Black Flag Announce New Vocalist

Black Flag pulled a really crappy move when they fired former vocalist, Ron Reyes, mid-set when they were in Australia on tour. But with a new year, they are trying to make 2014 a lot better than 2013 was for them starting with a brand new vocalist.

Thanks to an interview with Rolling Stone, founding member and guitarist, Greg Ginn and the band’s manager for 2013 and fill-in vocalist for the rest of the tour, Mike Vallely spoke out about how Reyes did not fit the band at the moment and how he eventually became disgruntled during the touring.

“I did not threaten him or physically remove him from the stage,” Vallely said about Reyes claims that he went on stage and ordered him to get off. “I just told him very plainly, very simply, that it was over. And he looked at me and he almost seemed relieved. Then he walked off the stage.”

Reyes had a different take on the dismissal saying that it was a relief when he was let go and how the reunion was just a mess from the get-go. He also revealed that he wouldn’t be surprise if Vallely would become the band’s new vocalist because he felt that there was some planning on Vallely and Ginn’s part to make that the final outcome.

Whether or not that was the plan, Vallely did officially become the band’s new vocalist.

“Greg just felt like, ‘I don’t want the Black Flag name to fizzle out with this or be tainted with this record that’s proven to be subpar compared to what the expectations for it were,'” Vallely explains. “He told me he made a mistake by working with Ron and trying to pander to a sort of old-school thing. He just thought that I was the guy for the job. . . I’m not gonna say no to that.”

That doesn’t at all sound suspicious to us.

But keeping up with the “new year, new band” philosophy, both Ginn and Vallely revealed that the band are in fact in the midst of recording some new material and that an extensive Black Flag tour will be happening as soon as May. Let’s hope that nothing as dramatic as a mid-concert firing comes out of 2014 for them.

Black Flag Singer Fired Mid-Show

Well, this is definitely one way not to let someone know that they have been fired.

In a Facebook post that was posted yesterday, Ron Reyes, the Canadian-born singer who had taken over he singing duties in the newly reincarnated Black Flag, had revealed that the band had fired him while in the middle of their final show in Australia.

Reyes goes on to explain that band founder and guitarist, Greg Ginn, ruled the revised band with an “iron fist” and part of the reason why they had ousted him was because he refused to “treat someone like an infallible Pope figure.” Kind of curious as to who that person might have been.

This isn’t even the first batch of bad publicity the newly recreated group have gotten this year. They were highly criticized for their new album that was released this past month as well as for its album art work.

For now, you can read the complete statement that Reyes posted about his ousting here.

On November 24th 2013 the last night of the Australian Hits and Pits tour with two songs left in the set Mike V comes on stage stares me down, takes my mic and says “You’re done, party’s over get off it’s over…” He said something else to me but it was a lie so I won’t repeat it here.

So with a sense of great relief that it was finally over I left the stage and walked to the hotel room.

They finished the set with Mike V on vocals. There is much more that can and perhaps should be said. But for now I will spare you the gory details. The writing was on the wall since before we played our first show. So many things went wrong from the start.

I was into things like having a good drummer, rehearsing and spending time on things like beginnings and endings of songs, being a little less distracted with tour life and a little more on the ball. You know things that would make our efforts worthy of the name Black Flag… Yes it is my opinion that we fell very short indeed and the diminishing ticket sales and crowds are a testament to that.

However It was made clear to me that raising these issues was tantamount to a blasphemous stab in the back to Greg. How could I question him, his efforts and hard work? How could I dare be a fan of OFF! And or be friends and a fan of Flag? I was told that I had to choose sides. But I refuse to treat someone like an infallible Pope figure. No guitarist deserves such unquestioning blind devotion.

And so I have been excommunicated in a very strange fashion. I truly feel sorry for anyone who had to witness the infantile behaviour and the relentless provocation I was subjected to both on and off the stage. I regret that under such fierce provocation and taunting I sometimes responded in manners bellow my standard.

I am grateful for the opportunities Greg gave me. There were some magical moments at first. I was naive enough to believe in the promise of potential. But in the end the good was no match for the overwhelming bad. It am proud of my contributions including the new album and its cover.

Come on folks it’s only rock n roll. I would not be surprised if Mike V becomes the new singer for Black Flag.

It is my opinion that they have been planning this for some time. I wish them well. Mike is a true disciple of Greg and so they have a good working relationship. And ironically the tension over the last weeks has brought out some of Greg’s best playing. So it could be interesting. I will miss playing with Dave Klein. He is a great kid and truly an outstanding bass player. Dave was an anchor that kept me from losing my place on a nightly basis. Trust me that was no easy task for either of us.

I truly apologize for being in or more accurately “appearing” to be in competition with “Flag”. They know my heart on this matter. From the beginning I was happy for them and fully supported and understood why they would want to rock those songs and have a good time with friends and family.

Yes I questioned their use of the name and logo but in no way questioned their motivation or right to do their thing. I envy them for they have succeeded in ways that were never possible with “Black Flag”. And once again for the record, I agreed to do Black Flag before I knew there was a Flag. I mean no malice towards Greg or Mike although they will most likely see things very differently. I wish them luck and prosperity. I have learned many valuable lessons this year. And these lessons will enrich my personal and musical endeavours.

Cheers.

Ron Reyes.