RE/Search Visit With V.Vale

Met V.Vale, RE/Search Publications' publisher at the office in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco (right across from City Lights bookstore) The apartment building at Romolo Street was covered with black plastic sheeting so I wasn't quite sure it was the right place. Vale buzzed me in and met me at his door.

Right away he remarked that he was glad I looked like a librarian/writer type. He offered me a chair at his dining room table. His flat was one connected room -- living room, dining room, kitchen, all kind of hooked together. There were RE/Search's books lining the walls on bookshelves. It was cluttered yet tidy and organized.

Vale pulled out a large ledger book and had me sign it. When I told him I had no tape recorder or camera, that I just wanted to meet him and maybe interview him later, he remarked that he may not be around then. Then he laughed, but he was also serious, "you never know what could happen". We started chatting and he said, "you know what, I could tape this and send you the tape" and I was very grateful he offered to do so. He then started talking about Will, who was not his friend at all. "Will didn't like me", Vale said flatly. He went on to talk about Will's apparent discipleship to a guy named John Zerzan, an anarchist philosopher who fashioned himself into a sort of guru to Will. Will was shy and humble around Zerzan, but Vale raised Will's punk ire because Vale was a "journalist" ("Search & Destroy" fanzine). This was back when Will was in Negative Trend and was only around 19 at the time.

While Vale and I talked, we sipped some really good tea. He was such a gracious host I felt very comfortable. It was apparent he didn't really have much us for Will, either, as Will had come along in the second wave of punks (1978 or so) whereas V.Vale first saw a punk show in 1976. Will seemed to him just a middle-class kid posing as a punk yet not embracing the open-minded spirit of true punk.

While I was visiting, a couple more people showed up, including a guy from Oklahoma. By that time I felt it was time to leave, but Vale insisted I at least finish my tea.

After I left his place I walked upstairs to see the apt. (or at least the door to) where Will died. #5 or #6? I don't know. I felt a little voyeuristic yet fascinated at the same time. (Quotes attributed to V.Vale were how I remembered what he said, not actual verbatim).