only to die in a car crash the same day as the Space Shuttle blew up in space. Funhouse didn't last long after Steve split and Duff started playing in Guns and Roses.

But I wouldn't give up and finally talked my pall and great guitarist Kevin Rose, another Vancouverite and Kill City alumni to come down and join Crash Bang Crunch Pop. But hot damn, I don't know what it is about Vancouver girls 'cause I would soon meet the love of my life (that is a truly romantic story for another day all you gotta do is ask)!!!. I invited Dianne to sing backup vocals live at our first Vancouver gigs. We would become inseparable, fall in love and get married which eventually lead to us returning to Vancouver for good.
Punk Globe: Is it true that you found religion upon moving to Canada? If so, what faith in particular & why? Have you always been a spiritual man?
Ron: California is a freakin breeding ground for spiritualists. So growing up there, yeah I was exposed to, influenced by and tangled up with all sorts of stuff from Anarchy to Zen Buddhism. But none of it stuck to my skin let alone my heart. I ended up being a typical snotty nosed self-centred hedonistic teenager/young adult. I suppose, morally and ethically some would say that I was "better"then some and "worse" then others. But that just lead to apathy and sounds like mediocrity to me. And no self-respecting punk rocker will be satisfied with mediocrity. I'm no different then anyone I guess cause I don't like folks telling me or forcing me to do things no mater how good they may be.

Eat your carrots, stop whining and complaining, don't spit in the wind, be excellent to one another blah blah blah. It's all good advice but until it comes from within, until it goes from your ears to your head to find a home in your heart, it just won't stick. So I guess I was living somewhere in between being comfortably numb, apathetic and totally unsatisfied. Then Dianne led me to consider Jesus.

Reluctantly I agreed and for the first time in my life God began to make sense. It was frightening really how He got my attention so completely and without reservation. Many of my "BIG QUESTIONS" were satisfied in Christ and soon I became excited about a Big Wide World that wasn't centred on me or my tiny sphere of influence. It was highly transformative.

Punk Globe:
Did your spiritual beliefs have anything to do with you being in a self-proclaimed "R&R Coma?''
Ron: Partially' I truly believe the gospel is amazing. It can be life- and world-transforming. But like so many pure and wondrous things in this world (or the very world itself for that matter), when you put it in man's hands, it can soon be contaminated, manipulated and distorted beyond recognition. Pretty soon you have something that is meant to bring freedom and love, bringing bondage and hate instead.

So I got caught up in a little bad religion and before you know it, I was bringing false judgement on myself and others. Believe it or not, it was the issue of homosexuality that finally broke the spell I was under. I found that I could no longer swallow or spew out the conservative party line on that issue as well as some others. It's been tough as it has caused some pain and friction with some of my 'brothers' and the leadership in my church. I've had to distance myself from some, but the love I received from Christ compels me to hope for a brighter future where we can conserve good solid doctrine and be liberated from bad religious dogma and live in peace.

I know it sound idealistic but so do a lot of the lyrics form some of our favorite bands. I have met some of the most wonderful loving caring and giving folks in the Christian community. But I've met some real assholes as well. But I know Buddhist jerks and Wiccan jerks and atheist jerks, Republican and Democrat, left and right, gay and straight and soem punk rock jerks, too! It comes with being human I guess. But even without my church thing, I started to prioritize my life, and family and hard work became more important to me then partying, etc. So now I'm coming to terms with all aspects of my life. Trying to tie up some loose ends sorta and it's fun.
Punk Globe: Is there any weird coincidence that the post singer of Black Flag has ended up working in a "Flag Shop" for years here in beautiful East Vancouver, B.C.' (Insert "Twilight Zone" theme song HERE!)?
Ron: When I was in Red Cross I climbed way up top of the main Red Cross Centre in Hollywood so I could steal their flag. The band used it for a while but it was huge. Before that, I hand made a Kiss Flag. One night after a Kiss show in LA, I would be out the window of my friend's 1965 Buick Rivera speeding down the Santa Monica Freeway chasing the limousine that had Ace Frehley in it. So there I was in my Ace makeup and gear chasing my hero, waving my Kiss Flag when Ace rolled down his window and waved a Heineken at me!!! Then there was Black Flag. Then when I moved to Vancouver, I was at Simon's house and I spotted a big Canadian Flag on top of a restaurant on Commercial St.. so I climbed up top of the building and shimmied up the pole -- that was sort of my initiation into Canadian Punkdom! Then I started screen printing Union Jack flags with the Who on them at my own shop on Hastings Street and years later, I would work at a Flag Shop -- so yeah I guess flags are in my blood.
Punk Globe: What other bands have you been in?
Ron: The Happy Tampons, Red Cross, Black Flag, the Tracks, The Bludgeoned Pigs, Hawian Spy, Hastily Beastly (an all girl except for lucky me AC DC cover band), The Braineaters, Kill City, Raw Power, Funhouse (ok soo much for creativity!!!), The Zamboni Drivers, Crash Bang Crunch Pop,

A whole slew of one night stand type fuck bands and I even led the worship team or "Church Band" at my church for a while. That was funny 'cause my pastor was going around telling folks I was in Black Sabbath!!! He called me once from England where he was at a conference telling folks about this new guy in the church who used ta sing for Black Sabbath!!! I had to set him straight and tell him it was Black Flag instead. Glenn Danzig once recommended me for the singing spot in the "The Four Horseman" but after a short meeting with their bass player, "Haggis," it was not meant to be.
Punk Globe: You played the part of Ron Asheton (RIP) in "KILL CITY," (An Iggy Pop tribute band) ... was that a serious band...or would "KILL CITY" fall into the notorious "Vancouver Fuck Band" category?
Ron: It started off as a Fuck Band to play at the Smiling Buddha but we actually practiced a few times and in my opinion you don't get to where the Fuck Band badge of honour if you actually practice, but hey that's just me. That was the only time I ever played guitar in a band for more than a song or 2. But I was really awful. I'm trying to find some live cassettes of Raw Power to post one day
Punk Globe: On that note Ron, how do you feel about all the Black Flag tribute bands popping up'!'...Like Black Fag, Black Flab, etc..?
Ron: I never heard Black Flab, I'll check 'em out, but Black Fag are FABULOUS. I'm all for it especially in light of how serious Flag got at times. I have an open invitation to perform with Black Fag in drag any time I want.
Punk Globe: Your friend Jon Doe from The Scramblers, & The Rabid claims he taught you & the Black Flag boys how to raid the Carling O'Keefe Brewery here in Vancouver, B.C., while you were on tour "back in the day" ... Any comments...?
Ron: Was I a member of the infamous Carling O'Keefe Liberation Army? I'll take the fifth on that one!!! But Geez Louize, what's a guy supposed ta do when the beer stores were closed on Sundays'
Punk Globe: I read in the OC Weekly that your real name is Chavo Pederast! If so...how did you turn into Ron Reyes?
Ron: I never had a nickname when I was in Black Flag. After I quit the band, things turned a little sour. Unfortunately, there was a time where the ole Black Label was getting the better of me.

One night Dez and I got in a fight outside the Commodore and bless his heart he could of killed me in the state I was in but he didn't. Then some other stuff went down and I guess I must of got under their skin. So a little while later, I'm in a record store and I see a new Black Flag record called "Jealous Again" and notice they have a new singer called Chavo Pederast'

So I lay my money down, buy the record and go home to listen up. And surprise surprise, this Chavo guy sounds an awful lot like me' So I guess they were soo pissed at me they decided not to give me credit for singing on the record, instead they insult me with a derogatory name. It was a while before I realized the implication of the last name.

When I was serving in my church I felt I had to decline opportunities to work in any children's based ministry because of that name. And that really sucked. My pastor was cool with it cause he knew it wasn't real. I really appreciate his compassion, grace, and willingness to overlook it. But I would have hated some mom to suspect there was some punk rock pedophile working with her kids.

I never faulted the guys in Black Flag for doing what they did. But it has had some unfortunate consequences. It's one thing to call yourself Shithead, Rotten or Vicious but to have someone slap a pedophile label on you -- well. like I said it has been unfortunate and embarrassing at times. So please don't call me Chavo.

The last time I spoke to Greg Ginn he didn't apologize, but he did say he would change the name of future printings. That was years ago.
Punk Globe: You seemingly have a tight alliance with The Jak Skateboard Team. Are you a skater dude!?! How did you meet the notorious Simon (Jak) Snotface?
Ron: I guess that comes from being pals with Carlos and Mike and Snotface and other Vancouver Jaks. One night Crash Bang Crunch Pop were playing and I think the whole Vancouver team was there so we played 'the Jack' by AC-DC and dedicated it to 'a fine group of individuals'' It was a moment to remember for me. Fun loving guys, gotta love em.

Growing up in the California South Bay area, I skated and surfed every day. The "Dogtown" movie really documents the time and space I was part of just a couple miles south of Venice in Hermosa Beach.

What do you say about Simon Snotface. He has too much dirt on me so I gotta be nice to him. But I can honestly say Simon is one of the reasons I fell in love with Vancouver and chose to move here. Bev Davies has some pictures of Black Flag playing the Smiling Buddha and Simon is down on the floor front and center, head shoulders and back arched. And I'm singing with my mouth wide open and leaning out over the audience.

In the picture you can see a stream of fluid emanating from Simon's pie hole and landing square into mine. So I guess we are spit-saliva-phlegm brothers.
Punk Globe: What bands have inspired you throughout the years?
Ron: Iggy Pop and Patty Smith are the only two folks I have ever asked for an autograph. So they are at the top of the list.

My favourite punk bands have to be Stiff Little Fingers, the Buzzcocks, the Saints. The Ramones and the New York Dolls hold a space dear to my heart.

From a spiritual perspective, Kevin Prosch stole my heart when I first heard his "Come To The Light" and "Kiss the Son" albums. I can still be driven to tears when I hear him sing.
Punk Globe: Your touching wedding song/poem on MySpace includes the lyric "Our Love Is Perfect!" After twenty-two years of marriage with the same woman, and raising four children together ... would you say that "The Song Remains The Same" today?
Ron: I like to keep my family matters as private as I can but I gotta tell you I am soooooo in love with Dianne. I do not deserve her at all, period!

And there is not a day that goes by that I am not amazed by God's goodness in placing us on the same path. And my kids are just so beautiful and amazing. I have been hard on them at times especially during those years when I got caught up in an over zealous struggle to see righteousness reign in my life.

But years later, a house full of four teenagers is a huge blessing. With all the mistakes I have made, I guess we musta done some things right.
Punk Globe: How has fatherhood effected your life in twenty words or less?
Ron: Love, Grace, Patience, Tolerance, Humility, etc. These are the things my kids have shared with me and have taught me.
Punk Globe: What is one of the most memorable gigs that you ever played?
Ron: Playing in Hastily Beastly was soooooooo much fun. Sitting on the drum stool looking out over the crowd and watching Little Sue MacGillivray on guitar doing the best Angus Young impersonation ever is an image that is tattooed on my mind.
Punk Globe: Have you considered publishing your life and times? Is this something that your fans could possibly anticipate one day?
Ron: No but it's been fun sorting through these memories.
Punk Globe: Are you for, against, or undecided, on the 2010 Olympics approaching here in Vancouver B.C.?
Ron: I really don't like all the corporate sponsorship. Let the kids play and jump and run and ski, etc. Just keep all the Coca-Cola, Nike crap out of it. But the genie is out of the bottle so what are you gonna do? Over all I have never been a big sports fan. I don't have the energy to fuss about the effects it may or may not have on our city but I do appreciate those who do.
Punk Globe: Can we expect to see Ron Reyes on stage "Kicking Out The Jams" anytime soon? ... Any projects up your sleeve?
Ron: I don't think so, but you never know. I turned down an invitation by Greg Ginn a few years ago 'cause it's hard for me to imagine singing about depression, revenge and having "no values."

But after all these years I would not pass up an opportunity to sing or record with him if the songs felt right. I just love Greg's guitar playing soooooo much.

The one thing I would love to see is a release of the "Crash Bang Crunch Pop" album we recorded with for Cruz Records. The band broke up before it was completed. I'm trying to determine if the master tapes exist.

If they do, I would love to finish what we started. There are some pretty cool songs on those tapes. However I don't have a dime to put into it so I would need some help. If the tapes surface, maybe you'll find me on a street corner with a guitar and 'hat' to raise funds for it.
Punk Globe: Any parting words of advice for young upstarts that are thinking of forming a band?
Ron: Just do it. Keep it real, keep it positive. If you are pissed of at things (and there are lots of things that suck in this world!!!) go ahead and scream and shout about it. But don't just bitch about things, It's too easy to generate heat, see if you can bring some light and hope to the situation. But, arggh, who cares what I think.
Punk Globe: How can your fans and friends get in touch with you?
Ron: To tell you the truth I am not the least bit interested in 'fans' but I can always use another friend. We all can. Drop me a note on Myspace, not just a 'can we be friends' request. Put some thought into it, share your ideas on life, music or whatever and we'll take it from there.
Punk Globe: Last but not least...Please list your "Discography" for all of the PUNK GLOBE READERS that may be anxious to have more "RON REYES" in their R&R diet!!!
Ron: Ahh, it's all about quality not quantity! Right!!!!

There is the first "Redd Kross" EP on Posh Boy Records, "The Black Flag Jealous Again" EP on SST records. "The Decline of Western Civilization" cuts which should be out on DVD sometime soon. Then there are the songs I recorded with Black Flag that surfaced later on "Everything went Black," "The First Four Years" and "Wasted Again" records. I play Guitar on the I Braineater Hyde Park/School Girl record.

There are a couple really rough and shabby demos I have posted on my MySpace space and hopefully one day there will be some release of the "Crash Bang Crunch Pop" album.
Punk Globe: What happened the night you amd Simon found out which hotel The Sex Pistols were staying at here in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, circa...ages ago?!?
Ron: I don't know I was really drunk at the time! All I remember was hours of chaos and destruction all over the West End, but whatever Simon says must be true!!!

Peace


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